ALBUM REVIEW: I / II – MØL
As time has pressed on and eroded the sound of MØL, it has seen them become one of the most formidable metal bands that Denmark has to offer. Scintillating, despaired and downright devastating, they have perfected their brand of blackgaze to critical acclaim, most notably with the release of their latest album Jord in 2018. Given the unbridled support that the band have received, Holy Roar made the decision to re-release the first two chapters from MØL‘s discography, as a celebration of their formative years. The result is a package of the band’s first two EP’s, I and II, which hark back to where it all began.
Having become so accustomed to their raw vigour, reflecting back on MØL‘s infancy feels incredibly nostalgic. Tracks like Sundrowned inspire deep emotion – as likely to raise hairs on the nape of your neck as they are a purpose built release for pent up angst. Blackened and rustic, Sundrowned reeks of innovation and flair. One notable thing about the way MØL make music is that the drums take precedence. Although the guitar work remains of great importance, it’s impossible to ignore the way that tangible drum patterns add life to bleak soundscape, rising above harsh noise to create intoxicating melody. Airy provides more of the same. While relentless tremolo and haunting chords combine to whip up deafening dissonance, rhythmic drums continue to drive the track forwards.
On then to Makhachkala, starting as a frenzied blur of black metal that slides effortlessly. Think HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY with the way it transitions between beauty and chaos, before slipping into a simple, tuneful guitar bridge. From their very inception, MØL have demonstrated a high level of intelligence in their music, focusing not on being as heavy as they can, but always including emotive elements that become a lure for the listener. It is hard not to be drawn in by cathartic songwriting, and ambient sweeps that would bejewel any post-metal album worth its salt.
Makhachkala closes out the first section of the record, before Kathexis marks the beginning of II. Now commemorating the second stage of MØL‘s career, we hear more of the same. Frets are stabbed by anguished fingers, and distraught vocals continue to shriek atop the dense instrumentation, narrating sheer anguish. Pioneers of sorts, MØL created a sound in these EP’s destined to last an age. It is easy to see why they continue to grace stages at festivals such as Damnation, and as lush bass licks wrap themselves around atmospheric drumming, it’s difficult not to end up in a love-drunk stupor.
The penultimate track is Atacama, which rages stormlike. Possibly the heaviest of all the six tracks, it’s destructive methodology hacks away all tact, opting instead to be an auditory battering ram that peaks in a masterclass of impressive chord play and more venomous vocals. As Rush closes the record in similar fashion, we can be grateful that these two EP’s sparked the MØL that we love today. Raw and outstanding in their own right, they are the crazy-paving that led the Danish powerhouse to where they now stand. On that pedestal, they are one of the finest post-black bands that Scandinavia has to offer, and ought to be for many years to come.
Rating: 8/10
I / II is out now via Holy Roar Records.
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