Now, for these articles, I usually throw around some opinions and constructive criticisms. I'm going to keep all feelings aside and just report on some need to know facts about these bands to make your experience at the festival a little more enjoyable. If you know of someone going to the festival, pass the articles along and get them just as stoked as we are!
These guys I have been following by default since their first tour. Long story short, I had no idea who these guys were until I saw them light up the second stage at Korn's Family Values Tour a few years ago. They had barriers in front of the stage but pretty much went to the wayside as soon as the first song started up. These guys had more energy and intensity than pretty much all other bands combined. Ivan was literally screaming at people in the front row as the mosh pit pretty much were throwing the barriers at this point. I'm still surprised they didn't get shut down. Anyways, 3 albums later and now the guys are a cornerstone in the metal industry for their catchy hooks, hard hitting kickers and Ivan's melodic vocals. For today, AFGM brings you and metal genre favourite... FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!
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EVERYONE HAS TWO CHOICES—EVOLVE OR DIE.
It’s that simple, and that maxim holds true for every species. Either you can change with the tides or get swept away in their wake. Either you can grow or you can stagnate. Either you can stand out or simply be another face in the crowd. With their third album, American Capitalist [Prospect Park], Five Finger Death Punch—Ivan Moody [Vocals], Zoltan Bathory [Guitar], Jason Hook [Guitar], Jeremy Spencer [Drums], and Chris Kael [Bass]—morph into the melodic heavy metal machine that they’ve been moving towards since their 2007 debut, The Way of the Fist. Not only is their sound bigger; it’s better. Not only has the music become more intricate; it’s become more infectious. Not only are they more direct; they’re more dangerous.
5FDP is:
Zoltan Bathory – Rhythm Guitar | Jason Hook – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals | Chris Kael – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals | Ivan Moody – Lead Vocals | Jeremy Spencer – Drums
AMERICAN CAPITALIST
Evolution gave birth to American Capitalist. Since their formation in 2006, Five Finger Death Punch continue to progress in the face of all odds and opposition. Darwin himself would be impressed at their list of accolades. The Way of The Fist and 2009′s War is the Answer have both surpassed Gold status. Those two albums have spawned seven consecutive top ten singles at Active Rock Radio with 'Bad Company' peaking at #1 and 'Far From Home' hitting #2. Other tracks have appeared on the hit game Splatterhouse and NBC’s Criminal Minds, with a brand new track set to appear on Madden 2012. The group has graced the cover of Revolver, Metal Hammer, and numerous other tastemaker publications as well as performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. They’ve massacred stages all over the world- everywhere from Download Festival, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park to Mayhem Festival. This was all via independent label and management company Prospect Park. Along the way, they’ve amassed a diehard, devout fan base fondly referred to as 'Knuckleheads.'
Right now, they’re gearing up for the next phase of their evolution—the reign of American Capitalist.
'This record crystallizes the sound of Death Punch,' says Bathory. 'The band has really come into its own. Everyone contributed to the music, and this is what we are capable of as a unit.'
Whether it’s the anthemic riff beat down of 'Back for More'—featured on the Madden NFL 2012 soundtrack—or the ominous bass, gnashing guitars, and hypnotic vocals of 'Generation Dead', each element enthralls. Five Finger Death Punch are about to seize their spot at the top of the musical food chain. The assault commences with first single 'Under and Over It'. A propulsive thrash stomp from Bathory and Hook rolls into Moody’s sharp lyrical jabs. The singer announces, 'Did you hear the one about me being a punk? Did you hear the one about me being a drunk? Did you hear the one about me giving a shit, ‘cause if I ever did I don’t remember it.'
Dispelling any and all rumors, the song targets shit-talkers of all kinds and silences them once and for all with a cataclysmic chorus. 'It’s a statement that puts all of the bullshit to rest,' declares Moody. 'There’s a dry sense of humor in the lyrics, and the song shows another side of the band. In the past, I’ve stuck to writing about relationships or personal issues. I wanted to lash back a little bit on this album.' Bathory affirms, 'For every fan, there’s a hater. The overall message is to fight for your survival and success, but there’s a little sarcasm in there too.'
In early February 2011, the band retreated to 'The Hideout' in Las Vegas, NV with producer Kevin Churko [Ozzy Osbourne] to record. Until June, each member brought numerous ideas to the table, encouraging the expansion of their collective sound. Before entering the studio, Moody hunkered down in his grandparents’ cabin in the mountains of Colorado. It was the perfect spot for him to truly dig inside of for lyrics. In addition, he penned tunes on the road while relocating to Nevada and at night in his new abode. He wasn’t going to hold back at all, and as gut-wrenching as the process was, the results are glorious. 'When I write, I quarantine myself,' he reveals. 'I shut everybody out, and I made it a point to deliver so much emotionally. Around midnight every night when the world shuts down, I would turn on my studio equipment, crank the songs as loud as I could, and get deep.'
'Deep' is an understatement when it comes to cuts like the deft, divine, and deadly 'Coming Down'. A violent energy courses through the verse after an airy acoustic intro. Another visceral buildup crashes into one of Moody’s bleakest melodies. 'The song came at one of those points where you feel like you’ve done so much and you’re given so little in return for it,' he recalls. 'You’re trying to please the whole world, and you’ve got to pull back and realize that, at the end of the day, it has to be about you first and foremost. Otherwise, you’re useless to anyone else.'
Then there’s 'If I Fall.' It’s another pummeling canvas for the band to bleed over, complete with a piano bridge and sledgehammer of a hook. Bathory adds, 'On that song, we purposefully merge musical landscapes. Classical guitar and full blown heavy metal collide. It’s about creating a complex journey of visualization, emotion, and feeling with every song.'
'Menace' and '100 Ways To Hate' bludgeon and batter with every note, while 'Everything' sees Moody allowing fans closer than ever via a harrowing and hypnotic tale of his own past. He continues, 'There’s so much honesty in this album. Instead of writing about metaphors, I went straight for the jugular.' The album’s very title holds an important message.
Bathory explains, 'America adopted a form of capitalism that closely resembles the dynamics of nature. Darwinism and capitalism share many similarities. You get your shot at greatness, and it’s up to you to take it or not. You can be a zebra or join the lion pride. You have to rebel against your circumstances, laziness, and mediocrity—not the system. The best will make it, and that notion is genetically embedded within our fabric. If we were all equal, evolution wouldn’t exist. The human spirit encourages us to excel.'
That same spirit has pushed Five Finger Death Punch to develop a formidable stage show for the ages to accompany these songs live. For Bathory, the show is of paramount importance: “I want to interpret this record visually and make it as big and crazy as possible. 'Ultimately, Five Finger Death Punch is making music for the lions.' Bathory goes on, 'This music is for survivors. People listen to different bands to get into a certain mood. I want people to fucking feel like lions when they listen to this. Here you go brother, go kill it.'
Moody concludes, 'I literally laid every ounce of blood I had on the street with this one. We are a people’s band. Our fans admire and understand us because of who we are. We’ve never tried to be anybody else. We’re Five Finger Death Punch.'
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American Capitalist is the third studio album Five Finger Death Punch, released on October 11, 2011 via Prospect Park Records. It was the band's first LP not to feature bassist Matt Snell, who departed from the band in December, 2010. As of February 17, 2012 the album has sold more than 310,000 copies. Not too shabby for a third album and the amount of trollers these guys have.
1. American Capitalist
2. Under and Over It
3. The Pride
4. Coming Down
5. Menace
6. Generation Dead
7. Back for More
8. Remember Everything
9. Wicked Ways
10. If I Fall
11. 100 Ways to Hate
iTunes deluxe edition:
12. Under and Over It (remix)
13. The Pride (remix)
14. Remember Everything (remix)
15. 100 Ways to Hate (remix)
16. The Tragic Truth
17. Under and Over It (music video)
2-disc edition:
12. Under and Over It (remix)
13. The Pride (remix)
14. Remember Everything (remix)
15. 100 Ways to Hate (remix)
There's a punk-y sense of fun to 'Wicked Ways' especially during the mega catchy hook. 'If I Fall' is emblematic of everything so mind-blowing about American Capitalist. A somber intro morphs into a lightspeed riff and drum assault before Moody blasts into another unforgettable line—'If I Fall, I'm dragging everybody down.'
The final mushroom cloud envelopes everything on '100 Ways to Hate'. It's another example of refined metallic assault and battery as the detractors and haters all get one final "fuck you" for a send-off.
Now, this genre has seen some great bands blossom in the past decade. However, it's remarkable to see a band achieve as much as Five Finger Death Punch has independently. The band released two gold-selling albums—The Way of the Fist and War Is the Answer—via their management, Prospect Park's own label in ballsy and brilliant fashion. They went from obscurity to international fame, and it was because they worked their asses off and wrote great songs. The record industry should take note. It doesn't take huge budgets and zany marketing schemes. It takes a diehard work ethic, the will to never give up, and songwriting talent. If more bands did that, we could potentially witness another rock renaissance.
Regardless, let's hail the new kings—Five Finger Death Punch. -Artist Direct
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The song order feels natural when the pace is changing, and those are the moments when Moody tries to go a little deeper. Quite successfully in the song ‘Coming Down’, with an awesome solo adding up to it. A little less successful in ‘Remember Everything’. The latter feels a bit cliché sometimes, and the chorus pretty much sounds like a pop-song, although also here a beautiful solo makes you feel a bit guilty if you dislike the song. It most probably is one of those songs you will either love or hate. Throughout the album, Zoltan and Jason lay down good fitting riffs and quite inspiring solo’s. It has to be said though, that they tend to overuse some riffs, as a few of them also seem to appear on the other two albums, so this is one of the weaknesses this album has. The drums don’t do much of an original job on the whole, but there is absolutely nothing to complain about, you will get your double bass fix without a doubt. Just like on the other two albums, Jeremy Spencer continues to be a very solid backbone for the band, he delivers really tight rhythms, and that really benefits the music.
The album ends quite abruptly with a song you’ll forget about pretty fast. '100 Ways to Hate' makes you feel that the band was out of inspiration, and just decided to add another agressive I-hate-you song to fill up the vinyl. The album opens quite strong, but closes a little weak. All in all, Five Finger Death Punch delivered a very steady, catchy, melodic album with ‘American Capitalist’. They’re not trying to explore, and are definitely not taking any risks. Still, the band seems to have grown further, being more of a unit in music than before, despite the departure of bassist Matt Snell. ‘Generation Dead’ is probably the best example of this statement.
The whole band seems to have focused more on the composing aspect of the music, and that fits them well. It makes the whole thing less original, and a little more commercial (which fits the subject) in the end, but it does not damage either the quality of the music, or the image of the band. After all, this album is somewhat of a satire towards capitalism, which might make you feel that Five Finger Death Punch finally have a bit of a moral story to tell. Overall these facts make for a very solid listen, and if you liked ‘War is the Answer’, you definitely don’t want to miss out on this one. -Sputnik Music
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"Songs such as the title track, the flip-the-bird single ‘Under and Over It‘ (call us blasphemers, but that one reminds us a wee bit of Pro-Pain for a hot second) and ‘The Pride’ could get a crew of Marine cadets through boot camp with their ferocity and their ability to cause your adrenaline to surge. We admit it: We felt invincible when cranking these tracks. If that’s not the sign of quality hard rock, what is?
While it’s true that Five Finger Death Punch aren’t the Red Chord or Lamb of God, they still don’t water down the rage in their music. They are more akin to, say, Mudvayne, especially on a track like ‘Coming Down,’ but there are lots of layers to explore in the band’s music.
The music may not be as cool or as techy as something like Meshuggah, but it’s got a strong pulse. Much of the lyrics are of the 'You pull me under to save yourself' variety, which ensures they will reach a wide array of people. Isn’t that what any self-respecting band is trying to do with the release of an album.
With ‘American Capitalist,’ 5FDP deliver mid-tempo, fiery, quality hard rock that should further increase their visibility." -Loudwire
For more info on Five Finger Death Punch, be sure to check em at any of the following official links:
- www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com
- www.myspace.com/ffdp
- www.twitter.com/ffdp
- www.twitter.com/zoltanbathory
- www.zosguitar.com
- www.drumsfromhell.com
- www.jasonhook.net
- www.facebook.com/zoltanbathory5fdp
Also, be sure to check out 5FDP on tour with Killswitch Engage, God Forbid, Emmure, Trivium and more on the Trespass America 2012 Tour:
*FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH WILL BE PERFORMING ON SUNDAY (THE 12TH) AT THE JAGERMEISTER WEST STAGE FROM 20:00-21:00*
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