V.

Odin’s eight-legged steed personified in the North-American band The Flight Of Sleipnir is back with the fifth full-length “V.” that was released by the well-known Napalm Records.

In this new record, the calm passages that include acoustic or without distortion guitars are alternated with compositions linked to the more traditional doom metal with the addition of a strong distortion that puts us in the stoner field that has been developed by the band over the years. There’s no shadow of doubt about that description and everything gets already clarified with the first track, “Headwinds”.

The Flight Of Sleipnir have never been a band that gets stuck in only one genre or path, so it’s normal that in each album new elements are applied making them better than previously. In this record, the post-rock approach is clear due to some instances delivered by magnificent echoed lead guitars. On the other hand, the echo effects are also applied in other instruments, especially in the beginning of some songs. Still concerning innovation, the band also delivers melodic guitar solos that sometimes touch melancholy through the well-worked sound in order to breathe notes full of devotion. There’s also a progressive rock taste regarding that matter in the track “Nothing Stands Obscured”.

About the vocals department, the band also jumps off their comfortable corner. In one moment we can have clean and lingering voices just to let us be overwhelmed by staggering growls that can be heard when their darkest stoner metal approach comes to surface – although, the band’s stoner approach is not so conventional at all. Female vocals are also present in “Archaic Rites” almost replacing the male ones. It’s also in this song that their folk side emerges due to the presence of flutes.

“V.” is a very complete and catchy album full of mysticism and originality. With this fifth full-length, The Flight Of Sleipnir have reached their peak of splendor and let’s hope they’re able to keep the stakes high.

Originally written at www.againstmagazine.com