The Way of the Fist

The Way of the Fist
Studio album by Five Finger Death Punch
Released July 31, 2007
Recorded 2006–2007 at Next Level Studios in Los Angeles, California and at Complex Studios in Los Angeles, California
Genre Groove metal, heavy metal, thrash metal
Length 39:02
Label Firm Music, Spinefarm
Producer Zoltan Bathory, Jeremy Spencer
Five Finger Death Punch chronology
Pre-Emptive Strike
(2007)		 The Way of the Fist
(2007)		 War Is the Answer
(2009)
Singles from The Way of the Fist
  1. "The Bleeding"
    Released: July 10, 2007
  2. "Never Enough"
    Released: July 15, 2008
  3. "Stranger Than Fiction"
    Released: September 17, 2008
Alternative covers
"Iron Fist" Edition
Cover for the UK and Canadian edition of The Way of the Fist
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [1]
Kerrang!
Ultimate Guitar Archive

The Way of the Fist is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch, released on July 31, 2007. The album sold 3,800 copies in its first week of release The Way of the Fist made its Billboard 200 debut on August 18, 2007 at #199 and peaked at #107. It has been certified gold for selling in excess of 500,000 copies as of April 1 2010.[2]

Contents

Recording and release

The band entered Next Level Studios and Complex Studios in Los Angeles, California to record The Way of the Fist. The album was recorded with Stevo "Shotgun" Bruno (Mötley Crüe, Prong) and Mike Sarkisyan (Spineshank) and was mixed by former Machine Head and Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader.[3] Shortly after they signed a deal with Firm Music, a branch of "The Firm".[4] It was released on July 31, 2007, selling 5,400 copies in its first week of release to debut at #199 on the Billboard 200 chart[5] and peaked at #107. The album sold an additional 1,400 copies in digital downloads its first week of release.[5]

Reissues

2008 Reissue

On May 13, 2008 The Way of the Fist was re-released.[6] The re-release contained three new bonus tracks, "Never Enough", "Stranger Than Fiction", and an acoustic version of "The Bleeding". The three songs could also be obtained on the band's website by anyone who had purchased a copy of the original release of the album.[6]

"Iron Fist" Edition

On November 22, 2010 the album was reissued again as a deluxe box set entitled The Way Of The Fist: Iron Fist Edition.[2] This version features new artwork, a documentary DVD, The Legend of The Fist Vol. 1, music videos for "The Bleeding", "Never Enough" and "The Way of the Fist", a bonus CD with 11 B-sides and rarities, trading cards, and an exclusive poster and calendar.[2]

Track listing

The Way of the Fist
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Ashes"   Bathory, Moody 3:46
2. "The Way of the Fist"   Bathory, Moody 3:59
3. "Salvation"   Bathory, Moody, Snell, Spencer 3:20
4. "The Bleeding"   Bathory, Moody 4:29
5. "A Place to Die"   Bathory, Moody 3:42
6. "The Devil's Own"   Bathory, Moody, Snell, Spencer 4:14
7. "White Knuckles"   Bathory, Moody, Snell, Spencer, Roberts 4:10
8. "Can't Heal You"   Bathory, Moody, Snell, Spencer 3:02
9. "Death Before Dishonor"   Bathory, Moody, Spencer 3:56
10. "Meet the Monster"   Bathory, Moody, Spencer 4:24
Total length:
 39:02

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Finnish Albums Chart[8] 28
US Billboard 200[9] 107
US Billboard Heat Seekers[9] 1

Singles

Three singles were released from the album, "The Bleeding", "Never Enough", and "Stranger Than Fiction".

Year Title Peak chart positions
US
Main.
[10]
2007 "The Bleeding" 9
2008 "Never Enough" 9
"Stranger Than Fiction" 16

Personnel

Five Finger Death Punch
Additional musicians
  • Uros Raskovski – guitar solo on "The Bleeding"
Production

References

  1. ^ Bowar, Chad. "Five Finger Death Punch The Way of the Fist Review". About.com. http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/5fingerdeathway.htm. 
  2. ^ a b c "Five Finger Death Punch Debut Album To Be Reissued As 'Iron Fist Edition' Box Set". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=146794. Retrieved 2010-09-28. 
  3. ^ "FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Featuring Ex-W.A.S.P., MOTOGRATER Members: Debut CD Due In April". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=65831. Retrieved July 26, 2007. 
  4. ^ "Five Finger Death Punch Signs With Firm Music". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=74094. Retrieved July 26, 2007. 
  5. ^ a b "Five Finger Death Punch Guitarist: 'Our Fans Are Diehard!'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=78888. Retrieved 2007-08-16. 
  6. ^ a b "FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Releases Free Track To Fans". Blabbermouth.net. Apr. 8, 2008. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94500. 
  7. ^ "Iron Fist Edition Track Listing". Blowitouttahere.com. http://www.blowitoutahere.com/Music/Album.aspx?prodid=PPPK50103.2&From=GlobalSearch&search=five%20finger%20death%20punch&p_id=&st=Music. Retrieved October 25, 2010. 
  8. ^ Suomen virallinen lista
  9. ^ a b "Five Finger Death Punch – Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p848811. 
  10. ^ "Single Chart Positions". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=797700&model.vnuAlbumId=903581. 
Five Finger Death Punch
Zoltan Bathory · Jason Hook · Chris Kael · Ivan Moody · Jeremy Spencer
Caleb Bingham · Darrell Roberts · Matt Snell
Albums
The Way of the Fist • War Is the Answer • American Capitalist
Singles
"The Bleeding" • "Never Enough" • "Stranger Than Fiction" • "Hard to See" • "Walk Away" • "Dying Breed" • "No One Gets Left Behind" • "Bad Company" • "Far from Home" • "Under and Over It" • "Back for More" • "Remember Everything"
Notable songs
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