Straightener (often written STRAIGHTENER) is a Japanese rock ban. The band started out as a duo with Atsushi Horie (vocals/guitar) and Shinpei Nakayama (drums) in 1998. They established an independent label named Ghost Records in 2002. Hidekazu Hinata joined the band as bassist in 2003, giving the band a heavier sound. In October of the same year they released a single, "TRAVELING GARGOYLE" from Toshiba EMI. They have performed at numerous festivals and live tours. The band's latest tour, promoting their album LINEAR, began on May 1, 2007.