Of Monsters and Men - Beneath the Skin

Of Monsters and Men
Beneath the Skin
2015

Of Monsters and Men are back with their sophomore release after their very successful debut album My Head is an Animal. Beneath the Skin was touted by the band as a complete departure from their original album, however after a listen it's hard to see where anything is different. The music is the same, the themes are the same almost everything is exactly the same which honestly is not a bad thing. If you are looking for deep lyrics expounding on the human condition this is not the record for you. Almost every song is more of a fantastical story than a look into someone's soul. Minus the song "Organs", which is hauntingly deep and beautiful, the majority of the record sticks with the sea, animals and old kings for it's protagonists. Of Monsters and Men have added a bit more electric instrumentation to this record, but only a bit. Where as their contemporaries Mumford & Sons went full out electric it seems that Of Monsters and Men weren't ready to leave their bread and butter behind just yet.

This all album really was the safest road that Of Monsters and Men could take. It has a formula and sticks with what My Head is an Animal set up. Production value has definitely gone up on the new record, but in the end it doesn't really add or takeaway from the finished product. perhaps a new producer or s delve into new sounds could push Of Monsters and Men into a new stratosphere of music, but for this album they decided staying the course was their best option. Beneath the Skin is not going to take you to any depths not already explored by the band so don't expect for minds to be blown. However Beneath the Skin is a good Of Monsters and Men album and at least worth a spin.

6.9 out of 10