Flagg — Nothing But Death

Although I was certain I’d heard the name Flagg before in a Black Metal context before, I  just couldn’t place it -the description from the bands label Purity Through Fire didn’t little help either "a brand new unit that comes from unknown parts". However, with a little research, I found out that this is the project of  Flagg – the bass player from crude ‘n’ barbaric finish black metal Annihilatus-  for this album he plays bass, guitar & synth , and is joned by the grimly ripped vocal talents of Tyrant of Infernarium, Kalmankantaja, Malum

From the outset of Nothing But Death, it’s clear this is absolutely cruel & nasty black metal. The four-minute and bit opener, "Destroy, Desecrate", slides out with a shrill and sharp guitar cadence, before it adds in fast, clattering and deadly precise drums to the guitar and bass sounds, accompanied by Tyrant's rabid and bloodthirsty vocals. It's  most certainly a dirty, unbridled, Finnish Black Metal sound- that from time to time reaches an unrestrained, almost grindcore-like speed, which truly drives the listener through the gates of hell.
 
"Nothing But Death", the title track of the album, slides in almost seamlessly next- with just enough melody under its dirty surface and punk style. The slower parts stand out through the magical keyboard work and the trilling guitar riffs that support the brutal drum explosions and blasphemous vocals.
 
Third track "Dark Clouds Gathering" increases an almost mystical atmosphere and alleviates the depravity a little more. In this track, Tyrant's vocal work is fantastic, and after the two and a half minute mark, the track gets suddenly interrupted by an arcane funeral melody, where you hear some dying screams coming from the deepest dungeons.
 
With a massive, angry roar, the next track "Burning Sky" literally explodes into an opaque guitar roll, accompanied by pummeling drums and the relentless, crusty vocals of Tyrant. The fifth piece "Abomination" hits the same score, but always leaves room for some of the classic elements of the genre. This piece is a surprise!
 
"Apex Predator", the albums sixth track, relentlessly stalks forward and grabs it panicky prey by the throat before tearing it up.  You can almost feel the blood gushing from the manic singer’s throat. "Sixth Sun Salvation" is storming ahead regardless of losses. The subtle keyboard passages are particularly noteworthy here. They underline the excruciating insanity of the piece in a perfidious way.
 
Moving on  and "Last Breath Drawn" doesn’t give us a redemption, but only leads us further into the corruption. The whirlwind of screeching, nagging vocals, malicious drumming, and dark guitars are from time to time replaced by heavy, sluggish passages which pave the way to the desolate path of an altar, which was built for the last and longest track on the album ... "Towards Emptiness" is a grim shroud that slowly but surely stretches across the wastes of our existence. The piece begins with subtle sounds of a melody and underlines a ritual in a windswept wasteland. Whispering voices rise and become raspier, more malicious.  The track manages to really well unite all the elements that have made this whole album so exciting and leaves with a bloody carnage that gives us sounding ears ...
 
One of the joys of writing reviews for Musique [Machine] is to get a chance to listen to brand new and mysterious work by a (for me still) unknown band and then to find out it’s a gem of a record.... and that what we have here. A raw, untreated, gem encased by a tarry, dripping crust of punk and crust infected Finnish Black Metal!