Review Summary: Death Punch doesn't mature much but they do provide a few powerful, standout tracks that will please the fans.
Five Finger Death Punch burst into the metal scene a few years ago with a sound that can best be described as groove metal meets radio rock. Though not particularly unique, their first two albums were solid efforts with tight musicianship and catchy vocal hooks. Their new CD, American Capitalist continues in that vein. It doesn't take many creative risks but it's a fun listen that will please the knuckleheads.
The first song, ‘American Capitalist’ blazes in with a fast paced riff and a polished groove. The song formula is very familiar: vocalist Ivan Moody growls on the verses then sings clean melodies over a throbbing double-bass beat on the chorus. The only downside is that it sounds just like ‘Under and Over It’, the first single from the CD.
There are many unimpressive songs like this on the album: ‘The Pride’ is the same formula but with cheesy rapped verses, ‘Generation Dead’ is a run of the mill thrasher in mid-tempo, and ‘If I Fall’ is a forgettable filler track.
But there are several shining moments on the album that counter the bland stretches. ‘Coming Down’, for instance, is a jarring change of pace. It sweeps in with flowing power ballad guitars and a strong melodic performance by Moody with haunting, introspective lyrics. This reminded me how good Death Punch is when they aim for sincerity.
‘Menace’ is another intriguing song. The band takes their first shot at a swing time signature with this one. It's a heavy grinder of a song with a tight triplet feel and dextrous solo work by Zoltan Bathory. Other album highlights include ‘Wicked Ways’ and ‘100 Ways to Hate’, gritty, heavy songs with catchy vocal lines that draw in the listener.
Each member in the band serves their role well. The drummer, Jeremy Spencer lays down tight beats, Hook and Bathory provide precise riffs, and bassist Chris Kael -- well, he plays his own very subtle role. The most distinctive member is the singer, Ivan Moody. His growls are fiery and his clean vocals have a great emotive power. Sadly, he sometimes gets tied down by shallow, childish lyrics. Even if you don't care and just want a a fun time, some lines like, "You've got to fight 'til you break, talk a lot of trash and step up the plate," are distractingly corny.
Pros:
-Ivan Moody's growls are aggressive and his clean vocals shine with emotion when he's serious.
-The band's rhythm is tight throughout the whole album
-The production quality is excellent with crystal clear drums.
-We can see a lot of potential on the serious moments like ‘Coming Down’.
Cons:
-The lyrics are mostly poor, even if you're in the mood for simplicity.
-Some tracks like ‘Back For More’ and ‘If I Fall’ are uncreative and bland.
-The guitar riffs, though precise, aren't very memorable.
-The drum work could use more variation.
Key Tracks: ‘Coming Down’, ‘Menace’, ‘Wicked Ways’.
Conclusion:
Though this is not a turning point in Five Finger Death Punch's career by any means, it's a pretty solid modern metal album.
