Five Finger Death Punch “AfterLife” Album Review

AfterLife

Five Finger Death Punch

• • Genre: Metal
  • Date: 19 Aug, 2022
  • Content: explicit
  • Region: USA
  • Track(s): 12

• ℗ 2022 Five Finger Death Punch, under exclusive license to Better Noise Music

Five Finger Death Punch’s ninth studio release, “Afterlife,” is consistent with the reputation they have established thus far. This album doesn’t feature anything rude or offensive-sounding, but it does continue the band’s lack of creativity, and their unwillingness to experiment or try something that hasn’t already been done. Fans of Five Finger Death Punch will undoubtedly adore it, but it offers nothing to convince the skeptics.

But in keeping with their other albums, the band continues to use a variety of styles throughout this one. No song flows into the next seamlessly; instead, you are left wondering what will happen next, which is occasionally okay.

All in all, Afterlife is an album that will prompt a lot of conversations. It’s not quite the reinvention or reintroduction many people have been led to believe it will be. There are some good songs on here and the moments where they attempt to expand their sound are admirable, even if they don’t entirely work.

Album Cover Art

Looking like something out of a war video game, the “Afterlife” album cover presents us with a skull that has one of its animated eyes slapped with a palm that had been dipped in crimson paint or blood. Also trapped between its sharp teeth are some heavy-looking, metal-like stuff that seems to be connected to chains flying in the air while the half-end of a jigsaw slices through the skull as traces of blood fly here and there. The image of a skull combined with blood could represent death which would usually mean the end of life as we know it and which opens up the doorway to the Afterlife.

Tracks and Features

“Welcome To The Circus” is a brilliant opener. Catchy, heavy, in your face, and you’re just wrapped up in it within seconds. The title track isn’t bad either, and then we have a break with the lighter “Times Like These.” While “Pick Up Behind You” straddles the darker and lighter aspects of their sound, it’s uncertain if FFDP has produced a heavier track than “Roll Dem Bones,” which is brutal from the first note. On this song, Kael’s bass truly comes through.

While “IOU” is frequently sung along to, “Judgment Day” hits the samples hard while yet managing to be a rock song overall. With “Thanks For Asking,” the acoustic heavy rock genre eventually gives way to a stronger conclusion. The next song is “Blood And Tar,” which is appropriately sluggish given its subject.

“All I Know” is about as much of a power ballad a track as the band has ever done. Not out of place, but almost harking back a couple of decades in terms of influences. “Gold Gutter” is back into the “full on frontal assault” style. Trap components are included in “Judgment Day.” It has a slow beat and largely spoken vocals, with brief clean singing interludes. It’s intriguing to hear them use hip-hop elements once more. The attempts at soaring balladeering in “Times Like These” and “All I Know” come off as flat and too sweet.

“Thanks for Asking” is blatantly Country, and is bound to split fans’ opinions. One of the more intriguing parts of the album that generally succeeds. It’s another arrow in the band’s quiver that will undoubtedly help them reach a wider audience. Processed beats are supported by an acoustic guitar and Ivan Moody’s relaxed vocal.

Tracklist

NO	TITLE	TIME
1	Welcome to the Circus	4:16
2	AfterLife	4:03
3	Times Like These	3:29
4	Roll Dem Bones	3:19
5	Pick up Behind You	3:08
6	Judgment Day	4:52
7	IOU	4:27
8	Thanks for Asking	3:18
9	Blood and Tar	3:22
10	All I Know	5:11
11	Gold Gutter	3:53
12	The End	3:43

Album Theme

Afterlife is album number nine, and it kinda sees them at a crossroads as a band, exploring the course of the last few years through personal struggles, lineup changes and some questionable choices. Given everything they have been through, this is a less antagonistic album than you might expect.

Production Credits

Five Finger Death Punch & Kevin Churko handled the album’s production.

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