Los Angeles-based thrash outfit Five Finger Death Punch formed in 2005 around the talents of former U.P.O. guitar player Zoltan Bathory, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Darrell Roberts, vocalist Ivan Moody (Motograter/Ghost Machine), bass player Matt Snell (Anubis Rising), and former W.A.S.P. drummer Jeremy Spencer. The underground supergroup's volatile but groove-heavy debut, Way of the Fist, was released in 2007, followed by War Is the Answer in 2009. The following year, the bassist Matt Snell parted ways with the band just after they had gone into the studio to being work a new album, and in 2011 Five Finger Death Punch recruited Chris Kael to take over for him. Later that year, the band released their third studio album, American Capitalist.