Live-Metal.Net - Concerts: Five Finger Death Punch

The call: “Five Finger!” The response: “Death Punch!” The chant began to echo throughout the Chameleon Club soon after Nonpoint finished its 35-minute set. It was not a sign of audience disappointment with the band that just left the stage; Nonpoint gave their typically high-energy performance highlighted by a robust “Bullet with a Name” and had plenty of fans of their own in attendance. But with “The Bleeding” tearing up the airwaves for several months and a new single, “Never Enough,” just released to radio, there is a buzz, an excitement around Five Finger Death Punch, an anticipation from fans who might have had the chance to see them live only in small doses on last year’s Family Values Tour or on an arena tour with Korn.

The band came out firing with “Ashes” (the opener from their debut album The Way of the Fist) and “Salvation.” The assault then grew even more intense with “The Way of the Fist,” an obvious favorite among both the fans and band members. Next, “Never Enough” made its live debut and came across as if the band had been playing it for months. The crowd roared in approval when frontman Ivan Moody asked what they thought of the performance. One fan responded when Moody asked who did not like it; “I’m with him,” Moody said. The band returned to its comfort zone with “White Knuckles,” which featured an unforgettable call-and-response (Moody: “I’m taking back control!” Audience: “With my knuckles!”) and a thunderous breakdown. Moody introduced “The Devil’s Own” as one of his favorites, and then things got even more interesting when another song made its live debut: “Bad Company.” Yes, it was a cover of the classic Bad Company song and the surprising choice worked because the band has the chops to pull off its dynamic structure and Moody can sing as well as he growls and shouts. The heavy soon returned with “Meet the Monster.” Though the band left the stage at its conclusion, no one in the building could have thought the show was over. The band quickly returned to finish the night with a crowd-pleasing rendition of “The Bleeding.”

It’s been obvious to me since early last year that Five Finger Death Punch is a new force in metal. Judging from the turnout and response at this show, many others have joined me in coming to that realization. Catch them this spring on tour with Disturbed and at various festivals, and this summer at the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH SET LIST: Ashes, Salvation, The Way of the Fist, Never Enough, White Knuckles, The Devil’s Own, Bad Company, Meet the Monster, (Encore) The Bleeding