Image by Andrzej Otrębski, Wikimedia Commons license 🙏
The word mgła (meaning “fog” and “mist”) seems to be an endless source of inspiration for Polish bands. Two established groups use it in their respective band name. Numerous others have released songs related to this weather phenomenon, which gives any landscape an eerie layer of mystery.
Quick links:
- Mgła: Black metal in English
- Mgły: Dreamy guitar pop
- KSU and “Za mgłą”: escaping into the mountains
- Weather & seasons in Polish
- Follow Sing Polish
For non-Polish eyes, mgła might look like a weird tangle of random letters. How are we supposed to even say that? Well sooner or later, us Polish learners realise that it *is* possible to stack consonants and still produce a valid sound. In this case, something like “mgwua” or even “mugwua” with a very short first “u” 😅
Here are three of many Polish bands with a fascination for gloomy weather. You’ll find many more in the playlist “Weather and seasons in Polish”.
Mgła: Black metal in English
Despite the impossible consonant cluster, the band Mgła has enchanted an international audience of black metal fans (or maybe “bleak metal” would be a more accurate description).
Unlike the vast majority of Polish bands, they sing mostly in English 🇬🇧
Mgła formed in Krakow in 2000 and are famous for their raw sound and unrelenting lyrics. Expect direct and graphic language, like this:
“There is despair underneath each and every action” and
“I envy the maggots, their stuff at least sticks together”
(both from their third album, Exercises in Futility).
Not for everyone, but they enjoy full respect from their growing fanbase. If you’re not scared of the dark, give it a try:
Mgły: Dreamy guitar pop
A completely different kind of fog comes from the band Mgły, which is the plural form of the word (so “fogs” or “mists”).
This is a smaller and more recent project than Mgła, and it couldn’t be more different. Far from headbanging territory, the music is firmly based in the land of dreamy shoegazing and atmospheric guitars.
While they’re less established than Mgła, they’ve still carved out a niche among people who like moody, poetic Polish lyrics. And a single releaseed in June 2025 might signal that a new album is on the way 🤞
The track below, “Czekam na lato” (I’m waiting for summer), is taken from their 2020 album Samotna podróż do Arkadi (A lonely journey to Arcadia).
KSU and “Za mgłą”: escaping into the mountains
The song “Za mgłą” (behind the fog) is a creation by KSU, a well-known punk band with a feeling for wonderful melodies.
The band members are from Ustrzyki Dolne, located at the foot of the beautiful Bieszczady mountains. “Za mgłą” is steeped in that landscape. The band name KSU marks another connection to their hometown, as it reflects the local car registration plate code.
The lyrics are about escaping to the meadows high up in the mountains, above the mountain mist. Up there, everything is lighter and clearer, and you can look down at the grim reality at a safe distance below.
Punk doesn’t get much more poetic than this!
Weather & seasons in Polish
Playlists
There are tons of great Polish tunes with references to mgła, other weather conditions, and the seasons. I ended up making dedicated playlists to practise relevant vocabulary. Check them out below!
Glossary
You can also save this glossary with terms if you want to import it into a language app like Anki (which allows you to practise flashcards).
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