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Fiver Finger Death Punch Is Back Nov 23, 2009 This band really kicked you in the teeth with their debut album, now back with the release of War is the Answer, Five Finger Death Punch has taken a new approach and do not dissapoint. They still deliver balls to the wall Metal, along with softer tones showing their potential as a tight mainstream success while sticking to their roots. Of course die hard fans will question their loyalty since it's far from similar to the band's last album, but this is amazing on all levels. This is worth the purchase, you won't feel cheated.
Five Finger Death Punch - 'War Is The Answer' (Prospect Park) Nov 20, 2009 Looks to be the Los Angeles metal band's second (of two, so far) releases - do keep in mind a friend encouraged me to check out this title. Not bad for a new band of this genre - tracks I found to be uplifting were "No One Gets Left Behind", the in-your-face "Burn It Down", "Falling In Hate", "Canto 34" plus I appreciated their Paul Rodgers / Simon Kirke cover of "Bad Company" (well done). The band is clearly heavily influenced by Pantera, Korn and possibly Gwar. Personnel: Ivan Moody-vocals, Jason Hook-lead guitar, Zoltan Bathory-rhythm guitar, Matt Snell-bass and Jeremy Spencer-drums. Fans of Napalm Death, Mudvayne, Killswitch Engage, Hatebreed and All That Remains will likely eat this CD up.
Holy Cringe-Worthy Lyrics, Batman! Nov 04, 2009 All criticisms aside, Five Finger Death Punch have fast become one of the most popular metal bands of late, actually managing to shift physical units while gaining mainstream rock radio play. With their debut album The Way of the Fist combining metalcore and nu-metal influences with a hint of grunge, it's easy to see why the band appeals to so many. With such a successful (and often maligned, mind you) debut, the follow-up can be a tricky one.
"War is the Answer," brought to you by Ozzy Osbourne producer Kevin Churko, finds the band still chipping away at the same style that made them a hit in the first place. The album also finds the band replacing original guitarist Darrell Roberts with Jason Hook, who upon a quick glance of his Wikipedia article, has worked with the likes of Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Alice Cooper (?). This change in line-up doesn't change much for the band though, and just as before, the guitar riffs are large and in charge. Even frontman Ivan Moody -- who has proven to be versatile in the past with both Motograter and Ghost Machine -- sticks to his formula of gorgeous melodies, cookie-cutter screams and sometimes cornball lyrics.
In fact, the biggest enemy of "War is the Answer" is Ivan himself. While the band serves up a solid dish of commercial metal, Moody seems stuck in neutral, spewing out angsty lyrics that sound fit for a 15 year-old boy's life soundtrack and less for a grown man with a wealth of life experiences. While such moments were tolerable and often fitting on the first album (especially considering the frontman's struggle to find a stable and successful outlet) it just sounds tired and pathetic. Even worse are the war-themed lyrics and ham-fisted attempts at social commentary on tracks like "No One Gets Left Behind" and the title track.
Thankfully, though, some songs rise above such mediocrity. "Dying Breed" is a powerful opener, contrasting with the pensive "Far From Home." Meanwhile, as expected, tracks like "Hard to See" and "Crossing Over" have the potential of finding radio success much like "The Bleeding" before them. "Canto 34," an instrumental track, is a fine slice of metal that displays all the talent this band has to offer. To top it all off, a surprisingly solid cover of Bad Company's eponymous track manages to update a classic while staying true to form.
In the end, "War is the Answer" succumbs to the typical sophomore jinx. The band fails to experiment in any way, while Ivan seems emotionally crippled as a song-writer. On the surface, it sounds good and rocks hard, but lacks substance. Like many modern releases from the likes of Disturbed or Mudvayne, it's one that is likely to receive heavy play for a brief period of time before sinking to the bottom of the pile. Better luck next time, guys.
5FDP keeps getting better.... Oct 29, 2009 At first I was a little disappointed as the album is not nearly as crunchy as their last effort. But, the more I have listened to it, the more it has grown on me. Their songs that at first disappointed me are the ones I like the best now. This album is definitely one of the best of 2009. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for any metalhead...
Better then Lamb Of God's new album Oct 25, 2009 I kid you not this is better then the new Lamb of God album everyone should own this album so stop reading and buy it now.
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