If you’ve been wondering what guitarist Jason Hook has been up to since leaving Five Finger Death Punch a few years ago, look no further- your answer is Flat Black. The new band’s debut record- Dark Side of the Brain is out now and it’s one that the band should be more than proud of.
“It’s Okay to Be Angry” starts out with a cool spoken word intro and goes into a slow-daunting metal track before “Justice Will Be Done” will make FFDP feel fight at home with a riff intro mixed with some killer double bass that kicks into an adrenaline-rushed track that will make you circle pit in your car- but please don’t. Plus, the guitar solo just kicks ass.
“Sideways” is where the album really picks up and starts to get into its groove. It’s melodic and groovy guitars combined with the vocals that are just perfect when put up next to them give this song a vibe you can’t deny. You can connect with the lyrics and relate to them, it’s such a great song.
“A Bit of Lightning” sees the album take a turn. It’s just a good, groovy, track and it just has the “it” factor. It really stands out while “Unwanted” is a big song. It’s Cinematic, dramatic and builds but has a payoff. We’re in the heart of the record here and this song is perfectly balanced.
“Home” is the song that makes the album. Lyrically, it’s one of the strongest you’ll find anywhere. “I don’t know where to go when home ain’t my home, this is not my heaven” mixed with the catchy rhythm make this song a grand slam.
“Home” is poppy but still heavy and you can picture this as one big, intimate jam session, sitting around a campfire, singing with your buddies; “Home” is a guaranteed hit single.
After another solid track in “Halo,” we get lead singles “It’s Your Lack of Respect” and “Nothing to Some,” the latter of which features Corey Taylor. Both of these were perfect first singles and introduces the band’s heavy side to the masses.
Once they fell in love with the heavy stuff, the band could hit them with the melodic and beautiful tracks and grow even more fans.
“Tidal Wave,” much like “Home,” is beautiful. The vocal delivery mixed with the rhythm of guitars is chill inducing. This song is lyrically perfect- “I’m trying to escape, trying everyday- it’s like a tidal wave. And it’s chasing me, the pain no one sees.”
This song is pure emotion; “and now I’m sinking into parts unknown;” I’m looking for a sign but I don’t want the world to know that I’m barely holding on and I cant hold on for long.” If you can’t relate and connect to this song, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s heavy in multiple ways and is another home run for the band before “Let It Go” ends the record in an aggressive way and you can just close your eyes and see the circle pits going.
Wes Horton’s vocals are incredible; he can scream like you wouldn’t believe, but his clean vocals with raspy delivery are memorable. The relationship of Rob Pierce on drums with Nicholas Diltz on bass is so much fun to listen to, but then you have Jason Hook on guitar- the way Horton’s vocals fit with Hook’s rhythm is unbelievable.
Sure, some of the songs sound similar to FFDP, it’s going to with Hook’s style being so recognizable. The real heart of this album isn’t the heavy tracks and the singles- it’s songs like “Home,” “A Bit of Lightning” and “Tidal Wave.”
In the end, lyrically, this album is flawless. They touch on a lot of subjects that fans will connect with, and they aren’t’ afraid to take risks. Musically, this record ranks at the top of the albums of the year.
Rating: 9.5/10
-Reggie Edwards