The duo of Derrick Vella and Justin DeTore will return October 30 through 20 Buck Spin with a six-track album that pushes their doom foundation into more stripped-down territory.

DREAM UNENDING will release their third full-length album, Certain Uncertainties, on October 30 through 20 Buck Spin, continuing Derrick Vella and Justin DeTore’s exploration of doom metal well beyond the genre’s traditional boundaries.

Ahead of the album’s arrival, the duo has made “Strained Sincerity” available through YouTube and Bandcamp. Certain Uncertainties will be issued digitally as well as on LP, CD and cassette.

DREAM UNENDING pairs Vella, also known for his work with Tomb Mold, with DeTore, whose credits include Innumerable Forms, Sumerlands and Magic Circle. Across the project’s previous releases, the musicians have used death-doom as a starting point while incorporating elements of progressive rock, ambient music and improvisation.

That approach remains part of Certain Uncertainties, although the upcoming record was built with a deliberately leaner recording style. Rather than relying heavily on layered arrangements, the album gives its individual performances more space, with Vella handling guitars and bass and DeTore performing drums and vocals.

According to information accompanying the release, the change also gives DeTore’s drumming a more continuous presence across the material while Vella’s guitar work draws from blues, jazz and progressive influences. The resulting compositions are intended to retain DREAM UNENDING’s heavier side without treating density as the record’s only defining characteristic.

The six-song album centers thematically on instability, uncertainty and rebuilding confidence during periods of change. Those ideas appear across material ranging from the more open-ended title track to “I Carry Your Burden,” as well as passages that bring the duo back toward the heavier death-doom foundation underlying the project.

Certain Uncertainties also features several guest musicians. Leila Abdul-Rauf of Vastum contributes trumpet to the title track, while Benny Grotto adds percussion. Dave Vella performs keyboards on “Rubato,” and Brendan Radigan of Magic Circle and Pagan Altar provides vocals on “I Carry Your Burden.”

The recording process was divided between several sessions. Arthur Rizk recorded the drums at Solomon’s Gate, with the exception of the title track, which was recorded by Grotto at Mad Oak Studios. Sean Pearson recorded the guitars and bass at Boxcar Sound.

Rizk also handled mixing and mastering, while Tom Waltz contributed additional editing. Visual presentation for the record includes cover artwork by Benjamin Vierling, whose credits include previous DREAM UNENDING work as well as projects involving Joanna Newsom and Pallbearer. Chimere Noire completed the album layout.

With Certain Uncertainties, DREAM UNENDING are continuing to develop a sound that allows doom’s weight to coexist with quieter passages, improvisational movement and less conventional influences. Rather than abandoning the heavier elements established on their earlier records, the duo appears to be narrowing the arrangements around the performances themselves and allowing contrast to carry more of the album.

“Strained Sincerity” provides the first available look at that direction ahead of the full record’s October 30 release.

Album Information

Artist: DREAM UNENDING
Album: Certain Uncertainties
Release Date: October 30
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Formats: LP, CD, cassette and digital

Track Listing

Blinding Allure

Certain Uncertainties

Strained Sincerity

Rubato

I Carry Your Burden

Causal

Band Lineup

Justin DeTore — drums, vocals
Derrick Vella — guitars, bass

Special Guests

Leila Abdul-Rauf (Vastum) — trumpet on “Certain Uncertainties”
Benny Grotto — additional percussion on “Certain Uncertainties”
Dave Vella — keyboards on “Rubato”
Brendan Radigan (Magic Circle, Pagan Altar) — vocals on “I Carry Your Burden”

Production Credits

Drums: Recorded by Arthur Rizk at Solomon’s Gate, except “Certain Uncertainties,” recorded by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios
Guitars and bass: Recorded by Sean Pearson at Boxcar Sound
Mixing and mastering: Arthur Rizk
Additional editing: Tom Waltz
Cover artwork: Benjamin Vierling
Layout: Chimere Noire

Pre-Order Information

Preorders for Certain Uncertainties are available through the 20 Buck Spin webshop and Bandcamp ahead of the album’s October 30 release.

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