Flagg from Finland gives us this, their third full length, and a might one it is. Breaking somewhat with what has become known as the Finnish sound, Flagg has crafted a record influenced mainly by the Norwegian gods, and it could stand alongside those records if it had been released in the 1990s. So, is it derivative? Yes. Is it good? Fuck yes. It's very good. Icy black melodies and cold-as-winter riffs abound. The vocals are strong, long and drawn out screams, but perfectly timed. Synths make extended appearances here, but much like Emperor, they add to the music instead of detract from it. They add an extra layer of melody to the tracks. The drums are masterful indeed, and the double bass is relentless, as is proper with this style of black metal. In fact, the bass and drums work together more than most acts that play in this style, playing off each other and avoiding the pitfall of just following the riffs. This is a perfect record for those of us who pine for the glory days of black metal, when the astounding releases just kept coming. Is this as memorable as those classic albums? No. But few things are. Flagg has done an outstanding job here, and credit where it's due. It's worth tracking down.
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