The Way of the Fist
Year: 2007
Format: Spotify
Grade: D+
Give Five Finger Death Punch credit for A) Having a great name, B) Having an album title befitting the band's name with its 2007 debut, The Way of the Fist, C) Having some pretty awesome album art, D) Great production values.
Beyond that, well, the generosity dulls.
All allusions to the band's, ahem, handiwork, are appropriate. Listening to 5FDP's Way of the Fist is like getting punched repeatedly in the face, the guitars so pummeling and the drumming so unrelenting and over the top.
The Way of the Fist is derivative. In an attempt to distinguish itself from its inspirations, it sounds far too much like an imitator of them, a descendant of nu-metal masquerading as a modern brand of thrash.
Any toughness is lost, too, when reading Ivan "Ghost" Moody's lyrics. While Moody has an impressive voice, it's put to use with such eye-rollers as, "As wicked as you are / You're beautiful to me / You're the darkest burning star / You're my perfect disease." Ugh.
The Way of the Fist succeeds in living up to its name and not in an enjoyable way.
Tomorrow's entry: Kayo Dot, Gamma Knife
Comments