HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell – Five Finger Death Punch

December 13, 2023 Ed Walton

From their conception; Nevada metal outfit; FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH quickly established themselves as one of the leading new bands on the heavy metal scene. Between 2007 and 2011, the band released a trio of albums; The Way Of The Fist, War Is The Answer, and American Capitalist. On these albums the band were pouring out hit after hit and building up a very impressive discography in a short space of time. It was in 2013 that saw the band embark on their most daring journey yet; creating a double album. Over the years we’ve seen bands release double albums with varying degrees of success. Sometimes you get a great one such as SMASHING PUMPKINS‘ Melon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and on the other hand, you’ll get one like GUNS N’ ROSES‘ Use Your Illusion.

In 2013, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH (FFDP) unleashed The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volumes 1 & 2 onto the world. Upon its release, the band were at the peak of their powers having established their strong presence over the last few years. Upon its release, it achieved huge commercial success both in the US and the UK. Debuting at No. 2 on the US Top 200 Billboard and charting at 18 in the UK album chart. Solidifying FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH’s ever growing appeal both domestically and internationally. What helped these albums though was they were released separately, the first part; Vol. 1 coming out in the June of 2013 which left a decent sized gap in between the release of its follow up; Vol. 2. This way, listeners weren’t over exposed to a lot of FFDP in one go, that way this allowed the band to build up more hype and anticipation, keeping their fans on the edge of their seats. Upon release, the albums were met with mixed reviews from critics due to their lack of innovation or evolution hindering the band from reaching their full potential. However, the two records resonated strongly within the band’s fanbase, further cementing FFDP’s status as a dominant force in modern metal.

Both volumes are an absolute tour-de-force of metal. Like a freight train, once they start, there’s very little you can do to slow them down. From the get go it’s like a hammer striking an anvil that gives you an all out assault on the senses due to the band’s incendiary style of playing. Throughout listening, there are many stand out tracks. Opening Lift Me Up launches you into the fray with a slick groovy guitar led tune which is complemented by the drumming throughout which never misses a beat. It’s also worth mentioning the ever impressive vocal range of frontman; Ivan Moody who on these albums showcase they’re finest singing (at the time) to date.

This track features metal icon; Rob Halford as guest singer whose iconic voice creates an excellent dynamic with Moody’s style of singing. It also shows where the band were in their career that they were able garner the attention of icons like Halford to appear on the track. As you make your way through the onslaught of metal you get to the track; Wrong Side Of Heaven. At the time, the song resonated heavily among the fanbase due to its emotionally charged lyrics addressing the themes of struggle, pain and resilience. The powerful message throughout the song and melodic composition made it one of the standout tracks on the album.

Nearing the back end of the album, another stand out track; M.I.N.E (End This Way) comes into play. This track gives you a bit of respite from the storming nature of the record. It’s definitely a lighters up in the air kind of vibe rather than throwing yourself against multiple strangers. Its blend of heavy riffs, intense vocals and catchy hooks earnt the band lots of praise for its infectious energy and emotional impact.

Journeying over to Vol 2, we’re met with other stand out tracks that can easily go toe to toe with those from Vol 1. Wrecking Ball showcased the bands ability to blend heavy metal elements with melodic hooks and instantly made it a stand out song on Vol 2. Its chugging guitar throughout the verses give it an almost sinister feel to it. Lead single from Vol 2; Battle Born (a name for those from the state of Nevada) gained attention for listeners, quickly becoming a fan favourite. It’s anthemic and empowering nature gives you the feeling of wanting to scream along at the top of your longs and gives off a vulnerable side to Moody in particular which creates a wonderful contrast to the usual aggressive style of character that comes with many other tunes by FFDP.

FFDP are no strangers to having a cover on their albums. This time round round, we saw them finish Vol 2 on a cover of folk song; House of the Rising Sun by THE ANIMALS. The most different sounding song on both albums, we see Moody’s dulcet tones guiding us through the track. Amongst the stadium sized sound the instrumental parts play, it almost works as a spoken piece with Moody intermittently showing off his ever impressive vocals throughout. This interpretation is raw and packs an emotional punch to it as the band gives it their signature twist to it. Whilst these songs were the stand out songs commercially upon release, it’s worth noting deeper cuts such as BURN MF and Anywhere But Here are easily just as good. Both songs have that signature FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH aura about them where it can be a pummeling display of blistering metal or anthemic stadium sized track.

Both volumes are impressive displays of musicianship that make this album so easy and fun to listen to. Thematically, they’re fairly hard hitting for listeners. Covering a plethora of themes throughout such as struggle and resilience. Many of the songs throughout delve into themes such as inner turmoil, personal struggles and overcoming challenges. These particular hits closer to home within the band, most notably with Moody who has suffered from alcohol addiction over the years. Seeing them sing about this shows they’re willingness to be open which potentially helps many others who also struggle. Both records also touch upon social commentary as well. Looking into societal issues, including corruption, injustice, and the darker aspects of society. There are songs reflecting on the state of the world, addressing political and social issues, and advocating for change or standing up against injustice.

On both of these volumes, it’s easy to see just how impressive FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH were operating as a unit. Being a focal point of both of these records, Moody displayed a wide range. Delivering aggressive, emotive and melodic vocals with his ability to switch between harsh and clean vocals add plenty of depth and intensity to each listen. Guitarist; Zoltan Bathory plays a crucial role in shaping the band’s sound on this album. His heavy riffs and blistering solos contribute to the hard hitting nature of both albums. Working in tandem with lead guitarist at the time; James Hook brought his own style that complemented Bathory’s style of playing and enhanced the overalls style. Perhaps the most impressive part of the band is their drum and bass section. Chris Kael’s bass lines provided a solid foundation to each song. The heaviness and grooviness that he brings added depth and weight that go hand in hand with the excellent drumming display that features on this record. Jeremy Spencer’s drumming was the driving force behind the band’s aggressive sound. His precise and powerful drumming style, characterised by fast-paced rhythms, pounding beats, and impactful fills, added energy and intensity to the songs.

Overall, The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell marked a significant milestone in FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH‘s career. Despite mixed critical reception, the albums’ commercial success and impact on their fanbase solidified its place in the band’s discography as a powerful and defining release, showcasing their unrelenting energy and knack for creating hard-hitting metal music. It’s now back in the public zeitgeist. Celebrating its ten year anniversary, the band have released a very special addition to coincide with this. Featuring a whole host of new guests such as TECH N9NE, Max Cavalera and most notably, the metal icon himself; ROB ZOMBIE amongst others. Alongside these is also a live album which showcases the band as one of the best live bands around. It truly captures the chaotic and incendiary nature of their live shows and will make you feel like you’ve brought their live show to your very home.