Seattle – Of Monsters and Men first gained attention in their native Iceland when they won the 2010 Músíktilraunir, the annual “battle of the bands” held in Reykjavik, and in 2011, they launched onto the global stage with their infectious, inescapable hit “Little Talks.” Since then, the Icelandic quintet has captivated audiences with their anthemic indie-folk sound, earned critical acclaim with their full-length debut My Head Is An Animal (Republic Records), performed at festivals including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Sasquatch!, Coachella, Newport Folk Festival, and Glastonbury, and have been featured on television shows including “Saturday Night Live” and films such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
Now, the group, comprised of Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson and Kristján Páll Kristjánsson, is ready to release their anticipated sophomore album, Beneath the Skin, out June 9 on Republic Records. Recorded in Los Angeles and Iceland and co-produced by Rich Costey (Death Cab for Cutie, Muse, Foster the People), the 11-track album (15-track deluxe version) revisits lyrical themes of nature and fantasy and still delivers rousing singalong choruses, while reflecting a slightly darker side. It’s a cohesive record that shows growth, though not a complete departure from what made My Head is an Animal such a success with audiences.
As the album title suggests, Beneath the Skin is more personal. “Lyrically, it’s just about being open,” co-lead vocalist Nanna said in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. “Completely, uncomfortably open, like an open book.”
And listeners hear that right away on the opener “Crystals,” also the first single off the album. As Nanna told RS, “[The] song sums up the album.” Thunderous drums open the track, eventually giving way into the stirring foot-stomper chorus, “Cover your crystal eyes/ And feel the tones that tremble down your spine.” It’s a declaration of embracing one’s fears, and it sets the pace well for the rest of the album.
Shimmering guitar captivates as it starts the next track, “Human.” Co-vocalist Ragnar takes the lead at first, before Nanna’s delicate tones layer over his as they sing, “Cage me like an animal…Breathe in, breathe out/ Let the human in” — themes seemingly ubiquitous in their songs. Chimes and other instrumentation create a bright sound to this track, a nice counterpart to “Crystals.”
Nanna’s breathy, almost weary vocals, alongside simple guitar strumming, ease the listener into “Hunger,” before picking up with rolling drums as she sings, “Hungry for the kill, but this hunger it isn’t you,” imagining herself as a wolf. There’s swelling instrumentation at the end, with an enchanting horn section, before cutting out as she declares, “I’m drowning.”
“Wolves Without Teeth” passes vocals back and forth nicely between the male and female lead, while the lyrics overtly carry the lupine metaphor. Compositionally, it’s nothing new — pounding percussion, heavy singalong chorus, nature-inspired lyrics, the electric-folk sound, also heard on the following “Empire” and “Slow Life” — but it’s what Of Monsters and Men do well.
“Organs” finally lets the album breathe, as it’s one of the slower tracks with less production. This is the “open-book” song Beneath the Skin needed, with Nanna’s pensive, somber vocals delivering the lyrics: “I am tired of punching in the wind…I should not care, but I don’t know how/ So I tape up my face/ ‘cause it reminds me how it all went wrong/ And I pull out my tongue/ ‘cause it reminds me how it all went wrong.” Piano and cello accompaniment ground the track, crafting a delicate interlude before picking back up with the succeeding “Black Water.”
The billowing “Thousand Eyes” is another standout track, building instrumentally with pounding rhythms and strings into a wonderfully textured, nearly cacophonic crescendo, before abruptly pulling back into vocals at the climax — a wonderful sonic experience.
A declarative snare drum roll opens “I of the Storm.” “Are you really gonna love me when I’m gone?” Nanna beseeches throatily, achingly. Vocally, it’s one of the most beautiful songs, accompanied by a nice piano and echoing glockenspiel. The anthemic “We Sink” closes the album in typical Of Monsters and Men fashion, with Nanna and Ragnar duetting, thundering percussion, and a foot-stomping chorus.
The deluxe edition offers bonus tracks “Backyard” and “Winter Sound,” as well as remixes of “Black Water” by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear and “I of the Storm” by Jonsì collaborator, Alex Somers.
Of Monsters and Men have delivered a cohesive album that fans of their debut and newcomers to their sound alike will appreciate.
Of Monsters and Men is currently on a sold out headlining tour of the U.S. before headlining sold out stops overseas. For more information and to pre-order their new album, visit their website HERE.
Caitlin Peterkin
With degrees in journalism and music, Caitlin’s written for Paste Magazine, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and MajoringinMusic.com. She loves cheese, laughing at GIFs of corgis, road trip sing-alongs, and connecting with people over good beer and good music.
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