One of the many super groups to rise in the last couple of years, Five Finger Death Punch has a line up consisting most notably of singer Ivan Moody from the Mudvayne-esque band Motograter. Moody is joined by guitarists Darrell Roberts of W.A.S.P. fame, and Zoltan Bathory who has been in cult bands such as U.P.O.

Well, it could be easy to dismiss Five Finger Death Punch as another Stone Sour type of band trying to gain some exposure on mainstream audiences, but this band goes beyond writing poppy songs that only give the listener a couple of hooks and some screaming. The sound of the band is a mix of hard rock and thrash, with great riffs and melodies found throughout. Moody’s vocals vary between harmonizing and screaming, but he pulls it off and jumps away from the screamo bandwagon.

The album takes off with “Ashes”, a roaring thrashing tune that is sure to leave you with a sore neck; it’s also the song that best encapsulates the overall sound of this band. Heavy moments interlaced with melodic verses and choruses. The formula has been done countless times before and better by other bands, but it’s the passion behind the performances that makes this album hold its ground against the average Hot Topic band.

“Ashes” is followed by the title track which is more about teen angst and breakdowns designed specifically for the mosh pits; it’s definitely one of the weaker tracks on the album. But after the shaky title track the band moves on into real metal with “Salvation”, a song that not only has some of the best lyrics in the entire album, it also has the best performance by the whole band. Moody’s singing during the verses is menacing and angry, followed by a very melodic chorus that is nothing short of brilliant; a great example of his range as a metal singer. “The Bleeding” turns the dynamics around into melodic verses and one hell of a heavy chorus that shows Moody singing from deep within. And the good songs don’t end there; the tight riffing in “White Knuckles” is more than welcome, with its slow churning verses and manic chorus. “A Place to Die” has some inspiring guitar work and another good performance by Moody.

“The Way of the Fist” is a very generic album when compared to other bands who’ve done this better in the past, but it’s the commitment from Five Finger Death Punch to deliver a strong metal record that elevates this material above radio rock, and presently all one can say is, bring on the next album.