ALBUM REVIEW: Mgła – Age Of Excuse

The brand new full length from Polish Black Metal legends Mgła is here, out now via Northern Heritage Records.

They set off with eerie sampling before emanating bleak and cold riffs over pummelling drum fills. Immediately there is a captivating nature to their recognisable brand of dissonant atmospherics. The savage vocals quickly join to add to the darkened soundscape, truly hitting hard. Phenomenally pristine guitar riffs soon drive out a tranquil and ritualistic ambience that has the truly marvellous off-kilter feel of the bands previous material, akin to the Icelandic scene. While there is an abundantly melancholic and disturbing tranquillity, we also compelled by the gorgeously driven and piercing aggression that cascades bittersweet waves of utterly brilliant despair forth. For me this record has a clear sense of direction that is certainly respectable with its balance of ferocity and sorrowful nuance, showing that Mgła is not just simplistic Black Metal but an artistic journey of utmost prowess. Deafened by the concoctions of guitar depravity, it is clear that they also possess one of the most hypnotically talented drummers with a huge array of interesting fills that enhance the well-drive experience of the music to a whole new plane. I adore the way the blissfully discordant guitars ring out with such a dystopian feel to them, truly unhinging and twisted in their execution. Bellowing a diverse array of catatonically mesmerising musicianship, this new record is a fantastic addition to the already remarkable discography of Mgła, delivering another encapsulation of magnificent material that must be heard by all fans of Black Metal, putting away any doubts of the genre being anything other than alive and kicking. Not only are the song structures beautifully varied but we see a fabulous diversity in style too, balancing mournful bleakness, thundering assaults and some dancing melodies that twinkle stunningly among the repugnantly harsh blasphemy of their uniquely crafted extremities. While I think “Exercises In Futility” will remain my favourite by the band, this is still an undeniably good album that hits so many satisfyingly dark points while keeping things really listenable with a crystal clear production style that still retains the raw spirit of the music and is by no means polished. Certainly a thoroughly enjoyable and entrancing listen from start to end that is gorgeously written. Let the ethereal glow beckon you. -8/10