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9.0
55612
9.0 |
The 405
It's their loudest record. It's their darkest record. It's their best record in a long, long time
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9.0
55616
9.0 |
Drowned In Sound
Whatever Sveinsson added before, Kveikur is more exciting for its omission: leaner and dirtier and far more focused, invigorated by its own decay
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9.0
55618
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
There’s little that’s whimsical or playful to it, and yet it’s still, somehow, pop music – despite being quite unlike anything else currently in the global mainstream
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9.0
55839
9.0 |
musicOMH
The Icelandic trio has now adopted darker musical stylings to create a record that’s every bit as transcendental as their best work
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9.0
55937
9.0 |
Paste Magazine
Though Kveikur is more anxious and busy than a lot of their past output, it still possesses the heavenly quality all their other records so admirably held on to as well
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9.0
55980
9.0 |
The Digital Fix
With Kveikur Sigur Ros have pulled off a dramatic change of direction in fantastic fashion, all the while keeping true to their own sound and feel. A stunning achievement
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9.0
57016
9.0 |
God Is In The TV
Yet another dense, diverse, painstakingly crafted work of genius from a band at the peak of their remarkable powers
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8.4
57164
8.4 |
Beats Per Minute
Despite being one person lighter, Sigur Rós have dialed back by beefing up. I can’t think of many other bands so adept at wringing elegance from ugliness
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8.4
56544
8.4 |
AltSounds
Sigur Ros continue to dodge the pigeonholes and climb ever higher as a result, which seems to suit them just fine
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8.3
55944
8.3 |
Pretty Much Amazing
The darkest the band has gotten, making use of several minor chords throughout; curiously, it is at the same time the group’s most accessible
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8.3
55877
8.3 |
A.V. Club
Breathtaking as well as bloodcurdling
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8.1
55842
8.1 |
Pitchfork
A collection that works as effectively as a spiritual experience and pop music, the essence of their overwhelming, widescreen grandeur conveyed with the immediacy of a 50-minute rock record
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8.0
55848
8.0 |
Slant Magazine
If the intuitive, star-gazing Valtari served as the rediscovery of Sigur Rós's signature sound, then the instinctual, sober Kveikur is its compulsive reinvention
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8.0
55849
8.0 |
Under The Radar
A vibrant and much-needed reminder that the band's creative well is far from running dry
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8.0
55715
8.0 |
DIY
Rhe reinvention of Sigur Rós as clandestine creatures of the night, thunderous and full of chest-out bluster is a development that carries an intrinsic visceral thrill their output could never lay claim to
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8.0
55749
8.0 |
NME
A violent but welcome surprise. Print edition only
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8.0
55766
8.0 |
The Guardian
There's an edge of menace that wasn't there before, and the dirt beneath their fingernails seems to suit them
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8.0
55773
8.0 |
The Irish Times
They remain, as always, an undiluted pleasure
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8.0
55791
8.0 |
Evening Standard
Kveikur is joy untrammelled
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8.0
55793
8.0 |
The Independent
An album packed with Wordsworthian sturm und drang
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8.0
55635
8.0 |
Q
They sound as out of place as ever, and all the better for it. Print edition only
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8.0
55611
8.0 |
Clash
No two songs sound similar and, while Jonsi’s vocals confirm that this is, really, the artist on the album sleeve, it is far from more of the same
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8.0
55890
8.0 |
All Music
One of their most daring albums to date
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8.0
55872
8.0 |
PopMatters
This is the exact type of work that needed to happen following Valtari: it’s bold when it needs to be without sacrificing the group’s hallmark signposts
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8.0
55977
8.0 |
State
Sigur Rós have mined the murky depths of their signature sound and unearthed a beautifully constructed, quintessentially extravagant, glittering black
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8.0
56031
8.0 |
Spin
In their own highly idiosyncratic way and without compromising one iota, the ultimate post-rockers are rocking the fuck out
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7.0
56052
7.0 |
Entertainment.ie
Its best moments remind us just how exhilarating this band are when they hit their stride, but it is not quite brave or bold enough for a band that have released some of the most beautiful and innovative music of the last decade
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7.0
56433
7.0 |
No Ripcord
Kveikur is a strong album, one with no low-lights and an intriguing progression of sound. For a band that has always strived for unique forms and has always pushed the envelope, that means they haven’t stopped
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7.0
55928
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
With no keyboards in sight, Sigur Rós are that most rock of entities: the power trio
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7.0
55638
7.0 |
Uncut
All in all, a neat side-stepping of expectations, and a timely one. Print edition only
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7.0
55852
7.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
While energized, Kveikur doesn’t break away from Sigur Rós’ safe spots
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6.0
55858
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
The debt to second-album Ride and – less happily – what Coldplay owe to Sigur Rós has never been more apparent
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6.0
55637
6.0 |
Mojo
Sigur Rós are still a transporting rather than pulverising listen. Print edition only
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6.0
55620
6.0 |
The Scotsman
This is still slick soundtrack stuff
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6.0
55614
6.0 |
The Skinny
Overall, Kveikur is their most teeth-out release for a while
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6.0
55836
6.0 |
Independent on Sunday
In all honesty, it's not that different
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6.0
55987
6.0 |
Fact
Its elements of darkness feel incidental to the overall triumphal blueprint
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6.0
56358
6.0 |
The Quietus
The comparative brevity of the album and the darker hue of some of its material suggest a healthy bit of self-reflection for a band almost 20 years old, though it feels more like a quarter-turn than a reinvention of the wheel
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4.0
55833
4.0 |
The Observer
Much of it still sounds about as vital as Coldplay Babelfished into Icelandic
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