ALBUM REVIEW ~ FLAT BLACK ~ 'DARK SIDE OF THE BRAIN'

nothing to some, corey taylor, godsmack, nothing more, it's your lack of respect, I'm music magazine, flat black, dark side of the brain, jason hook, five finger death punch, Jason Hook , Wes Horton , Rob Pierce , Nicholas Diltz ,

Known for his role in Five Finger Death Punch, guitarist Jason Hook has returned with his own band, Flat Black, his answer to the lack of creative control and freedom in an industry full of standards and rules. Riding on his previous success with the last band, Hook is able to fulfill his wishes and lead his own project head-on. While some artists struggle to detach themselves from the work which made them who they are, Hook (who is backed by Fearless Records) is moving forward with Flat Black’s debut album release in late July, ready to show the world another side of him.

The tensity of “It’s Okay to Be Angry” rivets through this first track off Dark Side of the Brain. Solemn at first, “It’s Okay to be Angry” breaks into a slam-metal ferocity real fast.

“Justice Will Be Done,” is the attitude of the album. Snappy and ensuing its own reign of terror, the second track is a vengeful powerhouse. Brutal and heavy at its core, “Justice Will Be Done,” sounds like a threat and an anthem all at once, and the hardcore instrumentation only enhances the spiteful lyrics thrown out. The bassier notes from the guitar to the percussion reverberate with power, marking the song’s place as the second track and welcoming the listener to follow into the rest of the album.

“Sideways” rages with an emo-core narrative and sound. The soliloquy on the bridge offers a hopeful narrative preceding the line “I won’t drown in my sorrow; I fight to stay alive.” A razor-sharp solo feeds into the electrifying sound.

Following that hopeful message with “A Bit of Lightning,” the fourth track is full of a dreamer’s lament, all about seeking that light at the end of the tunnel during dark times. “A Bit of Lightning” uses an uplifting but edgy power-ballad guitar intro.

A cryptic chamber reverberation rings in “Unwanted.” Heavy with emotion, the spotlight of this song is in the strength of the lyrics. A desperate fury overtakes the vocals, wailing on the topic of moving on. It is a captivating vow, a song brewing with strength and a hard rock blast.

“Home” chimes in with a different sound, a rhythmic strumming pattern echoing an acoustic dynamic. The vocals strike the hardest while the instrumentation carries its own contagious melody. A dash of folk picking coinciding with industrial beats, “Home” is an eclectic mix of noise and varying sounds you wouldn’t think would mesh well together but end up complimenting each other well.

The eerie and abrasive “Halo” follows next. Electrifying licks, and hardcore blasts, the seventh track drags listeners back down a dark tunnel with a detached feeling. “You’ve got your own reasons to be alone at the edge of the night” are stand out lines that cast a shadow on everything else, not to dismiss the fury and passion laced in the instrumentation.

The album’s title track is a fast rager. This let’s-get-down-to-it anthemic bop races between wailing and growls with emo-esque lines in a proper alternative rock fashion. “Dark Side of the Brain” reigns triumphantly, mosh-pit ready to go.

“Villain” blares out as a traditional modern rock ballad. Words spat out in a punchy manner, choppy bass lines, and cutting drumbeats, there is hardly anything off course about this track. It rages with venom and metal.

An atmospheric arpeggio sounds out “Youth N Eyes” as an interlude, a pre-cursor to the final two tracks, taking us right into the battle-cry of “Tidal Wave.”

Closing out Dark Side of the Brain, is “Let It Go.” A defining drumbeat kicks us off, catapulting the final track forward. Motivating might be the most accurate adjective for “Let it Go,” a song that urges one to move on. This epic finale finishes with a high-speed rhythmic blast which leaves on an abrupt note. Quick, inspiring, and leaving us wanting more.

Dark Side of the Brain embraces animosity and peace alongside each other, a raging determination to succeed, and with such a strong leader and skilled group of musicians, there’s no reason to think this album won’t find its way onto rock charts. While Hook’s newest project contains many of the same elements one would expect in a modern alternative rock group, it holds the ability to surprise listeners as well with a few off-the-wall combinations.

Flat Black is: Jason Hook [Guitar], Wes Horton [Vocals], Rob Pierce [Drums], and Nicholas Diltz [Bass]

I’m Music Magazine Writer Alice Kearney