I don’t know where I go at night in my head while sleeping, though I do have recurring scenes that visit me regularly, worlds and places I’ve never seen on this earth that seem like reality when I’m dreaming, an alternate world that I sometimes prefer. Not everyone enjoys the nighttime and their sleep, as they can be terrifying and unwelcoming if one’s journey isn’t a true escape.

Long-running atmospheric dreamers The Flight of Sleipnir often focus on Nordic tales and fantasies, but on “Eventide,” their seventh record to date, they instead dig deep into the night and where those hours take them. Over six tracks and 44 minutes, the band—long-time members David Csicsely (vocals, guitars, drums) and Clayton Cushman (guitars, vocals, bass keyboards) and newer members Justin Siegler (guitars) and Dave Borrusch (bass) who both joined in 2016—digs into some of their richest, most involved music to date, mixing doom, black metal, folk, and prog into their journey that drives them deep into the nocturnal world. It’s an exciting, fully melodic record, too, and it’s one that hopefully will open more eyes and ears to this long-running band.

“Volund” starts the record with a melodic charge and harsh shrieks that drive the track deeper into the atmosphere. Clean playing merges and soothes before the track begins to boil, leading the vocals to catch fire as the playing follows suit. Even when breezes push through, the track feels dangerous and edgy with guitars washing out into the haze. “January” opens in a spiral as the shrieks punch in, crushing your will to carry on. The track then turns cold, sending chills, and then the spell is broken and unloads. The melody surges as the fires rage, ending with clean guitars that bleed out. “Thaw” starts with gazey smoke blanketing the horizon and the shrieks bask in heavy rains as the track drives slowly but surely. The bass feels jazzy as the guitars bask in elegance before the guts are ripped open. The drums make the walls cave, clean calls bellow, and glorious leads end the track in glowing embers.

“Bathe the Stone in Blood” starts with acoustics and guitars whirring, with pedal steel adding a sorrowful element to the song. The vocals carve bone as the emotion rains down hard, and the strong leads settle into the mid-section. The weather turns chilly again later, sparks are stoked, and the playing floods, ending with rustic passion. “Harvest” opens with piano dripping and acoustics gusting wind, with the cleaner vocals helping usher in a folk vibe. Weepy slide settles in the forefront before the track opens, the guitars rush, and the shrieks punish. The track drives hard into spirited clean calls, jolts of lightning, and a clean tributary trickling into a larger body of water. “Servitude” ends the record and begins with heavy rumbling and vocals that bruise your ribs as the hammers rain down. The vocals spit as the track moves into more solemn territory, easing your mind until the energy re-engages, the leads burn your face, and the track disappears into the cold night.

For as long as they’ve been a band and as many strong records as they have to their name, it’s hard to understand how Flight of Sleipnir still register below so many listeners’ radars, because it makes no sense. Hopefully “Eventide” helps wake up more people to their destructive, earthy powers that they’ve demonstrated over the past 14 years and seven records. This is as strong as anything they’ve released, a record that’ll sound great during these long summer nights in front of the campfire or right before you’re headed off to slumber.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/THEFLIGHTOFSLEIPNIR/

To buy the album (North America), go here: https://store.eisenton.com/

Or here: https://store.eisenton.de/en

For more on the label, go here: https://www.eisenton.de/