Top tracks — play these first
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Brennisteinn Start here — The opening track features intense, driving rhythms and stark contrasts between heavy instrumentation and ethereal vocals, setting the tone for the entire album.
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Stormur — With its dynamic shifts and powerful crescendos, this track exemplifies the album's blend of aggression and beauty, showcasing Sigur Rós's ability to evoke emotion through sound.
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Ísjaki — This track stands out for its haunting melodies intertwined with heavy guitar riffs, creating a chilling atmosphere that resonates throughout Kveikur.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Kveikur showcases a heavier sound with layered instrumentation, balancing melody and atmosphere effectively.
What we noticed
- The album opens with 'Brennisteinn', featuring heavy guitar riffs and a driving rhythm that sets a darker tone.
- Each track often features a build-up of layers, with instrumentation gradually intensifying before reaching explosive climaxes.
- Several tracks incorporate both vocal and instrumental versions, allowing for a contrast between melodic and atmospheric elements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady progression with emotional peaks
- immersive headphone detail exploration
- dark textures with haunting melodies
- dynamic instrumentals enhancing emotional depth
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer short standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Represents a deliberate departure to a heavier, darker sound for the band.
- Themes
- Icelandic landscapes· post-industrial aggression
- Career context
- Kveikur is Sigur Rós's sixth studio album, released in 2013 following the more ethereal Valtari. By this point, the band had embraced a heavier sound, reflecting a shift in their artistic direction after the departure of keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson, marking a new phase in their creative journey.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Explosions in the Sky· Godspeed You! Black Emperor· Mogwai
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Brennisteinn Start here 7:45
- 2 Brennisteinn (instrumental) 7:45
Disc 2
- 1 Hrafntinna 6:23
- 2 Hrafntinna (instrumental) 6:23
Disc 3
- 1 Ísjaki 5:03
- 2 Ísjaki (instrumental) 5:08
Disc 4
- 1 Yfirborð 4:20
- 2 Yfirborð (instrumental) 4:23
Disc 5
- 1 Stormur 4:55
- 2 Stormur (instrumental) 5:00
Disc 6
- 1 Kveikur 5:55
- 2 Kveikur (instrumental) 6:00
Disc 7
- 1 Rafstraumur 4:58
- 2 Rafstraumur (instrumental) 4:55
Disc 8
- 1 Bláþráður 5:12
- 2 Bláþráður (instrumental) 5:14
Disc 9
- 1 Var 3:45
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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