Colorado’s The Flight of Sleipnir has maintained a consistent but eclectic sound for nearly fifteen years, mixing Doom and Atmospheric Black Metal with elements of Folk and Prog Rock in a way that should sit well with fans of Agalloch. Their seventh album mostly adheres to this genre blend and boasts the fuller production that was last seen on 2017’s Skadi. However, Eventide (Eisenwald) manages to tweak the formula as those Blackened elements seem to be upfront than before.

The one-two punch of ‘Voland’ and ‘January’ establishes this from the get-go featuring some particularly nasty guitar runs, aggressive drums, and biting shrieks. These elements also return with ‘Servitude,’ which closes the album in a near cyclical fashion. Of course, the group’s penchant for melody is well preserved. These tracks also include their share of softer sequences with the one at the end of ‘January’ featuring a quaint mix of clean guitars and birdsong.

Going further, the album’s most impactful moments come toward the center. ‘Thaw’ stands out for its triumphant leads working well with a Doomy ebb and flow that gets subsequently more developed on the eight-minute centerpiece ‘Bathe The Stone In Blood.’ I find myself wishing the almost Country twang that started off the latter track had a longer lasting presence, but ‘Harvest’ does a fantastic job of lathering that spirit in some Floyd-friendly Folk balladry.

With The Flight of Sleipnir keeping to a consistent sound with high quality results over the course of their career, it isn’t too surprising to see Eventide emerge yet another winner. While this album doesn’t differ too greatly from its predecessors on the surface, its strikingly heavier sequences provide an excellent contrast to their always on-point atmosphere. It isn’t quite their best album but it’s another excellent meeting point for Doom and Black Metal fans who like their music slow, atmospheric, and dynamic.

Buy the album here: https://theflightofsleipnir.bandcamp.com/album/eventide

9 / 10

CHRIS LATTA