Sigur Ros Kveikur 2LP

Kveikur is the seventh studio album from Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. It is the last album by Sigur Rós to feature keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson (he left the band in early 2013).

Self-produced by the three band members, Kveikur saw a new direction, both musically and thematically. Previously, the band's music has been synonymous with ambient music, but for the first time in the band's history, Kveikur saw the band depart from this style of music to present a darker, heavier and "more agressive" sound than any of the band's previous works.

This is the most exciting new Sigur Ros song I've heard in a long time, and I love the band's music. 'Brennisteinn' (sulfur) is a remarkably aggressive piece of music for musicians who can sound so ethereal: Dreamy elements remain, but they provide an underpinning rather than driving the pulse of the song.

'Brennistein' - which, as Stereogum notes, the band played live recently - showcases Jónsi's familiar lofty coo and the band's usual dynamic sweep. Kveikur marks Sigur Rós' album as a trio, though, following the departure of multi-instrumentalist Kjartan Sveinsson, and their stripped-down lineup has coincided with a heavier lurch that's welcome but may take some getting used to. Godspeed, you Icelandic emperors!