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Five Finger Death Punch
A working musician has the opportunity to see a lot of other bands. They are on the same bill or could even be local rivals. As time passes there can be a lot of crossbreeding as musicians try to dial in the right combination while pursuing greater creative freedom, a different outlet or to just be around people they can get along with. Who better to start a new group with than people you know (and hopefully admire)?
Five Finger Death Punch (FFDP) got going in '05 with Zoltan Bathory (great name - he was born in Hungary), a vet of the L.A. based post-Grunge U.P.O., Ivan Moody, formerly of Santa Barbara's Nu Metal band Motograter (yes, there is a motograter - it's like a guitar with industrial cables) and W.A.S.P. guitarist Darrell Roberts. Of the three, W.A.S.P., in one configuration or another (the band started in '82) was the best known. Rounding out the line-up were bassist Matt Snell and drummer Jeremy Spencer.
FFDP recorded their debut "The Way Of The Fist" in '06 and it was released the following year by Firm Music, a subsidiary of The Firm, a management company that represented KoRn, Staind and Limp Bizkit. The set featured "The Bleeding" which did significant chart damage including a spot in the Active Rock Radio Top 10.
FFDP headlined the Guitar hero II second stage on the '07 Family Values Tour before they jumped into the Bitch We Have A Problem trek with KoRn and Hellyeah.
In early '09 they announced that Roberts had exited and was replaced by Jason Hook, who previously played with Alice Cooper and Vince Neil. According to a statement the split "was a mutual agreement between the band and Darrell . . . It was a swift and smooth transition and we all remain good friends."
Later that year, "War Is The Answer," FFDP's second studio album, made its debut at #7 on the Billboard 200. The set spawned several singles including "Hard To See" (a Top 10 Rock Radio hit), "Walk Away" and a cover of Bad Company's "Bad Company." Early in '10, the group played ten shows for U.S. troops in Iraq.
According to the RIAA, the band had the unique honor of having two albums go gold on the same day (4/15/11). The honors were for the band's debut, "The Way Of The Fist" and sophomore effort "War Is The Answer." "There are a lot of fans and industry folks who believe in this band and have been a huge factor in this achievement, and for that we are eternally grateful," said Deborah Klein, general manager of Prospect Park, the band's label.
With work on their third album underway, it was announced that bassist Matt Snell had departed and was replaced by Chris Kael. Produced by Kevin Churko and featuring the singles "Under And Over It" and "Back For More," Five Finger Death Punch issued "American Capitalist" in October, '11. It went to #3 on the Billboard chart.
Studio Albums:
2007 The Way Of The Fist
2009 War Is the Answer
2011 American Capitalist
As the name implies, Five Finger Death Punch dwells on Metal's dark side (is there any other?). "The Way Of The Fist" features pummeled verses that give way to choruses that soar or at least rise above the sonic mire. It's standard operating procedure and FFDP can execute.
Lyrically, they're "sick and tired of the whole f*cking world" ("The Way Of The Fist") and have no stomach for placing faith in anything "that doesn't believe in me" ("Salvation").
The title track and "A Place To Die" are potent. "The Devil's Own" is in there but "White Knuckles" can't quite muster the drive to put it over.
There are nuanced changes from track to track but FFDP keep the din and roar going for as long as possible. The major turn is "The Bleeding," a thrash ballad with epic guitar lines. There's no way it could miss.
"War Is The Answer." In FFDP's case it's a true statement. The opening tracks, "Dying Breed" and "Hard To See," are signature songs - FFDP at their best.
Jumping from Alice In Chains ("Crossing Over") to Ozzy ("My Own Hell") to doing a faithful cover of Bad Company's own "Bad Company," FFDP have expanded their range - and that's for the better.
"Walk Away" has a Metal riff grafted on a power ballad while "Canto 34" is fretwork unleashed. Through the smoldering haze, FFDP's core sound remains - machine gun guitars and ferocious vocals ("No One Gets Left Behind" and the title track).
"American Capitalist" continues "the survival of the fittest" theme from the previous albums. Lodged between Slipknot and Pantera the tracks are dense shots with all the Metal trademarks.
The title track ("I don't wanna believe I'm empty, I don't wanna admit I'm wrong, I don't wanna regret who I'm becoming like, I'm an American... Capitalist") and "Under And Over It" are just what you'd expect. But there is a welcome sonic change of pace on "The Pride" ("(I am) what you made me, (I am) the American dream, I'm not selling out, I'm buying in"). There's the "War Is The Answer." In FFDP's case it's a true statement. The opening tracks, "Dying Breed" and "Hard To See," are signature songs - FFDP at their best.
Jumping from Alice In Chains ("Crossing Over") to Ozzy ("My Own Hell") to doing a faithful cover of Bad Company's own "Bad Company," FFDP have expanded their range - and that's for the better.
"Walk Away" has a Metal riff grafted on a power ballad while "Canto 34" is fretwork unleashed. Through the smoldering haze, FFDP's core sound remains - machine gun guitars and ferocious vocals ("No One Gets Left Behind" and the title track).
"American Capitalist" continues "the survival of the fittest" theme from the previous albums. Lodged between Slipknot and Pantera the tracks are dense shots with all the Metal trademarks.
The title track ("I don't wanna believe I'm empty, I don't wanna admit I'm wrong, I don't wanna regret who I'm becoming like, I'm an American... Capitalist") and "Under And Over It" are just what you'd expect. But there is a welcome sonic change of pace on "The Pride" ("(I am) what you made me, (I am) the American dream, I'm not selling out, I'm buying in"). There's the obligatory power ballad, "Coming Down," before the din returns.