Five Finger Death Punch & Marilyn Manson don’t disappoint Nashville

Nearly 15 years have passed since I last attended a concert by Five Finger Death Punch or Marilyn Manson. I distinctly remember my first time seeing Five Finger Death Punch; lead singer Ivan Moody was clearly grappling with substance abuse issues, which heavily impacted the band’s performance.

At the time, every metal magazine seemed to speculate that the group was on the verge of disbanding.

Marilyn Manson‘s live shows were similarly disappointing. His performances was erratic when I saw him and I left feeling let down, contemplating whether I should write him off entirely as an artist. As a lifelong fan of Manson — with his music shaping much of the course of my life — seeing him intoxicated onstage, slurring through his songs, was a shock that took years for me to recover from as a fan.

Last week, I decided to give both bands another chance when they were scheduled to perform at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, with special guests Slaughter to Prevail and The Funeral Portrait.

The first act to hit the stage was The Funeral Portrait — a band I’ve followed for some time. They’re one of Atlanta’s hottest rising metal acts and, though this was their debut at Bridgestone Arena, the crowd’s enthusiastic reception and their tight, energetic set suggested it won’t be their last. Being part of the Nashville music scene as much as I have, they are a band most metalheads around here can’t stop talking about; their sound leans towards rock with aggressive, screaming vocals, but it still felt worlds apart from the next band set to perform.

Slaughter To Prevail — a deathcore band from Russia — has been making waves in the metal scene for the last five years, thanks, in part, to their devil masks.

They are among the heaviest bands I’ve ever encountered. When they took the stage, it felt as if the entire arena began to tremble, like the pounding of a heartbeat if it were a nuclear blast. I hadn’t heard such beautifully controlled chaos since seeing Meshuggah live. While Slaughter To Prevail‘s music might not have perfectly aligned with the other bands on the tour, their presence was electrifying and they did a great job of ramping up the energy before Marilyn Manson’s set. Looking around, it was evident that this band has built a devoted following: fans filled the arena, many donning their signature masks and holding signs in support. 

Marilyn Manson has been a lightning rod for controversy throughout his career… but this tour marks his return after facing serious abuse allegations. Now fully sober, I wondered how his newfound sobriety would influence his live performance. Would he address the turmoil he’s endured? As it turns out, sobriety has dramatically transformed Manson. While he still embodies the persona of the “Antichrist Superstar”, he appeared healthier and his performance was musically flawless from start to finish. Although he spoke little to the audience, it was clear he was in his element, happier than I’ve ever seen him onstage. While maintaining his signature “dark prince” persona, he frequently smiled after hearing the crowd’s cheers. One of the few moments he engaged with the audience came before performing “Dope Show”, when he introduced himself with, “My name is Marilyn Manson and I’m a drug addict.”

It was, without a doubt, the best performance I’ve seen from Manson and I sincerely hope he embarks on a solo tour soon.

Five Finger Death Punch, also redeemed themselves that night. Just like Manson, it seems the band has finally found their footing with a transformation clearly visible throughout their time onstage. Gone were the days of drunken disorder; instead, the band exuded joy and camaraderie. The difference in their performance from many years ago was like night and day. The band powered through a setlist of greatest hits, repeatedly expressing gratitude to the crowd and emphasizing their appreciation for every fan in attendance. The lyrics of their hit “Jekyll and Hyde” seemed to fit what they were now accomplishing. It was a complete turnaround from the performances I’d witnessed years ago. I feel fortunate to have witnessed these bands in what I call a ‘redemption tour’. I, for one, am overjoyed that the two main acts have turned around their careers for the better. 

Photography by Derek Jones

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