Multi-platinum hard rock powerhouse, Five Finger Death Punch, globally released their highly anticipated ninth studio album, “AFTERLIFE” today. Listen to the album on your streaming platform of choice HERE. The title track, “AFTERLIFE” shot to #1 on the Rock charts earlier this year and the album also features new single, “Times Like These ” which is currently climbing the charts. See full album tracklisting below. Today’s release is also highlighted by the launch of the brand new official music video for “Times Like These” which can be watched here:

“AFTERLIFE” is available on all streaming platforms, in cd- and cassette format and in various limited vinyl editions across the globe, as well as a limited collector’s edition lenticular cover cd exclusive at Walmart. Check out the various vinyl editions HERE. In addition, an exclusive brand new “AFTERLIFE” merchandise collection, as well as limited edition red apple color vinyl is available at the official Five Finger Death Punch webstore.

We sat down with bassist Chris Kael to discuss the band’s new work.

Your album F8 had come just before the pandemic hit the U.S. and here’s Afterlife coming out at the end of the pandemic. How did the band manage the writing and recording process during the pandemic?

CK: When the pandemic began to rise and it was on the tongues of everyone literally and figuratively, we were in Europe with Megadeth and were right ahead of the curve of everything. When the pandemic happened and the world shut down it was right around the time of our F8 release. We didn’t have a chance to tour on F8 at all, which was a wrench in the gears at that point. We could’ve sat around doing nothing and wait for the opportunity to tour on that or we could continue to do what we do naturally, which is create and collaborate on new stuff. We jumped right back into the studio after a little bit of a break trying to figure out where to go. As difficult and tragic as Covid-19 was for people around the world, you need to find your silver lining that works for you in situations like that. For us, the silver lining was us going into the studio without any sort of deadlines or impending tours that we had to get to. Our complete focus was being in the studio and taking our time. For example “Judgment Day” was something new and unique. It was kind of a departure for us and also staying true to what we’ve done over the years. Without having deadlines we were kind of able to let them go more organically and really take some turns. If we veered off to the right we were able to take that path and fully explore it.

What gear will you be using for this upcoming tour with Megadeth?

CK: Traditionally, I’ve been playing my B.C. Rich Warlock signature series, but they’re completely sold out, so I’ve been using a Black Widow from B.C. Rich. I’m going back to old school D.D. Verni style from Overkill back in the day and Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.) too. That bass has been awesome. I love the Warlock and the Widow seems to be for me and even more aggressive and ridiculous version of it. It’s very metal and obnoxious and plays wonderfully, so it has everything I want from it. I may be switching over to Widows, but we’ll see what happens there. Amp-wise I’m using Mesa Boogies on stage. I have a Tech 21 Sansamp in there to give it that growl I like. Pretty simple rig really. I don’t use a ton of effects. My tone comes from the Mesa Boogie heads, Sansamp, the B.C. Rich, and the attack from my right hand. I play very aggressively. I’ve always said I don’t play bass, I beat the sh*t out of it, so I definitely treat that as a percussive instrument that has evolved into the sound that you hear.

5FDP have amassed over 8 billion streams to date. “AFTERLIFE” is the highly anticipated follow-up release to their 2020 album, F8 which debuted at #1 on rock charts around the world and Top 10 on the Mainstream charts in the USA, Austria, Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and more. To date, the band have achieved 25 TOP 10 HIT SINGLES and recently broke the record for most consecutive Mainstream Rock Airplay #1 hits. Their music videos have garnered over 3 BILLION VIDEO VIEWS and the band has SOLD OVER 1 MILLION TICKETS between 2018 and 2020 alone. The band has over 10 MILLION FOLLOWERS across social media and are currently the 3RD BIGGEST ARTIST IN THE HARD ROCK SPACE measured by total consumption (sales and streams), surpassed only by Metallica and AC/DC.

Five Finger Death Punch will appear on screen in the upcoming Better Noise Films movie, The Retaliators in theaters starting September 14. Their song “Darkness Settles In” is featured on the soundtrack which is out September 16. Presale tickets for the movie and more information can be found via RETALIATORSMOVIE.COM.

Coinciding with today’s album release Five Finger Death Punch will kick off their mammoth summer tour in Ridgefield, WA with very special guest Megadeth and support from The Hu and Fire From The Gods. For full routing of the summer tour and for tickets click here.

Earlier this week Five Finger Death Punch also announced that they will be joining forces with multi-platinum country rock artist, Brantley Gilbert this fall for a massive US arena tour with support from newcomer Cory Marks. Produced by Live Nation, the tour will kick off in Grand Rapids on November 9th and hit 20 more cities before wrapping up in Las Vegas on December 17th. See the full fall tour routing below. For tickets and more info, please visit fivefinderdeathpunch.com or brantleygilbert.com.

The upcoming fall run is not the first time Five Finger Death Punch and Brantley Gilbert have joined forces. The two artists brought the worlds of hard rock and country rock together when they partnered on their global #1 hit, “Blue On Black” in 2019. The track also featured the song’s original performer, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, as well as Brian May on guitar and was in support of The Gary Sinise Foundation, to benefit first responders. To date, the collaboration has garnered over 110 million YouTube views and 62 million Spotify streams, proving that this very special tour should not be missed by fans of either artist!

Five Finger Death Punch & Brantley Gilbert

US 2022 Tour

Wed Nov 9 – Grand Rapids, MI | Van Andel Arena

Thu Nov 10 – Fort Wayne, IN | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Sat Nov 12 – Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena

Mon Nov 14 – Columbus, OH | Schottenstein Center

Wed Nov 16 – Nashville, TN | Bridgestone Arena

Thu Nov 17 – Knoxville, TN | Thompson-Boling Arena

Sat Nov 19 – Charleston, WV | Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center

Sun Nov 20 – Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Tue Nov 22 – Tampa, FL | Amalie Arena

Fri Nov 25 – Birmingham, AL | Legacy Arena at The BJCC

Sat Nov 26 – Little Rock, AR | Simmons Bank Arena

Tue Nov 29 – Kansas City, MO | T-Mobile Center

Wed Nov 30 – Omaha, NE | CHI Health Center Omaha

Fri Dec 2 – Madison, WI | Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center

Sat Dec 3 – Green Bay, WI | Resch Center

Mon Dec 5 – Minneapolis, MN | Target Center

Wed Dec 7 – Des Moines, IA | Wells Fargo Arena

Fri Dec 9 – Grand Forks, ND | Alerus Center

Sat Dec 10 – Sioux Falls, SD | Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

Tue Dec 13 – Spokane, WA | Spokane Arena

Thu Dec 15 – Nampa, ID | Ford Idaho Center Arena

Sat Dec 17 – Las Vegas, NV | Michelob ULTRA Arena

ABOUT FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have amassed 25 top 10 hit singles and 13 #1 singles. Having become one of the most recognizable names in music, 5FDP frequently play all major festivals and sell out arenas around the world. Since their debut album, The Way of the Fist came out in 2007 the band has released seven consecutive albums that were certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA, as well as two chart topping Greatest Hits albums. In addition, 5FDP has earned numerous national and international awards and honors over the last decade, such as the prestigious Soldier Appreciation Award by the Association Of The United States Army, an honor bestowed only upon Elvis Presley before them.

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