'F8' Album Review: Five Finger Death Punch sucker punch all doubters with this groovy headbanger
It isn't an exaggeration to say that the melodic thrash metal band Five Finger Death Punch (aka FFDP or 5FDP) are one of the biggest metal acts currently around. According to the stats, the Las Vegas-based five-piece outfit are currently the third biggest hard rock band in the world in terms of sales and streams, surpassed only by music icons AC/DC and Metallica. And when their guitarist Jason Hook had to cancel a few shows in December due to an emergency gallbladder surgery, the news started trending on social media like wildfire. So clearly, thanks to their relentless touring regime, and brand of powerful melodic grooves, 5FDP have slowly but surely built up a massive fanbase that numbers in the higher millions.
Their new album, 'F8' which dropped on February 28 via Better Noise Records, is their eighth studio album and swift sucker punch to the solar plexus of anyone who ever doubted FFDP. This is an incredibly well-crafted album, and proves that the band will only go on to better and bolder things in 2020 and beyond. The opening song and title track of the album, 'F8' is a welcome surprise for listeners who were expecting instant carnage. Rather, this soothing, lush, string-laden arrangement serves as the perfect introduction to Five Finger Death Punch's new album - merely the calm before the storm. Gradually, the drums kick in and the music gets bolder and more epic in grandeur. It's the perfect priming for what comes next.
What follows is the band's quintessential sound - 'Inside Out' is a punishing, progressive pummeling in the vein of 5FDP's finest tunes. All the great Five Finger Death Punch hallmarks are proudly on display in this new album - bruising riffs, melodic interludes, vocalist Ivan Moody alternating between soaring vocals, seething whispers, and barking growls, and some effortlessly epic, creamy guitar solos. Moody admitted that 'Inside Out' is a personal story about his own addiction struggles, and that he sees the new 'F8' album as his path to redemption after his struggles with rehab and the loss of some dear friends such as the late great Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington.
The pace doesn't let up from there - 'Full Circle' is a peppery skull-pounder, with Moody declaring that he's "never going to change the world, even if he tried," while 'Living The Dream' is another fiery assault on your senses - the sardonic lyrics draw on popular culture, with 'Captain America', 'Superman' and 'Ghost in the Shell' all being referenced.
The next track 'A Little Bit Off' is literally "a little bit off" the band's typical heavy sound, making for a convincingly sweet, radio-friendly, acoustic ode to being in a bit of a funk. Normal service is resumed on 'Bottom of The Top', with Ivan and the band in a full-blown murderous mood, before breaking into an exquisitely gorgeous melodic interval, and then wrenching you right back into the grisly meat and bones of the song. "Is this heavy enough for you?" roars Ivan, and we nod back in complete agreement.
'To Be Alone' is another great melodic rock thrasher, with the lyrics pointing out "the empty look in your eyes" and "that no one will be there when you hit the ground." It also features yet another epic guitar solo, one of many great ones on this album. Bathory and Hook have really done a stellar job on this record. 'Mother May I' is another high-paced, juddering, ticking time bomb of a track, and one of the stand-outs on the album. 'Darkness Settles In' features another lovely soothing intro with acoustic guitars and strings, and then the swirling darkness sweeps in as the song lifts you into anthemic stadium rock territory.
'This Is War' is another blistering speed metal number complete with a double bass kick drum assault, and when Moody growls "Get the f**k up!" you're almost tempted to get up and start a mosh pit - this is FFDP at their frenetic best. 'Leave It All Behind' is another melodic, vociferous query from the band, with Ian questioning the listener's ability to move forward after throwing away their last solitary excuse. 'Scar Tissue' is yet another uncompromising number with a sing-along chorus and nifty guitar work - this band takes no prisoners and shoots on sight, remorselessly. 'Brighter Side of Grey' reminds us that "life is not a game, it's a song" and it almost sounds like a loving ode to Moody's loyal friends family, and fans - it's pretty beautiful and anthemic too, and is sure to be a crowd favorite when they play this during live shows.
The remaining bonus tracks are absolute treats too - 'Making Monsters' starts off with "ladies and leeches, welcome to the game" and is a brutal takedown of the unforgiving machine we find ourselves to be a part of - and the scary realization that monsters lurk everywhere. 'Death Punch Therapy' is the last song on the album, considering the last track is just a radio edit of the album's opening track, and Moody insists that he's "taking back control" even as the band assert their absolute supremacy over the melodic metal genre.
All in all, this is probably one of Five Finger Death Punch's finest efforts to date, and what makes these songs even more special is the fact that the band has managed to put aside their personal issues and pull this absolute snorter of a record out of their arsenal. These songs are bound to sound even more gut-punchingly heavy when played live, so if FFDP are playing in a city near you, we totally recommend you catch their show - they're a pretty formidable live act.