Album Review: With ‘Kveikur’ , Sigur Ros evokes the darker underpinnings of their little heard début ‘Von’ which may surprise fans more familiar with the Icelandic group’s serene sound.

[rating=4]

Sigur Ros have done gorgeous glacial soundscapes for so long, that their sound hasn’t changed drastically. Most fans are happy with this, but critics and non-diehards complain that it all sounds a bit too predictable and homogenous at this point.

So their new release Kveikur  should surprise all involved, with a harsher, darker dynamic than any of their work since their début album Von, which received minimal airplay, making their follow-up Ágætis byrjun the more familiar entry point for their sound.

Kveikur kicks off with its strongest and strangest track Brennisteinn, which begins with a distorted alarm signal sound that recalls any big summer blockbuster trailer of the past few years. From there it eases into My Bloody Valentine-esque cooing vocals and guitar.

The stately Hrafntinna has an eerie chill reminiscent of Swans 2012 release The Seer, showcasing Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson’s vocals and augmented by dour horns.

Ísjaki is pleasant enough, but too bad the ‘whoa oh oh’ vocals bring to mind every over indie band the past few years, with a stylistic crutch that has become parodic.

The beautiful ambient drone of Yfirborð mixes distorted muffled vocals with oceanic swaths of noise rock bliss. Stormur continues this sound with more dynamic results.

The title track is an ominous beast, with tribal percussion, and a distorted storm and drang that moves along like a ship on a strident sea before breaking into one of their patented high-flying choruses. It’s disorienting, cinematic and one of their best songs to date.

The album concludes with Var, which hearkens back to the plaintive, emotive sound that the band is known for, but with just a bit of unease, not quite letting the listener of the hook with what they normally would expect.

As always Birgisson’s non-sensical vocals remain the siren call of the group, effortlessly rising above whatever huge sonic din the rest of the band throws at him (along with his own bow-driven guitar squalls).

Sigur Ros are a cottage industry unto themselves; no one else can figure out how to do what they do, so it’s up to them to add new twists and turns to their sonic stew. Kveiku‘ proves they aren’t complacent, and still capable of surprises.

Want to own ‘Kveikur‘ on iTunes or Amazon? You can preview and order below. And you can preview the album in full via Amazon until the official release on June 18th.

[amazon_image id=”B00C1GBOU6″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Kveikur[/amazon_image]