Of Monsters and Men at the Hammersmith Apollo

Tuesday night ended with a bang for Of Monsters and Men fans in London. Mid-way through their new album tour; Fever Dream – which will see the five-piece perform throughout October and November in venues across Europe – the Icelandic indie folk band bought their mellow folk hooks and anthemic choruses to the stage at the Hammersmith Apollo. 

The show kicked off theatrically with ominous deep warbling sounds and blood-red light as the group entered to the thunderous applause of a sold-out Apollo. Lead singers Nanna and Ragnar traded vocal performances as the group alternated between the popular classics from their last two albums and new material from the latest release. Indeed, talking between songs was kept to a minimum as the band flowed between the folky guitar-driven tones of their first albums My Head Is An Animal and Beneath The Skin to the mellow synth vibe of Fever Dream.

In true Icelandic spirit, drummer Arnar Hilmarsson kept the crowd on their toes by leaping to his feet. Keeping tempo with the thud of a kick drum, the musician stood straight and pleaded the audience to clap in time. The crowd obliged and the venue became a sea of beautifully coordinated hands, just like during the famous Iceland games of the 2018 Football World Cup.

These moments of energy, particularly during crowd favourites such as Little Talks and Mountain Sounds, were punctuated by relative lulls during the more subdued numbers of Fever Dream. It’s clear that the band’s exploration of experimental tones and vibes in the new record, and their departure from the Mumford and Sons/Edward Sharpe-esque sound that won the hearts of followers all around the world, has made for a more varied experience for gig-goers. However, like any quality artist, the band skillfully wove their fresh material with classics in a strong effort to sell their evolved sound.

Overall, the group put on a quality show of beautiful vocal performances and energetic anthemic indie folk. However, it was Arnar’s kick drum that really made it a night to remember.

Earnest White
Photos: Miguel de Melo

For further information and future events visit Of Monsters and Men’s website here.

Watch the video for Wild Roses here: