Sigur Rós at the Garden with Kveikur

Sigur Rós have returned with a world tour and a new, darker and more aggressive sound, and I loved every moment of it. This having been my first time seeing them live, it was an amazing experience I don't think I'll forget.

Poster by Alan Hynes (x)

Madison Square Garden, March 25 2013
Noted by the band to be the biggest show of their career so far (in the U.S.), given to the very lucky audience who attended the sold out show. I've read a couple posts on the concert saying how their performance really made the garden feel like an intimate venue, and I have to say that really captures the atmosphere Sigur Rós created. Watching and listening to them perform, it didn't feel like you where in a massive 20,000 capacity venue, instead feeling like you where just close by. It really was an amazing experience, both musically and visually.

The opening act was Tim Hecker, who provided a nice ambient/drone sound from behind the curtain Sigur Rós had set up. This sort of opening act reminded me of when I saw Steven Wilson on his Grace for Drowning tour at the Best Buy Theater when he had Bass Communion playing beforehand, to give an idea of how it was. Personally I thought his music worked great to listen to before Sigur Rós went on.

Now if you had ordered tickets for this tour, you would have received a free download of the Brennisteinn EP which included the songs "Brennisteinn", "Hryggjarsúla", and "Ofbirta". This gives a little insight into some of the new sound they are going towards, and who doesn't just want more music from this lovely band?

Once Sigur Rós started, their entire set was beyond amazing. Between the music, the visuals, and the overall atmosphere in the venue that they created, it was such an amazing experience. They started of the show with a curtain up surrounding the stage, which everyone was behind, that they projected images on and used the lighting inside to create other visual effects. There would be points where they used the inside light to make Jónsi appear to grow to great heights, to then back to normal. The same for how the light was angled on the other musicians inside.

01. Yfirborð | 02. Ný Batterí | 03. Vaka | 04. Hrafntinna | 05. Sæglópur | 06. Fljótavík | 07. E-bow | 08. Varúð | 09. Hoppípolla | 10. Með Blóðnasir | 11. Olsen Olsen | 12. Kveikur | 13. Festival | 14. Brennisteinn | Encore: 15. Glósóli | 16. Popplagið

In addition to the main band of Jónsi, Georg, and Orri, there was also some string, brass players, and an additional percussionist along with them. From what I could see, there were the three string players, a trombonist, french horn, and trumpet, all of which also doubled on backing vocals when needed. Even in the size of the garden with the band, you could hear them so clearly, and it really added to the whole atmosphere they had going.

Every moment of the concert I was just in awe of the music that was being played, I can not get over how fantastic of a live experience they were. It is no surprise that they sold out the Garden.

Every song they performed was with so much emotion, and just listening to them where their set to me was just perfect. The videos they used with each song, either projected behind them or on the curtain in front of them before it dropped, was stunning and matched exactly.

They closed with one of my favorite songs, "Popplagið" which is just such an emotion experience on album, hearing it live is a whole different and amazing experience. If you ever get the chance to see them live, I would highly recommend it, as I really hope to see them live again one day.

Kveikur
This album overall for me is one of their releases that is more notable, and up there with some of my other favorites from them such as Takk.. and ( ). They have described it as being "more aggressive" than their previous releases, and it is but still maintaining their core distinctive sound. Already I am thinking how I would not be surprised at all if this ends up being one of my favorite albums this year.

The album opens with the powerful, memorable, and beautiful song, "Brennisteinn". This is followed by "Hrafntinna" which continues with the really interesting percussion and also now starting to have more presence of the brass with the lovely ending at the end.

"Ísjaki" was the second song released from the album, and is the song that has Sigur Rós' first lyric video. I think this song is really upbeat, and just really fun to listen and jam out to. "Yfirborð" follows that, which starts out with a sound more reminiscent of their previous work, It then picks up a bit and keeps alternating.
"Stormur" is follows that, and then the title track "Kveikur". This song is more similar to the aggressive aspects of the first track "Brennisteinn", with Jónsi's falsetto vocals over the distorted guitar, bass and percussion elements.

"Rafstraumur" is another really great song off the album that is just really enjoyable to listen to, which is then followed by "Bláþráður". The album closes with "Var", which again goes back to the earlier sounds of Sigur Rós' previous works, with a beautiful and ambient sound with some piano being played over.

Jan/Feb '13: AMOK | Vertikal

Here we have the albums I heard from January's and February's releases, and my reviews of them. Now as far as other releases that I am aware of, I still need to listen to Coheed and Cambria's The Afterman: Descension and write about Tomahawk's Oddfellows with how their concert was. Of course there is also the new Riverside album Shrine of New Generation Slaves released, but that got it's own post for a review which can be read here, and the review on Steven Wilson's The Raven that Refused to Sing here. I had intended to originally get this sooner, like a few months ago, but procrastination(/classes) got the better of me.

Atoms for Peace - AMOK
Super-group from Thom Yorke, Flea, Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker, and Mauro Refosco give a fantastic electronic album in the nature of Yorke's solo album The Eraser, but honestly in my opinion even surpassing. Before the album was officially released, it was made available for a time to stream in its entirety on the band's official website. Wile it appears to not be up for streaming any more, you can navigate through the site to gain access to a free download of the "Default" b-side "What The Eyeballs Did".

After I first listened to this album from the stream, I immediately had to pre-order a copy of it. The whole flow of this album is fantastic, where I find part of myself wanting to dance to it (in the same sort of way Thom Yorke dances of course; see the video for "Lotus Flower" or any live video for "Idioteque").

"Before Your Very Eyes.." starts off the album with it's electronic sound that will continue on throughout the following songs.

"Default" has a rather distinct groove and "Ingenue" (with a video as seen on the right, also has a dancing Thom), where both released as singles to the album, and are good examples of the sort of sound to expect. These are then followed by the song "Dropped".

"Unless" is next, which is also one of my favorite tracks off the album.

Following that "Stuck Together Pieces", "Judge, Jury and Executioner", "Reverse Running", and the title track "Amok" continue the remainder of the album. All of these combined add up to a really fantastic album, and one that can be listened to again and again with still finding a bunch of new stuff (though what else is expected from Thom Yorke). So, I really love the album and can not wait to see them perform live in the fall.

 Cult of Luna - Vertikal
Their first album since 2008, Cult of Luna return with a concept album bringing forth some of the themes presented Fritz Lang's 1927 film Metropolis (x). With Vertikal, they bring their notable post-metal soundscapes to listen to while also adding some unexpected elements that work well none the less.

"The One" introduces the album in a calm way, and leads into the following song "I: The Weapon".

The massive "Vicarious Redemption", with a run-time of 18:51 is like the centerpiece for the album. It has a gradual buildup throughout the whole song, that once it reaches the climax of it all it's really a fantastic experience.

"The Sweep", "Synchronicity", "Disharmonia", "Mute Departure", and "In Awe Of" all continue with the powerful and intense, yet still I find emotional atmosphere they have created.

The album closes with "Passing Through", which is my favorite song from the album. While this song is not as heavy as the rest of the album, it is a perfect way to close it. It's really emotional, adding a really solemn quality to the album as a whole.

For the limited edition of the album there was bonus track, "The Flow Reversed". Overall Vertikal is a dark album, but that is to be expected, and it's presented as such in a way that Cult of Luna pulls off great. This album is another example of one that the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me, it is really a fantastic work.


All in all, both of these albums are really fantastic and continue to grow on me with each listen. I would highly recommend listening to them both, as you really would be missing out on some amazing music if you don't.

Haze Over Webster Hall

On Saturday May 11th, Ghost performed at Webster Hall in NYC as part of their Haze Over North America tour for their album Infestissumam, with Ides of Gemini opening.

As Ghost was coming on stage, they had Jocelyn Pook's "Masked Ball" playing. Hearing that really set the mood for the whole theatrical nature Ghost has, with the fog and church-like stained glass imagery at the back of the stage.

While their set was a little short compared to other concerts, maybe about average for some, it was fantastic non the less. As expected from the band, Papa Emeritus II was in full robe (with mask/facepaint, pope hat, and everything), and the Nameless Ghouls in their black hooded garb all added to the atmosphere they are known for that just amplifies with their music.

01. Infestissumam | 02. Per Aspera ad Inferi | 03. Con Clavi Con Dio | 04. Prime Mover | 05. Elizabeth | 06. Secular Haze | 07. Body and Blood | 08. Stand by Him | 09. Death Knell | 10. Satan Prayer | 11. Genesis | 12. Year Zero | 13. Ritual | Encore: 14. Monstrance Clock

With their performance, they sound fantastic. It's one thing to listen to Ghost from their albums, and another to experience their music in their church like setting. Basically everyone in the venue was fully into the mood Ghost created, and especially so when Papa Emeritus would leave it to the crowd to sing parts of the chorus to various songs. Now of course whenever Papa Emeritus II talks to the crowd, he is in full character (Vatican-like accent and everything), and going along with the bands continuity of how he is not the same as the front-man who played with Ghost in The Studio at Webster Hall two years ago. All in all, it was a fantastic concert experience musically and the satanic atmosphere the wonderful Ghost created.

Ghost - Infestissumam
With this album, Ghost have slightly changed their name as far as the US is concerned due to legal reasons, to now be 'Ghost B.C.'. Infestissumam (which is Latin for 'hostile') picks up where their previous album Opus Eponymous leaves off, which is with the birth of the antichrist. In January the single "Secular Haze" included the b-side of an ABBA cover "I'm A Marionette" featuring Dave Grohl on drums (which is also featured on the deluxe edition of the album).

Now this album unfortunately did suffer some censorship as far as it's American CD release, that being with the inside artwork. Even with the deluxe editions*, for whatever reason the CD manufacturers refused to print it (although someone was kind enough to upload all of the fantastic art here). I have read that the vinyl editions of the album suffered no such censorship, so I think I will have to purchase for myself that edition at some point to have as well as the CD.

 They are as blasphemous as ever, and I think even surpassing Opus Eponymous with this fantastic album. The album flows from song to song really nicely, and like their previous release is filled with memorable and catchy songs. Overall it is a really enjoyable album, I would highly recommend for people to check out especially if you are unfamiliar with Ghost.

* Can someone verify.. I myself only own the deluxe CD edition which seems to have the artwork from that tumblr post, and have not yet seen the vinyl so maybe this is one thing that varies by the edition?