What started as performing in and winning an annual Battle of the Bands in Iceland in 2010 has lead to being signed to Universal Records and slots at US festivals like South by Southwest, Sasquatch! and Lollapalooza for the young Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men.

Of Monsters and Men is comprised of six members whose playing abilities range from guitar to accordion to  glockenspiel. Originating from Reykjavik, Iceland, Of Monsters and Men has gained a huge following in the States due to regular airtime of the song “Little Talks”. The single was the number one song in Iceland in September and is now number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of April 23 and sixth among Alternative songs.

But how did they gain such a huge following in the US? Some may say that it was introduced in the States by a recording of “Little Talks” by KEXP, a Seattle-based radio station. But what really propelled the band to nationwide popularity was the spinning of “Little Talks” on Radio 104.5 in Philadelphia, which I assume triggered other radio stations to play the song as well.

With the release of My Head is an Animal in Iceland in September of last year, the LP rocketed to number one on the charts, surpassing other famous Icelandic artists like Bjork and Sigur Ros.

In April, My Head is an Animal dropped in the US and peaked in the Top 20 on the Amazon music charts. It has maintained a high rank on the charts since.

My Head is an Animal comes to us at a time where the folk genre is on the rise, and Of Monsters and Men are doing nothing but helping increase its popularity.

From start to finish, Of Monsters and Men’s debut album is filled with folk beats, soulful vocals and powerful lyrics. The progression makes the listener excited to hear what is coming next.

The beautiful voice of co-singer/guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir makes the listener eager for the next song while wishing she would never stop. And when mixed with the voice of co-singer/guitarist Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson, they create a perfect harmony.

The song that sticks out to me and gives me that warm feeling is the fourth track off the album, “Slow and Steady”. This song was only released on the US version of the album and shows the great progression mentioned earlier. The spacey electric guitars underneath the delightful vocals make you close your eyes and imagine a night sky with all the stars out. “Slow and Steady” is by far my favorite track off of the album.

My Head is an Animal is my new favorite album from this year. I give the album a perfect five out of five for elegant vocals, dreamy guitars and excellent song progression. If you want to witness a live performance of Of Monsters and Men, I highly suggest going to see them at Lollapalooza this summer. They will be performing on Sunday in the early afternoon, creating a perfect setting for the folk band from Iceland.