Review Summary: Raw Black Metal filled with emotion.
Emotion exudes in "MLP" with excellent compositions and a raw-fuzzy atmosphere in compliment. Coming out of Finland in 2003, Vordr are passionate about what they put forth. They aren't trying to make a showy display, rather, they are making solid music and making it available to those who are interested.
Usually sticking with minimalistic formulas, Vordr will usually choose a melody line and expound on it. The seven and a half minute track "Weeping the Seas" shows guitarist and vocalist Gand taking an idea and allowing it to grow with the use of overlaying clean vocals and harmonizing leads that follow the same progressive chord suites. In fact, the use of clean vocals is almost never heard of in the realm of raw black metal, but Vordr uses these techniques quite tastefully with the use of reverb effects, so the sounds merry well with the already fuzzy atmosphere. Besides this instance of clean vocals, most of "MLP" uses harsh, high pitched screamed vocals 95% of the time.
Certain tracks like the opener "Wild of Glory" almost have a bit of a western feel to them due to the poppy sound of the drum rhythm, but again the musical choices still somehow fit and are tasteful; not to be mistaken, as a high use of common black metal fair can be found, using tremolos, double bass, and blast beats. For a great deal of the time, tracks tend to give off a positive vibe, while others feel extremely depressive. This intertwining of emotions, although different, almost never fight against each other.
While many tracks utilize similar formulas, the overall musical feel is fresh from track to track. Many raw black metal artists are overlooked due to their musical styles being produced in certain ways of fuzzy low end production, but "MLP" uses these attributes to their benefits, drawing the best techniques from either category. The fuzz lays the melodies easily on your ears and the low end production gives a certain sense of genuinity to Vordr 'spresence. If you are interested in solid raw black metal "MLP" is where you should be looking.
