Mosh-Pit Justice – The Fifth of Doom (Iron Shield Records)

Wednesday, 26th August 2020
Rating: 8/10

They often say, where there’s a will, there’s a way. A cross-continental outfit with bassist Mariyan Georgiev living in Florida and vocalist George ‘Peich’ and guitarist/drummer Steffa residing in Bulgaria, Mosh-Pit Justice deliver US-style thrash/power songs with traditional flavoring for their new album, The Fifth of Doom. Releasing efforts on numerous underground-oriented labels like EBM, Stormspell, Witches Brew and Punishment 18, German label Iron Shield adds more credibility to these musicians’ repertoire, continuing on their path of sharper melodic nuances and slightly advanced power riffing options that sit well with fans of the late 80’s/early 90’s wave of artists who wish to push parameters beyond pummeling maneuvers.

The production and tones appear to be very much aligned to that early 90’s aesthetic – the drum sounds especially in the snare and kick departments similar to Twisted into Form from Forbidden, while Steffa as a guitarist also slices and dices with propulsion and precision that fits in the Heathen, Paradox, and Forbidden mold. It’s impossible not to be galloping and headbanging along to the hooks and gang choruses for “Voices Below”, while the sinister spider web licks and progressive action within the follow-up “Into the Light” showcases Mosh-Pit Justice as more than a one-trick thrash act. George ‘Peich’ Peichev has a lot of the bark and nature that put Russ Anderson in the spotlight for Forbidden – he may not necessarily possess a lot of that high register magic, but it’s nice to hear someone who is willing to flex their melodic muscle in lower and mid-range parameters. The Iron Maiden/Judas Priest-ish hooks filter in and out amidst the straight-ahead pounding and speed/power parts, as “Down We Bleed” and “Designed To Suffer” feature devil horns worthy salutes at times to set the listener up for subsequent thrash intensity and adrenaline rushes. The softer acoustic strains and lower register vocal work makes the title cut another standout, building up the electric activities in a haunting manner that makes me recall classic Morgana Lefay.

Mosh-Pit Justice knows their preferred lane and executes it to the hilt record to record – The Fifth of Doom a logical follow-up to last year’s great Fighting the Poison. Those who miss the work of late 80’s/early 90’s acts who were willing to sprinkle semi-technical prowess traditional hooks into their power/thrash will enjoy this band intensely and immensely.

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