The Way of the Fist

The Way of the Fist is the debut on which Five Finger Death Punch — formed in Las Vegas in 2005 around Zoltan Bathory (guitar) and Jeremy Spencer (drums) — stamped a new presence in modern metal. The band's name derives from a finishing move in a Bruce Lee film. Built on heavy grooves recalling Pantera and the rough yet melodic voice of vocalist Ivan Moody, it lines up songs that combine aggression with catchiness. Reaching No. 107 on the Billboard 200 and later certified gold, it stirred a quiet whirlwind. The breakout single "The Bleeding," a signature song with a melodic chorus and weighty riff, climbed high on the Mainstream Rock chart. From the direct impact of the title track "The Way of the Fist" and "White Knuckles" to the shadow of "A Place to Die," the groundwork hinting at the huge success to come is already packed in. This lineup, featuring Darrell Roberts on guitar and Matt Snell on bass, set down a firm first step here as rising stars of modern groove metal.