Brák: Tómhyggja

Damn. Daaaaammmnn. This here debut EP from Brák is really quite fantastic.
It is the work of one Þorsteinn Kári Guðmundsson who resides in Akureyri. As its title suggests, ‘Tómhyggja’ (“Nihilism”) is a gloomy, mordant little chap that has been unleashed just in time for winter and the ever-encroaching dark. The title track introduces the EP with its ominous rise in tension before “Dá” gets things going properly. It is a fevered and dark post-punk rush into oblivion with Þorsteinn’s anguished and urgent vocals riding atop the music’s frenzied gallop. It is the highlight of the EP, but the other tracks are close behind.
Great as this EP is, there are things to be improved. The production values are all over the place, which means the EP doesn’t sound as cohesive as it could. But by Þorsteinn’s own admission (in an interview with Halifax Collect), ‘Tómhyggja’ is somewhat of a demo. There is a 12 song album due to be recorded sometime during the winter and if it realises the potential shown on this release, then it promises to be pretty damn special.  – clyde bradford