Five Finger Death Punch
F8

I don't like stereotypes. I don't like judging a book by its cover. Judging someone based on appearance. When things are minimized. It happens too often even with music, and consequently, those who listen to it suffer this.

I have lived and am still experiencing (especially now) this type of discrimination, typically endured by those who listen to the genre I love: heavy metal and its derivatives. In a country accustomed and led (no offense to lovers of the genre) by light music, there is a sort of prejudice against something more intense, more powerful, that comes from further away. One has to hear phrases like "It's the devil's and satanists' music!" or "They burp into the microphone, you can't understand a thing!" and even "How can you listen to this stuff!" It’s frustrating, trust me (and acknowledge that). Because it's disheartening to see that people can't dig (just a little) to see how much meaning and emotion can be found in those distorted guitars, in those snare drums that accompany words that get inside and shake the soul.

Some don't see it as a problem, others do. Still others pose as rockers, closing three fingers into a fist and extending the other two, in a clumsy attempt to feel part of a culture from which, however, they stay away for the aforementioned reasons. They do it because it's fashionable, because it looks "bad." They wear t-shirts of Nirvana, Pantera, Metallica, Pearl Jam, completely ignoring what lies behind their presumption.

Why this outburst dressed as a Philippic? The reason is simple: Five Finger Death Punch broadly represent this category. With their flashy appearance, baseball bats, aggressive attitude, and hypnotic groove.

Their name comes from a famous kung fu movie "The Five Fingers of Death." A title that seems to derive from a typical martial arts move. The vocalist Ivan Moody, endowed with remarkable vocal ability, is joined by guitarists Zoltan Bathory (also bassist, co-founder of the band with former drummer Jeremy Spencer) and Andy James, bassist Chris Kael, and drummer Charlie Engel.

The album in question, "F8," is rightfully among the most significant records of my life. It's not about the first crush, the anger for lost love, reflections on the rage felt towards those who wish us harm. It’s about rebirth.

Because, for the band from Las Vegas, this is effectively the new starting point, the work from which everything starts anew. For me, it was the restart point, the moment when I defeated the terrible demons that had worn me down and made me think that life no longer mattered.

Ivan Moody experienced his long personal nightmare between 2014 and 2017, between alcohol addiction and violence, until he was almost expelled from the band he had founded himself. He appeared at least twice heavily drunk on stage, leaving it amidst curses and few explanations. Serious rehab and then total rebirth, in 2020. Ironically, during a difficult and disorienting time for humanity, Moody came back to life, to focus on what he always loved, just like myself.

"F8" is powerful, at times overwhelming but also reflective and full of motivation. Tracks like "Inside Out," "Full Circle," "Bottom of the Top," "This is War" are filled with speed metal guitars and lots of growl. The admission of guilt and the desire to start over nest in the ballad "Brighter Side of Grey" and the radio-friendly "A Little Bit Off", the latter accompanied by a very well-made video, shot in the heart of the pandemic on the deserted Las Vegas Strip, starting from the artificial waters of the Bellagio hotel. The album title recalls their eighth release but is literally the abbreviation of "Fate," through the call to infinity.

Just last week, there was Ivan Moody's shocking announcement, who from the stage declared that after the release of the tenth album (the ninth, "Afterlife," has recently been released) he will leave metal and perhaps music, to dedicate himself to the family he feels he has neglected. After touring the world twice, achieving success but above all finding himself again, Ivan realized that life is short, even if his music is aimed at the infinite.

That music, which in its many facets helps to grow, to rise after falling, to become who we have always wanted to be. Beyond our appearance and how we wanted to tell everyone what we hide in mind and heart. Because it is important to say it, regardless of how we do it.