Jason Dunn: “Formerly Known As…” Album Review

If you grew up listening to Christian Punk in the 2000s, you probably remember the names Stellar Kart, eleventyseven and Hawk Nelson. I remember Hawk Nelson being on the film Yours, Mine and Ours and portraying The Who on an episode of American Dreams. They were at the top of their genre. Then, in March 2012, Jason Dunn made the decision to step down from the frontman of the band to pursue his own solo career. Fast forward 14 years and Jason is releasing his third record Formerly Known As... I absolutely love the album art featuring him in a mascot costume with his foot on top of a hawk’s head. While imagining Jason Dunn trapping the hawk in a half-nelson wrestling move is a hilarious alternative, the actual artwork is still an incredibly solid choice for this pop punk release.

Formerly Known As… Album Review

Tracks: 10

Length: 35:20

Release Date: May 22, 2026

Label: Slo-Mo Records

The album kicks off with “Billy Enforcee.” This was originally released in 2021, now updated for this new release. It gives me that old school Hawk Nelson sound before they went CCM, with bright guitars and pop-punk vocals. The chorus has that catchy hook that gets you bobbing along. Listening closely, it sounded like he wrote an Easter egg to the song “California” with the lyrics “packed our bags and hit the open road.” The lyrics in Hawk Nelson’s “California” were “let’s pack our bags and move to California.” Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe he did it on purpose.

The party doesn’t stop there as we go into “Starting Over.”  The song starts off strong with an electric guitar riff that screams essence of Blink 182, Good Charlotte and Stellar Kart. There’s a smooth transition to an acoustic section during the first verse. The group vocals at the end are reminiscent of traditional punk. He keeps to his punk rock identity so far. Going from one electric opening to another, we push on into “Divided States of America.” This song was one of the first singles earlier this year. The double bass in the drums is in full effect and adds depth to the song. Jason gives a passionate plea about the current state of politics within the country. The song also features the aggressive screams of Curtis Hartshorn from Friendly Neighbor.

“We used to fight for freedom, now we fight each other. We move to the algorithm, not to the beat of life…We used to fight for justice, now it’s clicks and trends. Can’t tell the foe from the so-called friends.”

I love the lyrics as it calls out what exactly needs to be called out. The behavior from both sides of aisle are not flattering. There’s more to dive into with this song, but I would go on for ages.

The next song is a personal one from a place of hurt, regret and healing for Jason. “Dear Hawk” is written as a letter to his time with Hawk Nelson, reflecting on the conversations they used to have and the circumstances that ultimately led to Jason’s departure. The first three tracks were aggressive, passionate songs contrasting with this more reflective, acoustic, vulnerable song. Simple acoustic guitar strums and group vocals really set the scene for this track. Despite everything that happened, all the good and all the bad, he realizes that he came out stronger in the end.

“There are scars, there are wounds and our hearts, they have broken. Our minds, they have spoken. Our lives were made for so much more.” 

“That cold conversation we had on the phone. Just made me feel so lost and alone.”

These lyrics are coming from a place of hurt and disappointment. Though we don’t know what truly happened, it seems that Jason is working towards making sure that his friends know that he’s okay and moving on.

The deep introspective songs continue with “January 10.” This is a really cute song that Jason wrote about his daughters and how his life changed when they were born. I could hear this as a radio single. The music is gentle, soothing and simple. It’s not something rushed, but rather Jason wanted to take his time and make sure that it came out sounding great. I really like the heart and passion that he put into the lyrics - “remember there’s a God above who loves you just the same.” “January 10” is a song that every parent can listen to and echo about the positive impact that their kids have had on their lives.

We dive back into the punk vibes with “Never Gonna Let Go.” You just want to jump along with the guitar riffs and the catchy lyrics. The music reminded me of the sounds that we would’ve heard in the 2000s from FM Static, Sum 41 and others. It’s a great song that you’ll want to put on your party playlist. “Hope” takes us back to the slower tempo, but keeps with the heavy message. The emotion of the music matches the lyrics. The core message woven through this song is that no matter what, God is always there for you.

“You’ve got plans for my tomorrow, you’re all that I want. You are all I need. I will follow You forever.”

I remember the reflective, heart-warming songs that Hawk Nelson wrote on their earlier albums. It’s warming that Jason is bringing that writing philosophy into his own writing.

“Prodigal” comes out hot out of the box where Jason pushes his voice to another level. I’m rather impressed with his lung capacity and how he pushes his voice without strain. I thought that the use of the drums on the build-up to the chorus was a great job and truly shine on this song. The breakdown at the end kept the energy going. I love a song with lots of energy and Jason puts in the passion and heart into everything he puts out.

Earlier, we heard Jason’s song about his daughters. He follows it up with “Ryan’s Song,” a song he wrote in 2021 about his son. The piano and drum beats pair together nicely to duplicate the sound of a heart rhythm. The proud papa passion shines through in Jason’s vocals. He brings a lot of himself into this album and it shows. The song ends with the heart beat showing just how much his children mean to him.

The high-octane “Reclaiming My Estate” is our last song on this stellar comeback from our former frontman. The opening guitar riffs echo what most millennials would recall from their days of listening to Stellar Kart, Hawk Nelson and other Christian punk bands of the 2000s. The song functions both sonically and lyrically as a triumphant resolution to the album’s overarching narrative of redemption, faith and stepping back into the punk spotlight. It was a great way to end Jason’s latest punk solo record.

Formerly Known As… is a great addition to Jason’s discography. I feel like over the last year, we’ve seen a resurgence in that scene with solid releases from Nate Parrish, Grace Graber and now Jason Dunn. The songs were written from personal experiences (both good and bad), relationships, love for his wife and family, but ultimately the truth that there is a God who loves and adores you. There are some definite highlights on this album like “Divided States of America,” “Billy Enforcee,” “January 10” and “Reclaiming My Estate.” To all who grew up with the Hawk Nelson who wrote about California, Crazy Love and Friends, you need to stop and listen to this album. It will transport you back to the good ol’ days of Christian punk and it might encourage you to pull out that skateboard one more time for ol’ times sake.