FLAGG is a Finnish black metal band, who formed in 2018.  "Cosmic Chaos Manifest" is their second full length album. Flagg's brand of black metal is potent, if a little plain. It is fast, furious, raw but doesn't go out of its way to be anything more than that. But some fans aren't looking for any thing flashy and "Cosmic Chaos Manifest" doesn't pull any punches.  As I said earlier, this is more of a raw approach but the production and mix isn't half bad.

The album begins with the intro "Invoking the Outer Dark" which is a creepy ambient instrumental and little else. The tittle track starts up at 1000 mph—snappy snare rips through the atmosphere of blackened riffs and manic vocals. I do appreciate the groove in the first half of the song. After a weird mid section that is basically just noise, the music switches gears, to an even faster and more harrowing version of the songs beginning.

The band does have a slight melodic side. It shows up briefly in "Circle Of Stones," but the rest of the song is pulverizing black metal until it slows down around the 2:17 mark. These few seconds are more interesting than the song itself.  I wish there were more moments like this throughout the album. I feel like this album is on the edge of being more than what is but it never really gets there.  Being loud as hell and fast as fuck is fun, but it does get to be overkill at some time without any variety. That's my main issue with this album: it just doesn't grab my attention fully. Yes, it solid and I enjoyed while I listened to it for review but there wasn't anything that stuck with me so much that I had to keep coming back for.

But that doesn't mean its charm is without a certain fury.   It's more traditional black metal approach will definitely stand out to fans of the style. "Plague Eternal" is one of those tracks that begins unrelenting and just reaching past the climax to race towards another.  I feel this track represents the album's title very well. All in all, "Cosmic Chaos Manifest," is a high octane album that provides an enjoyable ride while your caught in the moment of it.  However, I personally prefer black metal that covers a wider range but its own mileage will vary with your own tastes.