Review: Flagman – Tastes Incredible
Self-described as “Primus from Hell,” Flagman’s newest album proves them worthy of that crown—and then some.
Comparisons are a bit of a blessing and a curse. On one hand, having one’s metal band juxtaposed with the very acts that inspired it must feel pretty fulfilling. On the other hand, bands that lean too far into their influences often come across as tedious. In the worst case, all the hard work put into a new full-length will be spoken with the same excitement as a show from the local Led Zeppelin cover band. For this very reason, I worried about introducing Florida’s Flagman as a band inspired by bands X, Y, and Z. Then again, the band’s social media pages include a prominent fan quote, crowning the experimental alt-metal act as “Primus from Hell.”
But why not aim to fill that void of slap bass and southern twang? Primus is more concerned with Rush albums and children’s books to release another Frizzle Fry or Pork Soda.
I’d argue that not as many youngsters take on the classic eras of acts like Primus and Mr. Bungle due to the sheer musical complexity at their strongest moments. Your average 2020s nu-nu-metal bassist couldn’t keep up with a bassline like one from “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” or “Tommy The Cat.” Bassist/vocalist Sam Stewart, however, manages to play lines that satisfy that same itch. He also manages to nail a remarkably solid impression of Mike Patton of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle fame. Stewart’s funhouse grooves share a rhythm section with a powerhouse performance from Grant Freeman. His drum lines are tight, exciting, technical, and powerful. This is heard in blistering moments like the verses on “Hot Off The Log” and the more edgy build-up segments on songs like “Hollow.”
The final element at play would be guitarist Cody Singleton, who fills a similar role to Primus’ own Larry LaLonde. At first, it’s easy to lose track of his contributions on a few songs, mostly due to how prominent the bass and vocals are. However, just like LaLonde’s counterpoints to Les Claypool’s lead bass, Singleton’s artistic voice becomes more prominent the more you listen. With roots in the heavier side of ’90s alt-metal and the math-ier end of post-hardcore, his playing style is dizzyingly technical while lending muscle to the band’s sound.
While the trio’s aptitude is impressive and their influences are bountiful, talent and good taste only get you so far on wax. Most bands of this ilk tend to suffer in the compositional department, paling in comparison to some of the most time-honored classics (how dare they?!). Tastes Incredible, however, reaches a high level of quality with its song-craft. Each song pummels the sensibilities and establishes an uneasy, off-kilter atmosphere. The frantically paced and sonically dense song structures hearken back to records like System of a Down‘s Steal This Album, Mr. Bungle’s self-titled, and Incubus‘ S.C.I.E.N.C.E. The former band even gets their own Weird Al-like style parody in the anti-war single “Bombs Away” (the record also includes a Nine Inch Nails pastiche in “You’re So Lucky This Isn’t A Real Gun”).
Yet, with all these comparisons made, I wish to put real emphasis on the fact that Flagman’s various influences come together into a unique and refreshing sound. Clocking in at only 25 minutes, the band fills the run time with neat ideas and fun riffs, crafting something both familiar and adventurous. I’d even go so far as saying that the three interlude tracks (“Breakfast,” “Lunch,” and “Dinner”) are some of the most impressive, allowing the band to flex their skills in atmospheric Americana, vibey jazz-fusion, and free improv chaos. It’s this same skill that enables Flagman to bring so many of their idols into their sound while remaining far from a tribute band, proverbial or otherwise. You may not be able to sink your teeth into this meal if your diet consists solely of self-serious tech-death but Tastes Incredible is an album to seek out if you’ve got an affinity for deranged, absurdist bullshit.
FFO: Primus, Mr. Bungle, System of a Down, The Dillinger Escape Plan (specifically Irony Is A Dead Scene)
Best Tracks: “Hot Off The Log,” “Bombs Away,” “Dinner”
4/5 Flaming Toilets ov Hell
Tastes Incredible is out now on Bandcamp!
