Review & Photos: Five Finger Death Punch, Cody Jinks, Eva Under Fire in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania

By David Desin, OOTB Publications

There are some bands that never disappoint when you see them live—Five Finger Death Punch is definitely one of them.

On Friday, Aug. 7, the band brought their hard-hitting 20th Anniversary live show to The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and once again proved why they remain one of the most exciting bands to see on the concert stage.

This was personally my third time seeing Five Finger Death Punch live, but this night was especially memorable: It was my first time photographing the band.

After being a fan and seeing them perform twice before, finally having the opportunity to photograph them was something I had been looking forward to—and the guys did not disappoint.

From the moment they hit the stage, the energy was incredible. Five Finger came out ready to work the crowd.

Frontman Ivan Moody was everywhere. He owned that stage, constantly moving around and feeding off the energy of the audience.

He had the crowd singing lyrics back to him, interacting with him, and becoming a huge part of the performance. That kind of crowd interaction is one of the things that makes a Five Finger Death Punch show so much fun.

Ivan knows how to work an audience, and you could feel the connection between the band and the fans throughout the night.

From a photographer's perspective, this was an especially fun show.

The guys in the band were an absolute blast to photograph. There was plenty of movement, energy, emotion, and attitude happening onstage, giving me plenty of great moments to capture.

Photographing a band for the first time is always exciting, but photographing a band with that much stage presence makes the experience even better.

Of course, another huge part of the excitement surrounding the band right now is their new album: Legacy. The album is the band's tenth studio album and is part of their celebration of twenty years of Five Finger Death Punch.

The digital version was released July 31, and there is some seriously great material on this record. I have to admit, I can't wait to get my hands on the physical CD; there is something special about having the actual album in your collection, and with the CD release coming Sept. 18, the wait is definitely going to be worth it.

After hearing the new material and seeing the band deliver another powerful live performance, it's clear that Five Finger Death Punch still has plenty to say—and they are still releasing great material.

Twenty years into their career, they continue to bring the same intensity and attitude that fans have come to expect from them.

If you've never seen Five Finger Death Punch live, I highly recommend it; whether you're a longtime fan or someone discovering the band for the first time, their live show is an experience.

The music is loud, the energy is nonstop, and vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarists Zoltan Bathory and Andy James, bassist Chris Kael and drummer Charlie Engen know exactly how to keep a crowd involved.

For me, this third Five Finger Death Punch concert was made even more special by finally getting the chance to photograph them.

It was an incredible night of music, energy, and photography—and one I'll definitely remember.

Five Finger Death Punch still brings the fire, and after twenty years, these guys aren't slowing down anytime soon.

Setlist

1. Welcome to the Circus

2. Eye of the Storm

3. Legacy

4. Wash It All Away

5. Jekyll and Hyde

6. Lift Me Up

7. Bad Company

8. De Oppresso Liber