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Five Finger Death Punch takes a swing at reclaiming their metal hits, with some inspiration from Taylor Swift

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This fine morning in Las Vegas is scorching and arid once more. The guitarist Zoltan Bathory has stepped out of his Gothic fortress, sporting a long beard, dark attire, and an impressive mound of dreadlocks. He’s currently navigating a compact boat over a nearby artificial lake, brimming with ordinary tap water, en route to a neighboring café for breakfast.

In a recent development, the newly refurbished replica castle is a notable achievement and one of the rewards from Bathory’s illustrious 20-year career as guitarist and creator of the multiplatinum heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. However, last year, as the metal group started preparing to commemorate these two decades of activity, Bathory found out that their long-standing former label, Prospect Park, had stealthily transferred ownership of the masters for the first seven 5FDP albums.

The team that still held 50% of the master’s ownership but lacked “administrative control,” was not made aware prior to the transaction.

As a fan, I find myself in the dark regarding the deal. It was shrouded in secrecy, hidden behind closed doors, which is frustratingly disappointing. If only they had discussed it openly, we could have negotiated a deal or perhaps even made an offer. Alas, we were never given the chance. We found out about it from someone else. So, what’s the story here? What’s going on?

5FDP decided to follow in the footsteps of pop sensation Taylor Swift, who capitalized on the sale of her music catalog by releasing a highly successful series called “Taylor’s Version,” which were rerecordings of entire albums. Swift re-produced four of her albums, all of which reached number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart. This year, she managed to purchase back the rights to her music catalog.

Five Finger Death Punch opted to re-record their most beloved songs, commencing in January. The initial set of these fresh renditions debuted with the title “20 Years of Five Finger Death Punch – Best of Volume 1,” and will be followed by “Best of Volume 2” towards the end of this year.

When something like this occurred, her immediate reaction was ‘What did Taylor do in a similar circumstance?'” He continued, “She had tested it out. And given that she’s a significant artist, his words were essentially saying, ‘That’s your tactic? Now let me show you ours.’

The musicians’ career has taken another turn, marking yet another chapter in a journey that’s had its ups and downs. This band, known for their hard rock/metal genre, has become one of the most successful bands of their generation, with an impressive 12 billion streams under their belt, trailing only behind Metallica and AC/DC. In the initial decade alone, they released four albums in the U.S. that became platinum sellers, with their second release, “War Is the Answer” in 2009, being particularly explosive.

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The surprise sale of their records to the autonomous music company Spirit Music Group might have marked the culmination of a relationship with Prospect Park’s founder Jeff Kwatinetz that was often filled with disagreements. In 2016, they filed a lawsuit against Five Finger Death Punch in the Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming a breach of contract regarding an upcoming greatest hits collection and the recording of a new album.

The lawsuit turned sour, with the original complaint alleging that the band was trying to profit before their bandmate’s predicted descent due to addiction, a direct reference to Ivan L. Moody’s self-destructive phase at the time. However, the band retaliated by filing a counterclaim. The lawsuits were resolved out of court the following year.

An email seeking a response from Kwatinetz (via his lawyer) remained unanswered before deadline. However, in an interview with Billboard last month, Kwatinetz mentioned that the current management team had ceased collaboration, leading him to sell his share of the band.

In the cozy ambiance of a lakeside café, sipping on matcha tea and avocado toast, Bathory appears more content than agitated about the business matters and the change of label. He reminisces fondly about the band’s extended history with the company, stating that even their heated disagreements were enjoyable, symbolizing not just the current clashes, but also a rich tapestry of their journey from local Sunset Strip clubs to international stadiums.

In a surprising turn of events, our past relationship with our ex-label president is arguably the most amusing one. Historically, we’ve found ourselves embroiled in legal battles over multiple disagreements. However, conversations that once centered around lawsuits have transformed into lighthearted banter. For instance, he’d inform me about a lost injunction, to which I’d retort with a colorful phrase. But then, the conversation would swiftly shift back to discussing the kids, followed by hours of reminiscing about albums and music.

Then, he says, “Alright, I’ll see you in court,” to which he follows with a chuckle and an additional comment, “Farewell.” He explains that life is like a game, and he adheres to the samurai’s philosophy. The saddest moment for a samurai occurs when your most formidable adversary passes away, because it’s the person who challenged you the most.

The latest recording sessions progressed rapidly with 5FDP’s current group, which comprises the baton-carrying vocalist Moody, veteran bassist Chris Kael, as well as more recent additions to the band – drummer Charlie Engen and lead guitarist Andy James.

Initially, each musician independently captured their parts, as they had played these songs close to a thousand times on stages worldwide earlier. Yet, the final tracks aren’t identical copies of the originals; instead, they retain the essence of the original pieces while allowing for the organic development that comes with years of touring.

Title “Best of Volume 1” encapsulates a strong depiction of the band’s past, commencing with the aggressive guitar tones of “Under and Over It.” This first volume encompasses 13 re-recorded tracks and three live songs. When juxtaposed with the originals, the freshly self-produced tunes don’t appear as worn-out remakes but are infused with a modern energy in their performances.

Back in May, I got a peek at an exciting new venture by hearing a re-imagined version of “I Refuse,” my powerful ballad from 2018, this time as a duet with the talented Maria Brink from In This Moment. It was released as a single, and it felt like a thrilling sneak peek into what’s to come.

As word about the project and its origins started circulating, Five Finger Death Punch found themselves receiving messages from an unexpected group: fans of Taylor Swift (often referred to as Swifties).

Bathory finds it surprising that Taylor Swift’s supporters, who we encounter on our social media and notice boards, exclaim “Yes!” in response to us. It’s quite unusual, he remarks. We, as a band, are quite distinct from each other in terms of style. However, it appears that something has resonated with them. Maybe people who aren’t familiar with the intricacies of the music industry still feel this isn’t fitting.

As they delve into recording their next album with six tracks already completed, Bathory anticipates that their latest compilation of hits will be warmly received and passionately appreciated by their dedicated, fervent fanbase.

Bathory remarks that our fans are incredibly dedicated. They’re deeply involved and fully understand our decisions. Therefore, I believe they’ll adapt to the newer versions out of support for the band. However, these recordings will coexist side by side.

Established in 2005, Five Finger Death Punch represents the fulfillment of rock star aspirations that originated in Hungary during teenage years for the band’s founder, who was initially inspired by British punk rock. His passion later shifted to metal after being captivated by Iron Maiden and their early singer Paul Di’Anno. In homage to the L.A. heavy metal group W.A.S.P., he crafted his own electric guitar, adorning it with a skull-and-crossbones motif on its surface.

In communist countries during that time, rock music wasn’t broadcast on television or radio. Instead, Bathory and his companions exchanged cassette tapes containing punk and metal songs they managed to obtain. As he recalls, “Somehow or other, someone always brought in a record, and we would all make copies of it.” This practice fostered a subculture where the music wasn’t just appreciated for its sound, but also symbolized rebellion.

Bathory not only embodied the role, but stood out due to his Def Leppard T-shirt adorned with the Union Jack flag, leather jackets and belts embellished with studs, and long hair. Young people who embraced this style and communicated in the dialect of Western heavy metal ran the risk of being apprehended, as he explains.

“I’ve been chased around by the cops so many times,” he recalls with a laugh.

In his twenties, Bathory migrated to New York City, carrying only a thousand dollars and lacking proficiency in English. Living in poverty, he gradually picked up the language by translating a chance find of Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.” He played in bands that saw little success, but after six years, he shifted to Los Angeles, where things began to turn around for him.

For approximately a year, he was part of the L.A.-based hard rock band U.P.O., which had some hits on the charts. After that, he established Five Finger Death Punch, a name derived from the 1972 martial arts film “Five Fingers of Death” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” movies.

“I knew exactly what I wanted. There was a vision,” says Bathory.

His understanding of the performance became more distinct when he initially witnessed Moody singing with the nu metal group, Motograter. It turned out to be fortunate for Bathory as Motograter was about to disband. He then contacted Moody in Denver.

According to Bathory, there was something exceptional about him – it was evident in his performances and the way he used his voice. He had an undeniable “star quality,” as if he was destined to be a rock star. Upon seeing him, Bathory immediately thought, “That’s the guy.

During our early days as a band, we were quite active, performing over 200 shows every year. As Bathory puts it, “We graced just about every small stage there was.

Currently, Jackie Kajzer, recognized as radio DJ Full Metal Jackie, is seated beside the guitarist in this café. She initially discovered the band on MySpace and swiftly attended an early performance at the Whisky a Go Go, instantly captivated by their sound and potential. Additionally, she held the position of junior manager at Firm, a renowned management company during that period, overseeing acts like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park.

Kajzer persuaded the company to recruit Five Finger Death Punch, and after two demonstrative performances on the Strip, they agreed. The metal band quickly became part of the side stage for the high-profile 2007 Family Values Tour, and followed by the traveling Mayhem Festival the next year. This exposure made a lasting impact among new admirers and fellow musicians.

Kajzer expresses that when you discover something that stirs an emotion within you, it becomes a struggle worth engaging in. He’s been with the band’s management team since then, now at 10th Street Entertainment. “I had never experienced anything like it before. PS: I must admit, I haven’t felt that same early passion again. You embrace it and you want to share this feeling with others, making them understand it too.

Five Finger Death Punch started their recording career by gradually uploading some songs at a time – early versions of “Bleeding,” “Salvation,” and “The Way of The Fist” – onto MySpace, which was a vital platform for emerging artists, or as Bathory reminisces humorously, “the epicenter of the universe.

According to Bathory, the fan reaction was incredibly challenging, but from the very start, we sensed we had a unique connection due to an immediate rapport. Previously, we were all part of numerous bands. We immediately recognized that this was different, and we didn’t need to persuade people. Instead, things just began happening, and it started growing at an astonishing pace.

In reference to the broader metal music community, he notes that those who persist within it have been around for decades upon decades. He describes the fanbase as incredibly devoted and long-lasting; once someone becomes a part of this family, they remain so forever.

The initial album by the band, titled “The Way of the Fist,” released in 2007, was predominantly recorded in an apartment close to the Sunset Strip, belonging to Bathory. It managed to climb halfway up the Billboard Top 200 albums chart and eventually achieved gold status, with 500,000 copies sold. Despite experiencing greater triumphs, the band’s journey has not been without its share of highs and lows typical of a metal group – members joining and leaving, struggles with substance abuse, and disagreements over creative decisions.

After two decades together, the singer and the guitarist have survived.

Bathory, with a smile on his face, remarks, “It’s still a tornado, and just as a band is made up of guys, I don’t expect it to transform. We constructed this thing as if it was a battleship, he said, seated beneath an elegant Turkish lantern in the castle.

As a devoted admirer, I’ve come to realize that our relationship is a rollercoaster ride, filled with disagreements and heated debates. Yet, amidst the turbulence, there’s an undeniable resolve—we always find a way to resolve our issues. We possess an innate ability to conquer each new challenge, just as we scale yet another mountain together.

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2025-07-19 13:31

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