Earlier releases by Stiny Plamenu appeared on Barbarian Wrath, which provides an ample indication of their sound: old school black metal stripped of all extraneous elements but with decent production and pushing forward the narrow confines of the genre, but without stepping beyond said boundaries. I don't know why they changed labels -- perhaps they were motivated by patriotic fervour and a desire to stimulate the local scene, as Naga Productions is located in their native Czech Republic. Or perhaps, it was the intermittent use of heavenly female vocals, a feature which would undeniably be called ‘faggoth' by their former associates. I don't imagine opener "Sit Mezimestskych Stok" impressed the folks at Barbarian Wrath much either with a blasting riff reminiscent of "Norsecore" Marduk.

Not that it will matter much to aficionados of black metal; the female vocals are rendered within an old school black metal context and even the "Norsecore" opener is only Norsecore if one ignores the context. The guitar possesses a unique jangly tone, prompting thoughts of Graveland's _Following the Voice of Blood_ but not nearly as drawn out and with an appropriate level of distortion. Morbivod's voice is comparatively legible -- if this were sung in English rather than Czech, I would have no trouble following the lyrics.

Although this was recorded at Morbivod studios, as was Trollech, the production here is muddier -- all the better to reflect both their unambiguous allegiance to black metal and apt for their subterranean domicile.

Straddling the divide between innovation and faithful rendition of a tried and trusted sound, Stiny Plamenu have constructed an album that will appeal to any fan of key free black metal. Lurking about the sewers may attract attention, but _Odpadni Galerie_ will retain it.