With “ABSURD,” Icelandic artist Helgar delivers a synth-indie pop release shaped by intense creative momentum and a deep personal reconnection with music. Known offstage as Helgi Pjetur, he brings to this project a long history within Iceland’s creative landscape—first as a contributor to the country’s indie scene, then as an entrepreneur and innovator in the tech space. After years spent building music platforms, launching companies, and shaping the careers of emerging local artists, his own musical current resurfaces in late 2024 with striking clarity. “ABSURD” emerges as one of the opening expressions of this renewed artistic identity, presenting a sound that moves between emotional honesty, atmospheric detail, and the tension of contrasting energies.
“ABSURD” forms one half of a two-track drop created during what the artist describes as an intense burst of creativity. While its companion track, “ANGER,” explores slower and darker electro-groove territory, “ABSURD” takes the opposite route, leaning into chaotic alt-pop and rock elements. The track channels the surrealism of the present moment, translating emotional overload into a dynamic sonic landscape built on rhythmic propulsion, textured synth layers, and a sense of controlled turbulence. Helgar writes and produces everything himself, blending live drums, synthetic atmospheres, and subtle guitar inflections, which gives the track a raw, handcrafted dimension.
The rhythmic structure of “ABSURD” plays a fundamental role in shaping its energy. The live drums sit at the core of the arrangement, acting as an anchor against the swirling synth elements that surround them. Rather than relying on a rigid electronic beat, the percussive foundation breathes and expands, delivering an indie-rock immediacy that enhances the track’s chaotic alt-pop identity. The drumming carries a sense of forward momentum—slightly unpredictable, pushing the song’s emotional urgency, and reinforcing the feeling of navigating a world that shifts faster than one can process. This interplay of tight rhythmic phrasing and bursts of freer movement helps craft the atmosphere of instability that the track thematically explores.
Synth work becomes the second major pillar of the release. Helgar layers a range of textures that move from shimmering highs to saturated mid-range tones, forming a sonic environment that is both immersive and restless. The synth lines rarely sit still; they wobble, pulse, stretch, and distort with intent, functioning not only as harmonic material but also as emotional cues. Their movements echo the song’s themes of surrealism and chaos, creating moments where melody and texture merge into something atmospheric and cinematic. The combination of synthetic sounds with atmospheric guitars expands the track’s spatial dimension, adding depth and contrast without detracting from its central intensity.
Atmospherically, “ABSURD” captures a state of heightened perception, where familiar structures feel skewed and daily life borders on the unreal. The production constructs this mood through a balance of density and clarity: thick layers of sound coexist with open pockets that allow the listener to feel the emotional weight behind the arrangement. The choice to keep the vocals grounded amid the surrounding turbulence strengthens the narrative quality of the track. The voice becomes a stabilizing element—a point of emotional entry—while the instrumentation swirls around it in a way that reflects the broader thematic intent.
What stands out in “ABSURD” is the coherence between concept and sonic design. Every aspect of the production, from rhythm to synth architecture, contributes to a unified portrayal of internal and external chaos. The track builds a world where tension becomes creative fuel, and where atmospheric detail carries as much meaning as lyrical expression. As a result, the song positions itself within the synth-indie pop landscape while maintaining a distinct identity shaped by Helgar’s personal journey, musical background, and renewed artistic direction.
“ABSURD” represents a high-quality release that aligns with the emotional honesty and atmospheric richness at the core of the Helgar project. It stands as a strong demonstration of the artist’s capacity to fuse indie sensibilities with cinematic sound design, and we are pleased to feature it on our webzine with this review.