Triple death punch

My life hasn't been straightforward; life is like that and most could say the same I suppose. Mine has been complicated, sometimes devastating and brutal, and at other times amazingly enjoyable; a rollercoaster? Sure, let's call it that.

Along the way I've been helped along by people and I'm grateful to them as they have helped me be a better man and live a better life. I don't believe any of us are self-made and through experiencing life, the right and wrong influences included, we can begin to shape life as we wish it to be. I've had other help also; I mean myself. I've educated myself, adapted, overcome and changed as needed and I've looked inwardly to help me do so.

Experiences come and go, people too, but one thing has been a constant companion and that's music.

I have a very broad musical taste and if it sounds good to my ears and moves me, makes me feel something, it's on my playlist and today I want to share three that do just that.

All are ballads by rock/metal outfit Five Finger Death Punch and each reaches inside and takes hold of something put there by my life-experiences, thoughts and feelings. Each are easy to listen to and all of them have powerful videos to go with them so take a look if you have the time.

T1

The first track is called, Gone Away, a cover of a song written by Dexter Holland and originally performed by The Offspring. It's sad and emotionally-charged, unsurprising considering it was written by Holland after his girlfriend was killed in a car accident. The unique vocals of Ivan Moody and musical style of 5FDP brings a sharper edge to the track and, in true 5FDP style, the music video sends a strong message to punctuate the powerful lyrics. The band often tell a story through their videos and this one is no different. Some may not relate to it, but those who do will probably feel it deeply, as do I.

T2

The second track is one of my favourites from 5FDP. It's called House of the Rising Sun and is another cover. Originally released by UK band, The Animals, it was a folk song about a life heading off the rails in New Orleans. The 5FDP version takes that theme and shakes it up a little with the result being...well, you'll have to watch the video. It has some prelude music and lyrics to set the tone, a party atmosphere, and then moves into the storyline in which the lads get down to business, and the actual track itself. It's a very cool track and the video/story is awesome.

T3

The third and last track is called, When the Seasons Change and talks of loyalty, standing tall in the face of adversity and finding the courage to do difficult things. The band faced their own issues collectively through being sued by their record label and as individuals through substance abuse and relationship issues along with other things which were motivation for this track. In typical 5FDP style the video tells a story, in this case of two police officers, and the video is dedicated to Charleston Hartfield, a Las Vegas police officer (and ex-Army veteran) killed in the Route 91 shooting in 2017 in which fifty-nine people were killed; he had placed himself in front of civilians to shield them from the bullets. As you may imagine, the video is full of powerful images.

For me, life seems to go better with music along for the ride. It has the ability to make me feel something and to feel nothing I suppose also as it carries me away to better places. The soundtrack of my life would be an eclectic mix of many different genres and artists if collated together, some have stuck around and some have come and gone along with the ebb and flow of life, but all have had meaning and have helped me live life a little more colourfully.