FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH — American Capitalist (review)

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH — American Capitalist album cover

Album · 2011 · Groove Metal

4/5 · 2011-10-09
Kingcrimsonprog

Five Finger Death Punch’s third studio album American Capitalist firmly continues the formula which the band had established on their previous two releases, especially their sophomore release War Is The Answer. This 2011 album is comprised primarily three minute tracks full of bouncy riffs, flailing double kicks and a mixture or hard verses with radio choruses.

If you are new to the band, the best way people have found for describing them is as a mixture between elements of Vol. 3 era Slipknot and Pantera, which does a fair job of describing the band’s everyman metal approach and mixture of commercial moments with stomping heavy sections.

It isn’t progressive, it isn’t extreme and it isn’t electronic; American Capitalist is pretty much just pure and simple American Heavy Metal with a lot of melody, perhaps a too little cheap or cheesy for some more discerning listeners, but wholly enjoyable for the rest.

At times the lyrics and artwork can be a bit hard to take and are the area for which non-fans will find most easy to criticize, but often they just add to the appeal of the band that has a certain infectious spirit that you will find yourself enjoying in spite of yourself.

The band also mix in some brilliant slower moments and furious virtuosic guitar solos courtesy of Zoltan Bathory which demonstrate a level of musicianship and songwriting skill far beyond the remit of most overly commercial radio approved metal bands.

This is their first album to feature Chris Kael replacing Matt Snell on bass and the second album to be produced by Kevin Churko and released on the record label Prospect Park.

Singer Ivan Moody’s range has expanded on American Capitalist and his strong harsh and clean vocals have never sounded better. The guitar solos too from the aforementioned Zoltan Bathory are even better and impressive than before and drummer Jeremy Spencer has perhaps improved most of all, adding in lots of brilliant fills and great kick patterns. Overall you just get the impression that the band are just perfecting their formula with this album. In fact the Title Track even goes so far as to name check their previous two album titles lyrically.

Standout tracks include heavier and faster ‘Menace,’ the stomping album closer ‘100 Ways To Hate’ and the groovy ‘Wicked Ways,’ as well as the very catchy lead singles ‘Back For More,’ and ‘Over And Under It.’

If you have always hated the band then American Capitalist will not change your mind, it covers a very similar territory to their previous work, which is great news for fans, but will more than likely not win over people who exclusively listen to Black and Death Metal for example, not that it should realistically be expected to.

Overall; American Capitalist is a very enjoyable record that any fan of the band’s previous work is sure to enjoy. The album is strong, confident and proud; If you have an interest in Five Finger Death Punch I highly recommend you check it out.