Their fans are maniacally devoted. Their instrumentation is impeccable. The way they captivate an audience is downright stupefying, and the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival was no exception. But when it comes to the lyrics of Five Finger Death Punch frontman Ivan Moody, we just cannot get down. Roaring dumb-thug rage-smash lyrics without a hint of objective cause beyond raw aggression is akin to flipping on a gravity switch on your very own knuckle-dragging troglodyte machine, a recruitment tool for the muscle behind the engine of ignorant, aimless hatred.
Aftershock Day 1 Recap: Sweat, Dirt & Metal
The last thing I want to do is nerf the world, but manifesting a juggernaut of hateful negativity for the sake of entertainment is so soul-rapingly wrong, especially in today’s hyper-intense world. Which is to say nothing of what the little kids on the rail will take away from the experience, or the show’s appeal to the group of white power dudes stomping around through the set with their nazi tats on full, shirtless display.
For the sake of objectivity, here’s a sample of the lyrics to “The Way of The Fist,” the band’s third song at Aftershock:
Deserve it, you earned it, got yourself a fuckin’ war
Believe it, you need it, face down on the fuckin’ floor
I hate it, can’t take it
Wanna break your fuckin’ bones
No mercy, you faggot
Should’ve left it all alone
Strapped with rage, got no patience for victims
Sick and tired of the whole fuckin’ world
…and so on.
Anyway, there’s undoubtedly limited efficacy in laying out a case for people to take a good hard look in the mirror, and explore ways to fix the broken shit that inspires empty raging aggression at the world, rather than giving in to primal-hate bullshit. Instead, here’s some pics of a dude scowling like that asshole you remember from tenth grade who hated the world because his dad beat him up every day, while his band kicks some serious ass.
Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
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Five Finger Death Punch at Aftershock Festival
By Johnny Firecloud
