Black metal used to be about church burnings, theatrical face paint, and lo-fi recordings that sounded like they were captured through a tin can in a blizzard. Then 2015 happened. When the Polish duo Mgła released Exercises in Futility, the entire landscape shifted. It wasn't just another underground release; it was a nihilistic earthquake.
Honestly, the first time you hear the opening riff of "Exercises in Futility I," it doesn't feel like a typical metal song. It feels like a statement of intent. There are no cheesy synths here. No "Satanic" posturing for the sake of shock value. Just cold, calculating, and incredibly melodic misanthropy that somehow manages to be catchy while describing the total failure of the human spirit.
The Polish Underground and the Rise of Mgła
Mgła (pronounced "Mgwah," meaning "Fog") didn't just appear out of nowhere. M. and Darkside, the core duo, had been grinding in the Kraków scene for years. But Exercises in Futility was the moment they perfected their formula. It’s an album that treats nihilism not as a rebellious phase, but as a mathematical certainty.
The production is crisp. You can actually hear the bass. That might sound like a small thing, but in the world of black metal, clarity is often seen as a betrayal. Mgła proved that you can have high production values without losing the "kvlt" soul. They swapped the leather and spikes for leather jackets and hoods, obscuring their faces entirely. This anonymity isn't a gimmick; it’s a reflection of the music’s core philosophy. The individual doesn't matter. Only the void does.
Why the Drumming on Exercises in Futility is Modern Legend
If we’re going to talk about why this record stands apart, we have to talk about Darkside.
Seriously.
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The drumming on Exercises in Futility is widely considered some of the best in the history of the genre. It’s not just about speed or blast beats, though he has those in spades. It’s the cymbal work. Darkside plays the ride and hi-hats like a jazz percussionist who happens to be trapped in a dark, cold room in Poland. His accents are unpredictable. He creates a rhythmic layer that dances over the top of M.’s dense, repeating guitar textures.
Most black metal drummers are content to be a metronome. Darkside is a lead instrument. If you listen closely to "Exercises in Futility IV," the way the percussion builds tension before the mid-tempo breakdown is masterclass-level stuff. It’s complex, but it never feels like "tech-death" wankery. It always serves the song's oppressive atmosphere.
Lyricism That Hurts: Poetry of the Void
The lyrics are bleak. Really bleak.
"The irony of being an extension of the needle / Turning on the same groove..."
M. writes lyrics that read more like E.M. Cioran or Friedrich Nietzsche than typical metal fare. He isn't screaming about dragons or demons. He's talking about the mundanity of suffering. He’s talking about how every human achievement is just a temporary distraction from the inevitable "great nothing."
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Many fans find a strange sort of comfort in this. It’s "honest" music. There’s a specific line in the final track, "Exercises in Futility VI," that has become a bit of a mantra in the metal community: "There is no light at the end of the tunnel / Just the tunnel itself."
It’s grim. It’s harsh. But it resonates because it feels authentic to the human experience of struggle.
Breaking Down the "Exercises in Futility" Tracklist
You won't find individual song titles here. They are simply Roman numerals I through VI. This forces you to view the album as a singular, cohesive piece of art rather than a collection of singles.
- I: The hook. That lead melody is iconic. It sets the pace with a sense of urgent despair.
- II: A bit more aggressive. The tremolo picking here is classic Mgła—melodic but sharp enough to cut.
- IV: Often cited as the fan favorite. It has a groove that is rare for this genre. The mid-section transition is where Darkside really shows off those ghost notes on the snare.
- V: This is the "slower" burn. It builds a suffocating atmosphere that feels like it’s physically pressing down on you.
- VI: The finale. It brings back some of the themes from the first track, closing the loop. It’s the sound of a door slamming shut.
Why People Get Mgła Wrong
There’s a common misconception that Mgła is "depressive suicidal black metal" (DSBM). That’s not quite right. DSBM is often fragile and weeping. Mgła is strong. It’s defiant. It’s a cynical sneer at a world that expects meaning where there is none. It’s "orthodox" in its technicality but completely modern in its execution.
Another thing? People think they’re just another "discontented youth" band. M. is an incredibly articulate songwriter. The nuance in his vocal delivery—which is more of a rhythmic bark than a high-pitched shriek—allows the lyrics to be heard clearly. You don't need a lyric sheet to understand that he’s telling you your life is a series of meaningless repetitions.
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The Global Impact of the Polish Scene
Before Exercises in Futility, when people thought of Polish metal, they thought of Behemoth or Vader. Death metal kings. Mgła changed that. They put the Polish black metal scene on the map, paving the way for bands like Kriegsmaschine (M. and Darkside’s other project) and Medico Peste to get international recognition.
They proved that you could be successful without a major label machine. No music videos. No social media presence. No "behind the scenes" vlogs. Just the music and the occasional live performance where they stand still and let the wall of sound do the talking.
Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Listener
If you’re new to this record or the genre, don't just put it on in the background while you do dishes. It won't work.
- Use decent headphones. You need to hear the separation between the cymbals and the guitars to appreciate the composition.
- Read the lyrics while listening. The weight of the album doubles when you understand the nihilistic philosophy being spat at you.
- Watch a live drum cam. Search for Darkside’s drum play-throughs on YouTube. Even if you aren't a musician, seeing the physical demand of this music adds a layer of respect for the craft.
- Explore the "Kriegsmaschine" discography. If you find the atmosphere of Exercises in Futility too "melodic," their sister band is much more dissonant, industrial, and rhythmically punishing.
- Check out Northern Silence or No Solace. These are the labels/distros that handle this sphere of music. Supporting the band directly via their Bandcamp is the best way to ensure the void continues to sing.
Exercises in Futility isn't just an album. It’s a landmark. It’s the sound of the 21st century’s disillusionment captured in forty-two minutes of perfectly executed black metal. It’s cold, it’s calculated, and it’s arguably the most important metal record of the last decade.