There are times, as you stand on a vast plain in the thick of a ghostly fog and search ever so coolly for the long lost line of the horizon, that you become relieved to see an approaching darkened silhouette seeping through the haze. And you greet the stranger...as trepidation thickens under your skin.

In this genre we welcome the unknown...along with the macabre and the grim.  The colour 'black' has too been added to our rainbow. And thus we know when shock-valued elements of such kind are being flaunted in our faces as illusions of virtue - the potential intentions of that peculiar stranger.

That is also why when we come across a figure that is blackened to the core but also a sage at heart, we cherish its company, and listen intently to its story. And on "Skuggflock" the Swedish Black Metal collective take us by the hand and show us the way through the haze.

For a Black Metal record "Skuggflock" has quite a mighty heart beat. Opening with the creepy but ultimately punchy intro "Irrfärd" it takes command of the listener with its ominous crooning before introducing its brand of edgy, rhythmic Black Metal with "Vårens sista öskan", which sees the band combine the typical genre trademarks with a more progressive approach.

The latter stylistic traits resonate throughout the record as STILLA splice their songs with subtle sonic undertones that separate this album from the heard without denouncing its roots. The almost trance-inducing treble picked dissonance of "Skuggflock" sets down a mist that is stirred by marching rhythms and astonishingly elegant acoustic lines. "Till den som skall komma" then sways the pines with deep sombre melodies and progressive spells before allowing "I tystnad vilar själen" and "Av Maran riden" to rattle the permafrost with heavy, SABBATH inspired riffs that add an almost Sludge-like dynamic to the band's sound.

Whilst "Skuggflock" may be less ambitious than Black Metal opuses like Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik's "Skuggsjá", it is nonetheless versatile in its approach to the genre, and provides a certain aesthetic that maintains the melodic accessibility and explorative nature of bands like THRÄNENKIND and at the same time retains the earthly authenticity of an independent artist. The fine production quality also makes this record a particularly exceptional offering. The sound is stripped-down but is also spectacularly clean - allowing for the fine musicianship to truly immerse the listener in the darkened motives of the album - whilst the mix remains simple and contributes to its Black Metal characteristics.

Overall -  "Skuggflock" is a breath of fresh air in the dark smog of a hackneyed dale. STILLA lead the listener out of the mist with enterprising compositions and fine-tuned musicianship, all whilst maintaining a respectable gait.