“Hex” is a song about finding the place we can go to mentally, that clears away whatever storm we are facing. For me, it has historically been music but I didn’t want to limit the song to only that. Everybody has something that if they channel, changes things for the better. The “come get it” is really a call to action in that way.” – Ben Flanagan / BLACK MAP

Elements collide, split, multiply, and generate energy. In similar fashion, the trio of vocalist and bassist Ben Flanagan, guitarist Mark Engles, and drummer Chris Robyn convene, congregate, and commune to power up BLACK MAP. Their union teems with emotion and electricity—which the musicians in turn harness to craft hypnotically-heavy anthems underscored by unpredictable musicality and undeniable hooks.

Pivoting around a nimble balance of post-hardcore, alternative, and hard rock, they incite a reaction rooted in their longstanding chemistry on the trio’s first album with their new label, Hex [Spinefarm Records].

“We started this band with a great sense of communication,” notes Ben. “So, the interplay between us has stayed consistent. We see the potential in the ideas we each bring to the table, and we know what we’re collectively capable of. This time around, we aimed to write an immediate and raucous album filled with energy. Everybody was on the same page.”

The guys have been on the same page since day one. The players had respectively come up in celebrated alternative bands with Mark in Dredg, Chris in Far, and Ben in The Trophy Fire.

However, they unlocked a distinct sound upon forming BLACK MAP during 2014. They captivated with …And We Explode [2014], In Droves 2017], and Melodoria [2022]. PROG hailed In Droves as “a punchy and thrilling collection of songs,” while Westworld applauded Melodoria for its “catchy tunes with enough pop sensibility for radio play but with the technical prowess one would expect from a post-hardcore band.” Along the way, the Northern California group tallied tens of millions of streams fueled by favorites such as “Run Rabbit Run,” “Gold,” and “No Color,” among others. At the top of 2024, they retreated to Southern California in order to record Hex with Saosin guitarist Beau Burchell behind the board as producer.

Everyone locked into a clear and collective cohesive vision. “We were in the same boat in terms of the vibe,” Mark affirms. “A lot of times, you react to what you’ve already done in the past. We loved Melodoria, but it was more expansive and ethereal. So, the natural reaction was to go back to a more immediate sound. We thought, ‘Why not switch it up a bit?’ We still have some atmosphere. It’s just more urgent.”

“Hex definitely has hallmarks of what we’ve done,” adds Ben. “The way Mark plays guitar is so unique, and it’s always present in the song. However, this body of work had a lot of ‘Let’s fucking go’ spirit.” Speaking of, the first single and title track “Hex (Come Get It)” springs to life with a magnetically melodic guitar riff and a clarion call chant, “Come get it.” It tempers an upbeat groove with spacey electronics and a soaring refrain.

“For me, ‘Hex’ is a love letter to music,” says Ben. “It’s about how music has taken me out of so many dark holes and helped me in my life. Everyone needs something to bring them solace.” “It’s more of a feeling than a subject,” Chris goes on. “It’s like a train plowing through, charging with force and never relenting. That’s the mentality. The drive and intention are there.”

In the end, BLACK MAP’s energy proves uncontainable. “We have our other passions and lives, but playing music with these guys is one of the best outlets you could imagine,” Ben leaves off. “You feel like you’re eighteen again, even though we’re nowhere near that,” he laughs. “We labor over each song,” Chris concludes. “The value the work provides is to have that ultimate outlet. It only gets more meaningful and powerful as the years go on.”