Death Punch\’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch\’s Metal Mayhem review

2013 and 2014 have seen some great memoirs and books released from many notable rock stars. The latest band member to release his memoir is Five Finger Death Punch drummer Jeremy Spencer, who is set to release his first book, Death Punch’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch’s Metal Mayhem. This book isn’t your typical memoir. It doesn’t go in the traditional order and it isn’t the run-of-the-mill bash your bandmates and people who you don’t like bash-fest. In fact, Spencer spends more time reflecting on himself and his past mistakes, recognizing where he’s messed up and how he needed to rectify. Death Punch’d starts out with Spencer opening up about his childhood and early days. What’s interesting is the book goes back and forth with each chapter alternating between his early days and the Death Punch days so you’re reading about both eras of his life at the same time, which adds another level of interest. Spencer talks about getting involved with drugs at a very early age and entering rehab much younger than most people then stayed clean for years and years. It wasn’t until after Death Punch started up that Spencer relapsed and went down the road that led to a life filled with chaos and debauchery that he was unable to get out of until later in his life. Some of the details are graphic and a little over-the-top but it’s the best way to get the point across of just how destructive the lifestyle is. Anyone who thinks they can’t understand drug addiction and alcoholism needs to read this book as Spencer takes you right into the mind of an addict and what really goes on. Death Punch’d is a book you won’t be able to put down and when you do you won’t be able to wait to pick it back up. Any Five Finger Death Punch fan will love this book because not only does Spencer take you inside the addiction but he also talks about the band’s early days, how they formed and some of the process behind many songs and some of the band’s albums. Hats off to Spencer for laying it all out in the open and being as honest as he is in this book. -Reggie Edwards