Album review: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – A Decade Of Destruction Vol. 2

Better Noise Music [Release date 09.10.20]

This album is the second ‘greatest hits’ package that FFDP have released following on from Volume 1 back in 2017. It has proved to be a very aptly timed release as it neatly rounds of the tenure of guitarist Jason Hook who has recently left the band. So, what has Jason left as his legacy?

This album contains 12 songs spanning the band’s career and is augmented with five ‘new’ tracks which are in fact made up of one completely new song, a new acoustic version of another and three remixes, more on which later…

For me Volume 1 focused too much on the mellower and more commercial side of the band and although it was a good collection it lacked punch ironically. Vol 2 is an altogether rockier affair although it does start off gently with the band’s ‘country’ hit ‘Blue On Black’. The FFDP version of this song really works although some considered it a step too far, but the band have never been ones to shy away from a bit of controversy and are happy to do as they damn well please!

‘The Tragic Truth’ follows and this is Five Finger Death Punch at their best, a track best described as a clenched fist in a velvet glove. A slow build through the verse leads into an explosive chorus with Ivan Moody demonstrating his vocal talents perfectly.

The one new track on the album is up next and what a song it is! ‘Broken World’ I think sums up things in general at the present time, angry riffs and angrier vocals delivered with real venom, giving a voice to the people.

It is also the band’s first recording with new guitarist Andy James and judging by the fretwork on this track he is more than up to the task. The main refrain from next song ‘I Refuse’ could be the perfect follow on to ‘Broken World’ with Ivan pleading ‘Wake me up when this is over…’ I think we have all felt like that at some point through the course of 2020.

The rest of the original tracks are a great mix of all that FFDP have to offer whether it is their softer side on ‘When The Seasons Change’ and ‘M.I.N.E (End This Way) or at their heaviest with ‘Sham Pain’ and ‘Never Enough’

The other additional tracks are left to the end of the album starting with an acoustic version of ‘Wrong Side Of Heaven’ which the band were playing live prior to the European tour being cut short due to the rising pandemic. The song lends itself perfectly to the acoustic treatment and Ivan’s impassioned vocal is spot on.

That just leaves the remixes of ‘Trouble’, ‘Wash It All Away’ and ‘Bad Company’ to round off the album and maybe its an age thing but I fail to see the point. Surely a remix should enhance the original not murder it, but on these tracks the perpetrators are guilty in the first degree. Still, they are at the end and easily avoided so it’s not all bad.

If this collection is to act as Jason Hook’s swansong then he is leaving behind a body of work that he can be justifiably proud of, he would do well to disown the remixes though! ****

Review by Dave Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)