This is the most exciting new Sigur Rós song I've heard in a long time, and I love the band's music. "Brennisteinn" (sulfur) is a remarkably aggressive piece of music for musicians who can sound so ethereal: Dreamy elements remain, but they provide an underpinning rather than driving the pulse of the song.
Along with the video for "Brennisteinn" comes the announcement of a new album, Kveikur (candlewick), which comes out June 18 and could well spell a new direction for Sigur Rós. It's certainly a welcome surprise to the band's fans, who are more accustomed to three- or four-year waits between albums; this one arrives only 13 months after 2012's Valtari. Sigur Rós is already touring the U.S. and Canada, and will spend the year on the road through Japan, China, Korea, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and the U.K.
The video for "Brennisteinn" was directed by Andrew Huang, who has also worked with Bjork, Dave Sitek's Maximum Balloon and Ra Ra Riot.
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