Mgla’s
Mdłości is a highly acclaimed black metal EP, despite only containing two tracks and running under eleven minutes. Given the acclaim the band received with their previous two full-length albums, it probably shouldn’t be that much of a surprise to learn that their early material was also exceptionally solid and well-regarded. For Mgla, this sense of solidity has always been the key to their style; despite releasing three EPs and three LPs, the band’s style has changed noticeably little since their first EP in 2006, rarely (if ever) stepping away from their melodic black metal foundation. The band has often been criticized as being uninventive and of simply pushing “more of the same” with their brand of black metal due to their reluctancy to experiment or expand their sound, but such shallow critiques blatantly ignore the rigid consistency in quality the band have been able to sustain virtually since their inception. Despite being “typical” black metal, Mgla--and specifically
Mdłości--for the most part deserve all the acclaim they receive.
Split into two parts (titled “Mdłości I” and “Mdłości II”),
Mdłości is ten minutes and forty-four seconds of solid chilly Polish melodic black metal. Using almost constant melodic tremolo playing (usually either on the lead or rhythm guitar, generally one or the other) supplemented by an overall cold sound and notably emotive harsh vocals, Mgla create an almost subtly “epic” feel as they rumble, trudge, and blast across both tracks. While not a progressive band by any means, their route to songwriting is definitely on the more dynamic side; the band rather frequently transition through riffs and drum rhythms with notable fluidity--and while the band often repeat passages, they never maintain a given tempo or rhythm for too long. This gives the two-part
Mdłości an almost constant sense of motion and makes every section feel as if it truly is part of a cohesive whole.
The only real downside to Mgla’s second EP is its length; at less than eleven minutes, its fluid style makes it feel much shorter than it really is, which just leaves the listener wanting more. Thankfully though, the band have two other similarly structured and similarly solid EPs to which one can turn after finishing the expertly crafted
Mdłości.
