When Motograter burst onto the scene in 2003 all the pieces seemed to be in place to shoot it to superstardom. The group had just released an impressive debut album that was picking up steam, it was on the cover of Hit Parader, and it had landed high-profile tours like Ozzfest and an opening slot with Ministry.

Unfortunately, its soaring star fizzled out twice as fast. The band’s label dissolved, its manager tragically passed away, and without a label or support from anyone, the group broke up. Now ex-Motograter frontman Ivan Moody has returned with Five Finger Death Punch’s debut album, “The Way Of The Fist,” and he’s determined to make the band a heavyweight contender.

This is easily the most impressive debut album of 2007 and is a likely contender for album of the year. “Fist” immediately kicks into high gear with “Ashes” and never looks back. The song is a break-neck lesson in technical brutality that's propelled by the shotgun drumming of Jeremy Spencer and a powerful melodic hook in the chorus that hits harder than Chuck Liddell. The punishing brutality continues with the album’s title track, where Moody taunts the listener like a bloodthirsty, rabid dog by repeatedly screaming, “Step to me motherfucker!” The group shows its diversity on melodic lead single “The Bleeding,” complete with an impressive guitar solo that shreds like very few bands can.

It’s been a long time since a debut album this impressive has made an appearance. Five Finger Death Punch has assembled a devastating collection of songs that burns so bright it gives listeners third-degree burns.

»fivefingerdeathpunch.com