LIVE: FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – December 5, 2019

Venue: Huntington Center

City: Toledo, OH

Date: December 5, 2019

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Five Finger Death Punch delivers each and every time out.  They also have a habit of taking a great cast of supporting artists around with them… and their latest tour stop in Toledo at a packed Huntington Center was no different.  As the venue slowly filled up on a Thursday evening, the crowd that made it to the venue early were treated to an opening set from newcomers Fire From The Gods.  With a sound that blends solid metal with modern metal and even some songs that lean into a scream style of music, they played their short set and you could slowly see parts of the crowd being converted as they wove through a set of hard rockers that pleased just about everybody within ear shot.  After their time, the stage shifted and was prepared for Bad Wolves, who are touring to support their latest effort N.A.T.I.O.N. and kicked ass from the first note of their set until the final chord was struck.  They kicked off with “No Messiah” and kept the energy cranked up with another new track, “For Or Friend.”  The band kicked through their seven tracks and blended the set just about evenly from their two releases.  Two tracks from their debut followed and then they ripped into their latest single “Killing Me Slowly.”  After another song from the bands sophomore release was played before the band hit the moment most of their fans waited for and the packed venue relished.  The track that raised their profile and allowed metallers, rockers, and music fans in general to come together closed out their portion of the evening as they showcased their rendition of “Zombie.”  Next up was Three Days Grace, and the audience embraced them from the minute they hit the stage and kick started their set with “The Mountain.”  The energy that flowed back and forth across the stage and through the venue was high and seemed to intensify as the songs and set progressed.  The band played songs from throughout their career after opening with a track from their 2018 release.  The bands excitement seemed to increase, as did the crowds, as the band ran from song to song working through “Home,” “The Good Life,” and the rocker “Painkiller.”  The vocals and guitars worked in tandem to provide the melodies while the thunderous bass and drums provided the perfect foundation for the rock show.  While the band cranked out hit after hit, it was the back end of the set that was not to be missed.  The chain of songs that closed out the set started off with “I Hate Everything About You” and the crowd’s energy was growing exponentially as that song morphed into “Animal I Have Become.”  After a great live rendition of “Never Too Late,” the band ripped into “Riot,” which closed their set leaving the crowd satisfied, yet wanting more at the same time.

[Show as slideshow]

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With an already bombastic evening of rock under our belts, the packed venue readied themselves for the evenings headliner to take the stage and rock the place with everything they had… and we were not disappointed.  Five Finger Death Punch came out swinging with the killer cadence and power of the track “Lift Me Up,” and they set the bar high for the rest of the evening.  The band wound their way through that track and then shifted into overdrive for the killer tandem of “Trouble” and “Wash It All Away.”  With Ivan Moody controlling the flow of the stage, the songs seemed to have added punch.  As the band moved through tracks such as “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Sham Pain,” and a great rendition of “Bad Company” – which these guy nail EVERY TIME I see them perform it, the guitar tandem of Zoltan Bathory and Jason Hook traded riffs, solos, and overall guitar goodness.  This touring juggernaut brings their A game every time they hit the stage, and seem to raise the expectations whenever they play Huntington Center.  Some personal highlights of the show came closer to the end of the set when the band tore into “Wrong Side Of Heaven” and “Battle Born” before tearing into a cover of their recent single  “Blue on Black.”  The entire show was anchored by the thunderous bass and high energy of Chris Kael and the heavy handed drumming of new comer Charlie Engen.  With my fav 5FDP song kicking off the show, the rest of my favorite songs were saved for the end of the night.  The trio of “Never Enough” and “Burn MF” closed out the set with power.  Taking the stage once again for an encore, the band ripped through “Under and Over It” before closing the show and evening with “The Bleeding.”  The band recently announced 2020 tour dates and can only imagine what they plan to bring in the coming months.

Setlist: Lift Me Up – Trouble – Wash It All Away – Jekyll and Hyde – Sham Pain – Bad Company – No One Gets Left Behind – Got Your Six – The Agony of Regret – Wrong Side of Heaven – Battle Born – Blue on Black – Coming Down – Never Enough – Burn MF – Under and Over It – The Bleeding

FULL SET OF FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH SHOW PHOTOS HERE

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FULL SET OF THREE DAYS GRACE SHOW PHOTOS HERE

THREE DAYS GRACE LINKS:

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FULL SET OF BAD WOLVES SHOW PHOTOS HERE

BAD WOLVES LINKS:

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FULL SET OF FIRE FROM THE GODS SHOW PHOTOS HERE

FIRE FROM THE GODS LINKS:

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries