With the announcement of a brand new album and additional U.S Tour dates next year, Five Finger Death Punch guitarist, Zoltan Bathory, recently spoke to Billboard.com about the bands forthcoming new album titled F8.
In the interview Zoltan talks about the bands rebirth, what we can expect from the upcoming album release whilst also discussing some of the lyrical themes it explores.
Billboard talks about a few of the songs we have to look forward to calling an intense but dynamically more varied and more melodic than previous Five Finger Death Punch albums. Apparently we’re in for anthemic-sized choruses across the record.
Read on to find out what else we learnt about about F8 from Billboard and Zoltan.
On what sound we can expect on the new album
Billboard reckons 5FDP won’t veer too far off course with the new album which is good news for exisiting fans. The new single Inside Out is our first taste of what is to come. Zoltan confirms we have big arena anthems with sing-a-long chorus’ to look forward too plus some very intricate drumming.
We’re never gonna be a progressive metal band or jazz fusion or anything like that.
We have fans who don’t want to figure out the mathematical equations between the rhythm patterns; They just want to rock out and have a good time and sing the choruses
On the approach to the songwriting of F8
According to Zoltan the band had alot of songs to choose from for the album and to refine. He talks about how both himself and Jason Hook wrote over 20 songs apiece with Ivan also contributing additional material to work with. The band also had more time to select which songs made the cut and refine these further to those that made the final record.
Some of these (songs), this is like the fifth version ’cause we had the time and the focus.
We were like, ‘We know this can be better. Let’s go back and do this again and listen to it for a month’ and then, ‘Y’know what? I think it still can get better…’
So technically we could rework this record over and over until we felt like, ‘This is done. This is what it should sound like.’
On previous records we didn’t really have that option.
On working closer with Jason Hook on guitar lines
With the band now firing on all cylinders, Zoltan goes on to explain that this gave himself and Jason Hook more opportunities to work out guitar parts compared to previous releases.
Jason and I can really concentrate on each other and each other’s playing and how we can complement each other.
We can really now work even closer and focus more, and that relationship got better because the circumstantial noise and constant tornado went away.
On Charlie Engen joining the band on the drums
Zoltan is full of praise for new drummer Charlie Engen who initially joined the band on their December 2018 U.S Tour whilst original drummer Jeremy Spencer had back surgery. Engen of course is now a full-time member and we’ll get the first taste of what he can do in the studio on F8.
We call him Professor Charlie…
There’s nothing he can’t do. We can do crazier stuff. If you listen to the drumming on the album, it’s pretty intricate.

On how far Inside Out represents the rest of the album
Zoltan talks about why the band chose Inside Out as the first taste of the new record and inidcates there will be a good mix of songs with some obvious stand out ‘Big Hits’.
We ended up picking ‘Inside Out’ because it’s not the obvious song; It’s a little heavier, even risky because some radio stations may say, ‘Well, it’s a little too heavy.’
But it’s truly a snapshot of a band that kind of sounds the same bus is not the same band, so it probably represents the record best
On the lyrical themes explored on the new album
Billboard explains that unlike previous records such as And Justice For None, American Capitalist and War Is The Answer which draw inspiration and lyrics around current events, that F8 is much more personal around the band and how they have weathered a story.
There’s no political or social commentary. It’s not about what’s happening in the world. It’s about the band.
Check out the full interview piece over on Billboard to read more on F8.
F8 is set for release on Feb. 28 2020. Pre-orders are now available across the globe through all the usual retailers and platforms.
Head here to see some of the exclusive F8 album and merch bundle packages and options available.
Disclaimers:
Headline image by Harry Reese Film and Photo
Original interview published by Billboard