Of Monsters and Men - All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade (Album Review)
Monday, 27 October 2025
Written by Chris Connor
Photo: Eva Schram
Of Monsters and Men have been at the vanguard of indie-folk since the release of their debut album in 2011, accompanied by their enduring single Little Talks. The Icelandic group now returns with their first album since 2019: ‘All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade’. It’s immediately obvious from Television Love that this is a return with purpose, immediately appearing more introspective and darker in sound.
While there are flourishes of the wistfulness that made them a household name, this is more of a rock record, with heavier riffs and solos. At 53 minutes and 13 tracks, it’s one of the most expansive and ambitious releases from the group to date, without sacrificing what made them.
Dream Team, for example, neatly marries their earlier sound with newfound intimacy.
Vocal harmonies are still at their core and it’s easy to picture the song being delivered in a packed arena.
There is real, simplistic beauty to The Actor, with shades of some of St Vincent’s work, while the album takes greater influence from the band’s personal life, reflected both lyrically and in the heavier sonic feeling.
There are still moments that pierce the gloom. Ordinary Creature is far more upbeat as it veers closer to the familiar but it is impressively woven into the overall themes and landscape of this album, peppier but not out of place.
Conversely, Mouse Parade is one of the moodiest tracks on the record and one of its best, beguiling and unlike anything else here. The acoustic and harmony- driven The End returns to more structured indie-folk and it’s a beautiful way to close.
‘All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade’ is a complete departure, coming packed with moody, wintery soundscapes with a lingering sense of dread. It is this departure from convention that makes it such a triumph. It shows there is far more to Of Monsters and Men than Little Talks and their early indie-folk, which is not abandoned here but evolved into something engrossing.
Of Monsters and Men Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed February 11 2026 - DUBLIN 3Olympia Theatre
Thu February 12 2026 - BELFAST Telegraph Building
Sat February 14 2026 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
Sun February 15 2026 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Tue February 17 2026 - LONDON Roundhouse
Wed February 18 2026 - LONDON Roundhouse
Fri February 20 2026 - CARDIFF Great Hall, Cardiff Students' Union
Sat February 21 2026 - BRISTOL Bristol Beacon
Sun February 22 2026 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Tue February 24 2026 - BOURNEMOUTH O2 Academy Bournemouth
Wed February 25 2026 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Thu February 26 2026 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
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