"This is more than just a song; it's a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX's memory." Five Finger Death Punch recorded a song called This Is The Way featuring hip hop icon DMX - and we'll get to hear it next month

Five Finger Death Punch have revealed that they recorded a song featuring none other than hip hop icon DMX, who passed away in 2021 - and that we'll get to hear it in a few weeks' time.

The track will be included on an upcoming special edition of latest Five Finger Death Punch album Afterlife, which was originally released in 2022. The new, deluxe version of the band's ninth studio LP will include four bonus songs in the form of the previously unheard DMX feature, titled This Is The Way, alongside acoustic versions of three existing album tracks, The End, Judgement Day and Thanks For Asking.

The Afterlife deluxe edition will land on February 9, at which point a video for This Is The Way will also be released.

“Music is meant to be shared, and it starts at the top with us, the artists," says Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory of the band's DMX-cameoing track. "We have always embraced the mixing of genres, whether it be the remake of LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out featuring Tech N9ne as a guest or our collaboration with blues warrior Kenny Wayne Shepherd, country star Brantley Gilbert, and Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, on the song Blue On Black.

"The idea of collaborating with DMX had been in discussion for years, and it was a long and winding road to turn this particular item on our wish list into reality," he continues. "He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind incorruptibly. We have always viewed DMX as 'the metalhead of hip-hop' because of his aggressive, raw, and untamed style. He growled and snarled, aiming to rattle some cages – an attitude we share, as Five Finger Death Punch has always been drawn to the fearless and the real. It made all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song; it's a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX's memory."

You can listen to the acoustic version of Judgement Day taken from the upcoming Afterlife reissue below.

Five Finger Death Punch Afterlife deluxe edition tracklist

1. Welcome To The Circus
2. AfterLife
3. Times Like These
4. Roll Dem Bones
5. Pick Up Behind You
6. Judgment Day
7. IOU
8. Thanks For Asking
9. Blood And Tar
10. All I Know
11. Gold Gutter
12. The End
13. This Is The Way (feat. DMX)
14. Judgment Day (Acoustic)
15. The End (Acoustic)
16. Thanks For Asking (Acoustic)

Five Finger Death Punch European tour dates 2024

May 23: London OVO Arena, UK 
May 26: Munich Olympiastadion, Germany *
May 28: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
May 29: Milan Idays Festival, Italy
May 31: Metalfest Open Air Plzen, Czech Republic
Jun 01: Vienna, Racino Rocks, Austria *
Jun 03: Hannover, ZAG Arena, Germany
Jun 05: Solvesborg, Sweden Rock Festival, Sweden
Jun 06: Trondheim, Trondheim Rocks, Norway
Jun 09: Helsinki, Olympic Stadium, Finland *
Jun 11: Tallin, Unibet Arena, Estonia
Jun 13: Kaunas, Zalgiris Arena, Lithuania
Jun 16: Copenhagen, Parken Stadium, Denmark *
Jun 18: Frankfurt, Festhalle, Germany
Jun 19: Amsterdam, AFAS Live, Holland
Jun 21: Dessel, Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 23: Ferropolis, Full Force Festival, Germany
Jun 25: Oberhausen, Rudolf Weber-Arena, Germany
Jun 26: Esch-Sur-Alzette, Rockhal, Luxembourg
Jun 29: Zilina, Topfest, Slovakia
July 04: Bucharest, Metalhead Festival – 20 years LIVE, Romania
Jul 07: Warsaw, PGE Narodowy, Poland *
Jul 09: Budapest, Barba Negra, Hungary
Jul 14: Madrid, Estadio Civitas Metropolitano, Spain *

* supporting Metallica