Five Finger Death Punch’s Zoltan Bathory recently appeared on ‘The Metallica Report’ to clear up some misconceptions about the band. Despite their rapid rise to fame, Bathory spoke of the band’s humble origins. He explained that, contrary to popular belief, their journey wasn’t fueled by industry money or major label support. He said:
“It’s always been a massive misconception when it comes to the press, when it comes to the audience, because this band grew really quickly. We connected to the fans and our growth was exponential. And everybody thought that there must be some industry going, coming in here with suitcases of cash and they made us. And that’s exactly the opposite of the truth. The first record was literally created in my bedroom.”
Bathory continued by explaining in detail the setting in which they made the first album. He said:
“The whole record, every single guitar, bass, everything was recorded in a bedroom. I mean, it was a little desk and a computer and just minimal amount of equipment, and we did everything there. And then on the end, we went to a better studio to catch the drums and then the vocals, and then went back to the home and finished it there.”
He then shared that Five Finger Death Punch has never worked with a major label and did not receive tour support typically associated with major labels. He continued:
“And we signed to an independent label where we were the only band on the label. And it never really changed. We never had a major label deal. The band never had tour support. So basically what we did, we designed our own merch. Like, I designed most of the merch and we had our own merch guy on the road. And we were just selling our merch and the merch would support the band.”
How About Their Latest Album?
From recording their debut album in a modest bedroom to achieving mainstream success in the metal world, Five Finger Death Punch’s journey has been one of growth. Their latest album, ‘AfterLife,’ released in 2022, showcases just how far they’ve come, having been recorded at the esteemed Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s also the first album featuring British guitarist Andy James, who joined as a guitarist in 2020, replacing Jason Hook.
Building on the evolution of Five Finger Death Punch, ‘AfterLife’ not only marks a milestone in terms of production but also holds a special place for the band’s frontman, Ivan Moody. Speaking to Loudwire in 2022, Moody described the album as the most exquisite work of art he had ever made and added:
“AfterLife, hands down, is my favorite album. No question … I’ve been doing this professionally for 22 years, so for me to say that this is my all-time favorite and it encompasses all of my work and really gives breath to something that’s been hibernating for so long… this is amazing.”
You can listen to ‘The Metallica Report’ episode where Zoltan Bathory talks about the early days of Five Finger Death Punch below.
