Zoltan Bathory

Infobox musical artist
Name = Zoltan Bathory


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Born = Hungary
Instrument = Guitar
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Genre = Hard rock, Heavy metal
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Label = The Firm / EMI
Associated_acts = Five Finger Death Punch
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Zoltan Bathory is a Hungarian born Heavy metal guitarist. Bathory is the founder and one of the main songwriters for the Los Angeles based metal band Five Finger Death Punch. The band also features Ivan Moody - former vocalist of Motograter (Elektra), two former members of W.A.S.P. (Darrell Roberts on guitar and Jeremy Spencer on drums) and bassist Matt Snell (Anubis Rising, Deadsett)

Five Finger Death Punch recorded their debut album The Way of the Fist with Stevo "Shotgun" Bruno (Mötley Crüe, Prong) and Mike Sarkysian (Spineshank) in 2006. The record was mixed and mastered by Logan Mader (Machine Head, Soulfly). Five Finger Death Punch's first live appearance was on September 8th 2006 at the sold out Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles opening for Roadrunner Recording artist DragonForce. A few weeks later, they were one of the headliners at the Delicious Rox Festival (Missouri Dodge Arena) alongside American Head Charge, Drowning Pool, and Fear Factory. From there they went on opening for metal veterans Twisted Sister. As Five Finger Death Punch continued its rapid rise with their modern day metal - fans were labeling as "True Metal" - it wasn't long before one of the most powerful managements, "The Firm" (Korn, Limp Bizkit, Staind) took notice, and signed 5FDP to their artist friendly label "Firm Music". Their first record "The Way Of The Fist" was released on July 31st, 2007 via The Firm/EMI in the United States.

The record broke into the Billboard 200 on its first week of release (eventually reaching position #107), and hit the #1 position on Billboard's New Artist/Heetseekers chart. Their first single, "The Bleeding" landed in the top 40 (rock radio charts), eventually becoming a top 10 hit, ruling the rock radio waves for eight months. The second single (Never Enough) was released in May 2008 and became a top 10 hit as well.

Tour History:

*June - August 2007 : Five Finger Death Punch has joined the Family Values Tour spending the summer of 2007 on the road with Korn, Evanescence, Trivium, Hellyeah and Flyleaf.
* August - September 2007 : The band was supporting Korn on their "Bitch We Have Problem" - US tour
* September - December 2007 : Five Finger Death Punch was headlining its own - "The Way Of The Fist" - US tour
* April - May 2008 : The Band was Supporting Disturbed on the "Indestructible" - US Tour
* Summer of 2008 : Five Finger Death Punch will be joining The Rockstar Mayhem US Tour (Slipknot, Disturbed, Mastodon, Machine Head, Dragon Force)
* August 2008 : Five Finger Death Punch returns to their headlining tour with support by In This Moment, Bury Your Dead, and Another Black Day

External links

* [http://www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com/ http://www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com/]
* [http://www.zoltanthehun.com/ http://www.ZoltanTheHun.com/]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ffdp 5FDP Myspace page]
* [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=53507 Roadrunner Records Article 1]
* [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=59259 Roadrunner Records Article 2]

* [http://www.metalunderground.com/bands/details.cfm?bandid=4159 Metal Underground]
* [http://www.loudside.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13908 LoudSide Magazine]