Of Monsters and Men – Live Review – Leeds O2 Academy
By David Schuster, February 2026
As the musicians take a final bow, laughing and chatting, you get a sense of the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that have kept Of Monsters and Men together, through what must have been some challenging years.
When the Icelandic group were formed in 2010 by singer and guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, for the Músíktilraunir annual battle of the bands, she was only 21. Despite their youth they won that competition, and a year later released My Head Is An Animal, their first album. That record went multiplatinum, soaring to number one in their home country, number three in the UK and six in the US, a level of success that might well crush the majority of us. It’s a tribute to them then that, 16 years on, five of the original six members are still together. Of Monsters and Men have grown up, both literally and figuratively.
It’s that experience, coupled with an admirable level of grounding and self-confidence that likely dictated tonight’s set list. They open with ‘Television Love’ and ‘Dream Team’, both tracks taken not from My Head Is An Animal, but their latest album, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade. Both these singles showcase the mood of that record, which is more subtle, reflective and self aware than previous releases.
“Distinctive”
So, it’s a set comprised by the majority of All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade, but healthily sprinkled with highlights from their debut album, for long time fans. The first of these, ‘King and Lionheart’ underlines the affection for the band. As soon as Hilmarsson’s distinctive drum beat starts, the diverse crowd’s hands are in the air clapping along. Later in the show, ‘Dirty Paws’, a gloriously uplifting, anthemic tune, gets an even more enthusiastic reception.
The arrangement of musicians is touchingly egalitarian: All five members are arranged across the front of the stage. Far left is Brynjar Leifsson on lead guitar, then singer, rhythm guitarist and co-front-person Ragnar Þórhallsson. Hilmarsdóttir is central, with bassist Kristján Páll Kristjánsson to her left. Unusually, and quite deservedly, drummer Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson gets a front of house position, far right. Behind, there’s also a couple of talented touring multi-instrumentalists, that help fill out the band’s complex musicality.
Their current epic world tour, covering Canada, America and Asia has included spending a fortnight in the UK, of which Leeds was the last night before moving to mainland Europe. Ragnar muses on the experience. “It’s rained a lot while we’ve been here.” He observes. “I mean a lot lot.” I feel it must take something quite extraordinary to drive an Icelander to mention the weather in other countries.
“Lush crescendo”
Other musical highlights of the evening were ‘Crystals’, with it’s native American beat, the strange and sinister ‘Alligator’ and a triumphant rendition of ‘Little Talks’. For this, they were joined on stage by the talented Arny Margret. She’s been the support act for the group across America and the UK. In that role, she’s a singer and guitarist, but here it also transpires that she plays a mean harmonica riff. In an abrupt change of pace, they end the main set with the haunting ‘Visitor’.
The well deserved encore is short, but fabulous. There’s an acoustic version of “Love Love Love”, which Hilmarsdóttir reminds us was the first song that they wrote together. Welcoming back Arny Margret for the last number, the band round the night off with ‘Fruit Bat’. Starting deceptively down-beat and quietly, it builds, with all the musicians gradually joining in, to create a lush crescendo. The chords ebb and flow, drawing you into a mesmeric finale.
Of Monsters and Men have a quintessentially Icelandic sound. It’s best described by the Japanese word “natsukashii”, meaning nostalgic longing, a mix of affection and melancholy when recalling something or someone from the past. That is what’s at the heart of a group whose very name was drawn from their memories of hearing folktales as children, and it’s something magical.
David Schuster describes himself as an “adventurer, collector, musician and writer. Not necessarily in that order.” Growing up west of the Pennine hills of the UK and living his adult life east of them, he’s inclined to think that the Wars of the Roses were a mistake. David loves discovering new bands and musicians and is happiest listening to live music. He has travelled extensively in the UK and is fascinated by the variety, history and landscapes of the thousands of islands that comprise the British Isles. David is always reassured when online shops confirm that he’s not a robot.
