Into the Unknown: Poptones Take Post-Rock to New Dimensions on Pure

Review By Glen

Copenhagen has long been a city known for birthing uncompromising and boundary-defying music, and with their second album, Pure, Poptones confirm they are not just participants in that tradition but driving it forward. Due out September 26th via Happy Metal Records, the trio deliver a collection that is as atmospheric as it is confrontational, shifting seamlessly between moments of raw intensity and dreamlike abstraction.

Poptones have been together since their teenage years, and that longevity shows in the way they communicate musically—effortless, intuitive, yet bold enough to take risks few others would dare. Their time spent at Copenhagen’s Rhythmic Music Conservatoire sharpened those instincts, fostering a fearless approach to composition and performance that underpins every track on Pure. This is not a band chasing conventional hooks or structures. Instead, they treat each song like an open canvas, experimenting with sounds, textures, and environments until something unexpected emerges.

And “environment” is not just a metaphor here. The band leaned heavily into improvisation for this record, often recording in unusual spaces that would seep into the DNA of the music itself. Rehearsal rooms, abandoned corners of Copenhagen, and even the decaying former home of a Danish prime minister—the so-called “death house”—all served as sonic backdrops. Field recordings and industrial samples blur with guitar feedback, vibraphone chimes, and saxophone wails. The result is an album that feels alive, haunted even, with an unpredictable spirit that makes every listen slightly different from the last.

The opening track, “Skin Of Sea”, sets the tone immediately. Its nearly five-and-a-half minutes move like shifting tides, swelling with post-rock grandeur before retreating into delicate textures. From there, the band pivots quickly. “Say Something Now” compresses their energy into a tighter, more immediate burst, balancing hardcore grit with the jagged edges of post-punk. It’s the kind of song that proves Poptones are not afraid of intensity but equally aware of its impact when paired with restraint.

“This Will Be A Good Day” follows with an ironic title—its layers of sound hint at optimism but with enough tension in the undercurrents to keep you uneasy. At under a minute, “Asleep” feels like an interlude, yet its brevity leaves a ghostly imprint, leading into one of the record’s standout moments: “Mirror World”. Here the trio collaborates with hardcore vocalist Victor Kaas (EYES, LLNN), whose raw delivery slices through the dense atmosphere. It’s a thrilling collision of worlds—jagged, claustrophobic, yet cathartic.

Elsewhere, Pure leans into abstraction. “O of Life” and “Narrow Streets” are short, fragmented sketches that feel more like sonic postcards than full songs, yet they add to the album’s restless flow. “17 Hours” and “Thin Air” dial up the urgency, each track bristling with nervy energy that could easily ignite live. By contrast, “I Am Here” pares things back, its near-two minutes folding into the hazy textures of “Hypnagogic State”. The closer, “Eyes Closed”, is a fitting finale—meditative but not without unease, leaving the listener suspended between dream and disquiet.

What makes Pure stand out in the crowded world of experimental rock is the way Poptones balance their influences. You can hear shades of post-rock’s grandeur, hardcore’s sharp edges, sludge’s weight, and even the noirish moods of jazz through the inclusion of saxophone and vibraphone. Yet none of it feels stitched together or forced. The trio’s willingness to let improvisation and space guide their decisions gives the album a natural flow that feels unrepeatable, a snapshot of creativity captured in the moment.

There’s also a sense of community running through the record. Guest appearances from across the Danish underground inject new perspectives into Poptones’ framework, reinforcing that this is not just the sound of a band in isolation but of a scene pushing itself forward.

At just over 35 minutes, Pure is compact but dense. It rewards repeated listening, each spin uncovering new textures or hidden details. One moment you’re immersed in crushing heaviness; the next you’re adrift in ghostly ambience. It’s not always an easy listen, nor is it meant to be. But for those willing to dive in, it’s an experience that feels vital, unpredictable, and deeply human.

Poptones may be difficult to pin down, but that is exactly the point. Pure is not about offering easy answers or clean genre lines—it’s about capturing the strange, often chaotic interplay between sound, space, and emotion. In doing so, the Copenhagen trio have crafted a record that redefines what post-rock can mean in 2025.

With Pure, Poptones are not asking for your attention. They are demanding it. And once you’re inside their world, it’s nearly impossible to leave unchanged.