DARK SIDE OF THE BRAIN FLAT BLACK

• 1IT’S OK TO BE ANGRY04:30
• 2JUSTICE WILL BE DONE03:40
• 3SIDEWAYS03:40
• 4A BIT OF LIGHTNING04:17
• 5UNWANTED04:04
• 6HOME03:16
• 7HALO03:42
• 8IT'S YOUR LACK OF RESPECT03:52
• 9NOTHING TO SOME03:27
• 10DARK SIDE OF THE BRAIN04:13
• 11VILLAIN03:16
• 12YOUTH ‘N EYES00:51
• 13TIDAL WAVE03:47
• 14LET IT GO03:46
• Total Runtime50:21

Info for DARK SIDE OF THE BRAIN

Guitarist Jason Hook is storming out of the gates with his new band FLAT BLACK. The former Five Finger Death Punch guitarist has recruited a trio of young and talented turks and are ready to release their debut album. The album, produced by Hook, was recorded at the Hideout Studios as well as his home studio, both in Las Vegas. Despite having reached a commercial summit with his prior band, thanks to multiple platinum certifications, sold-out arena shows, and a string of No. 1 singles, Hook remains as hungry for musical blood and thunder as the day he first picked up a guitar at the age of 6.

It's always heartbreaking when a band member leaves a favorite band. Such is the case when Jason Hook, lead and founding guitarist of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, left the band in 2019. Hook wasn't just a token guitarist. He was a key part of the band's style. Hook's guitar solos were a major part of the band, and everything the band released really had his stamp on it.

Change is constant in the music world, however, and Hook is back with "Dark Side of the Brain", his new band FLAT BLACK's debut album. Lead single, "SIDEWAYS", sends a clear message: Hook is continuing with his well-established brand of guitar-centric hard rock and metal. The track is an absolute rager, with thunderous, headbanger-worthy rhythms and thick guitars alongside a strong, melodic and catchy chorus.

In general, "Dark Side of the Brain" doesn't veer too far from the core FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH sound, but it certainly has its own identity and stands on its own. The album's lead track, "IT'S OK TO BE ANGRY", certainly conveys an angsty vibe, with powerful screaming from vocalist Wes Horton coupled with his more melodic vocals. In addition to FIVE FINGER, this song, and much of the album, recalls bands such as SEVENDUST and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, delivering a mix of melodic and harder-edged metal music.

Throughout the album, one aspect that stands out is the sheer variety of tempos and styles. The tracks don't all sound the same, and while each song has that guitar-heavy sound, there's an appropriate mix of mid-tempo rockers, melodic metal and, as evidenced in "NOTHING TO SOME", even a dash of death metal growls, provided by none other than SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, who adds a hard edge to the track.

"UNWANTED" is a mid-tempo metal anthem with choppy guitars and a soaring chorus, as Horton declares that he doesn't need his foe. "HALO" really shows off Hook's guitar playing, as he indulges in a head-spinning guitar introduction that hits the listener like a brick. The album also features a short atmospheric, instrumental interlude in "YOUTH N EYES".

"Hook stands on his own with "Dark Side of the Brain". The album might garner comparisons, but those who listen closely will hear that Hook is moving ahead with something fresh and new to say." (Anne Erickson, blabbermouth.net)

FLAT BLACK

FLAT BLACK
Guitarist Jason Hook is storming out of the gates with his new band FLAT BLACK .

The former Five Finger Death Punch guitarist has recruited a trio of young and talented turks and the band has signed with Fearless Records for its debut album, the details of which are TBA. The album, produced by Hook, was recorded at the Hideout Studios as well as his home studio, both in Las Vegas.

Despite having reached a commercial summit with his prior band, thanks to multiple platinum certifications, sold-out arena shows, and a string of No. 1 singles, Hook remains as hungry for musical blood and thunder as the day he first picked up a guitar at the age of 6. He is eager to not only replicate but to surpass his past successes with his new band.

Having left his prior band in February 2020, which was right before COVID-19 put the entire world on pause, Hook wanted to assume creative control and let his musical free spirit soar in a project that was truly his. He opted to gamble on himself. With great risk comes great reward and the decision to form FLAT BLACK clearly worked out in his favor.

“As a musician, I crave freedom and I wasn’t ready to stop creating,” Hook shares. “Life is short”, he continues, “we all want to feel satisfied and happy with what we are trying to accomplish in life.”

The pandemic shutdown allowed him the opportunity to assemble the right musicians and carefully craft their debut album. FLAT BLACK are armed with an arsenal of riffs that’ll rattle your teeth loose from your gums, stadium-sized hooks, arena-ready anthems, and choruses that are guaranteed to touch a nerve. All of those factors combined make FLAT BLACK poised for success.

The origin stories of the rest of the players are indicative of a lifelong love of music and plenty of road-worn experience. The desire to play courses through their veins and propels them forward, which is why they all meshed so well with Hook.

Singer Wes Horton was introduced to music at age 13, thanks to his sister and Guitar Hero. He honed his vocal chops by playing in local bands and making online videos. Various music industry friends and acquaintances would become the connective tissue between himself and Hook. Horton knew he wanted to be a frontman, and FLAT BLACK afforded him that opportunity. Wes loves the fact that his bandmates prioritize songcraft — and that allows him to be the singer he has always wanted to be.

Bassist Nick Diltz, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, is the son of a legendary rock music photographer who brought him to concerts during his formative years. He recalls being inspired by watching a VHS video of U2 performing at legendary venue Red Rocks. Seeing fans clamoring for a piece of Bono in the footage is a vision that never left his head. This first exposure to the power of a true rock icon solidified Nick’s destiny as a live performer.

Drummer Rob Pierce hails from Nashville, aka Music City. His dad was a race car driver and his grandfather was a pastor. He grew up racing go karts and at first, wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps until he joined the fourth grade band and was bitten by the music bug. He chose the snare drum over the saxophone and from that moment on, music was the only thing that mattered. Rob got his first drum kit at age 11, which he set up in his dad’s car shop. He learned to play his instrument next to 1,000 horsepower engines, which influences his highly energetic style to this day.

The chemistry between the players in FLAT BLACK is palpable. And while FLAT BLACK’s songs are built to take up real estate in the brains of fans for weeks at a time, the true nature of the band’s material is meant to be experienced live. FLAT BLACK are now ready to hit the road and bring these brutal bangers to the masses live and in the flesh.

“IT’S YOUR LACK OF RESPECT” is one of the first songs that Hook penned and it has a raging, gnarly fire in its belly. With its percussive thrust and shreddy guitars, the song will ignite mosh pits from the first note. Hook states, “The track is blatantly defiant, and includes a live ending, that was recorded live off the floor’ in the studio. As a lead off track, it makes a statement. The song is defiant, which is what rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be.” Hook adds,”it’s a ‘fuck you’ track with a big chorus.”

The track “JUSTICE” is another metallic anthem, with fast and furious riffs. “The lyric is directed toward anyone that has screwed you over. It’s a ripper that will be a blast to play live,” Hook enthuses.

Elsewhere, “A BIT OF LIGHTNING” was penned right after he parted ways with his previous band. The state of the world at the time, combined with making a major professional shift, took its toll. But it also birthed what could be one of the band’s signature songs. Hook admits, “I was feeling pretty low, and the pandemic wasn’t helping. The lyric is basically me asking for something to turn around sooner than later.”

And with that, FLAT BLACK have arrived and are ready to turn heads.

This album contains no booklet.