‘This is our first show since the secret is out!’ says Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir gleefully. She’s the elfin singer of the slightly kooky, sweetly wholesome indie-folksters Of Monsters and Men, so it’s no surprise that her admission is scandal-free and refers merely to the recent release of the Icelandic band’s second album. But her excitement is telling.
After their 2012 debut, My Head Is an Animal, was released, the Icelandic band skipped through the door kicked open by Mumford & Sons and stormed the world with their acoustic-guitar driven, singalong-friendly fairytales.
The quintet’s relief at showcasing new songs is tangible after a two-year tour of the album and the loss of a member along the way. And as they slip into the tense, voluminous opener Thousand Eyes, OMAM look increasingly like a stadium band. They’ve doubled their number to cope with an increasingly complex sound that layers guitars with brass, accordion, two keyboards and plenty of thunderous percussion. Metal scaffolding frames a stage misty with dry ice, while an impressive light show enhances the music’s otherworldliness.
But it’s Hilmarsdóttir who grabs all the attention. Wearing a flowing jacket over a long, body-con dress, she bashes a drum violently, her emotive voice fragile and forceful. Singer and guitarist Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson is a self-contained figure beside the ethereal Hilmarsdóttir, but their voices blend beautifully through the brooding mood of Human, Empire and Hunger.
There’s no denying the strength of OMAM’s melodies – new single Crystals is already an anthem – and they’ve retained their affection for an infectious la-la-la refrain, but the darker hue of the new material makes them a lot less fun. When they dip back into the bouncy Mountain Sound, it’s as though dawn has broken, while big hit Little Talks provokes unbridled joy. An encore featuring the winsome Dirty Paws and introspective Silhouette marries the darkness and light within OMAM. The real secret now will be to balance the two elements.
- At Manchester Academy, 18 November. Box office: 0161-832 1111. Then touring.
