Daníel Hjálmtýsson – Helplessly Hopeless (2025)
Wading through the murky realms of post-punk, alternative rock and new wave sounds, Icelandic trio Daníel Hjálmtýsson (DH) brim with the wavering grunge of tragedy in its sonic river; however, just as they are eerily haunting with that mist of creepiness, Daníel Hjálmtýsson is also brash and abrupt capturing souls with a hard-hitting whomp of hard rock and melodic metal. This is my introduction to DH, but the group has been turning heads for several years, earning critical acclaim with their 2022 album, Labyrinthia. Join us as we delve into their most recent release, ‘Helplessly Hopeless’.
Shifting from the wave of classic meets alternative rock in ‘Mirror, Mirror’, ‘Helplessly Hopeless’ is heavier, richer and far weightier – at least, that’s my opinion. Recorded and produced by Bjarni Ϸór Jennson, with mastering by Dave Collins, the track is a concoction of the natural talents of singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Daníel Hjálmtýsson, bassist Hálfdan Arnason, and drummer Dagur Atlason.
Interestingly, while each instrument from the crashing drums, soaring guitar, and bold bass offers a harmonic symphony of hard rock, it is the individuality of each element that brings ‘Helplessly Hopeless’ to the boil. Slicing through the dark sonic whirlpool with bright colours, the drums and guitars dance in an intricate interplay of hard-hitting rock music; however, it is Daníel Hjálmtýsson’s vocals that bind everything while still contributing to individuality with their rich prominence.
Despite having a strong contemporary hard rock tone, ‘Helplessly Hopeless’ drags me back a couple of decades with hints of Thrice, Three Days Grace and Seether wafting in the tune. Yet, as much as there is a rush of yesteryear, DH resonates with modern reality in its melody and, more importantly, theme. The band explains:
“’Helplessly Hopeless’ expresses intense frustration with injustice and a seemingly global, volatile state where compassion, peace, love and understanding seem fleeting. It is a bleak outlook, watching the world burn, feeling absolutely powerless in saving it…”
In addition to the single, Daníel Hjálmtýsson released an official lyric video for ‘Helplessly Hopeless’. You can view the video below or on their YouTube channel. Please note that the video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Daníel Hjálmtýsson on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more melodic metal on The Other Side Reviews Melodic Metal playlist:
