Today Moshpit Tragedy Records issued its 50th pay-what-you-want download - the debut album from LINK, a female-fronted crust punk band from Belgium - exactly three years since the label stopped releasing physical formats and introduced it's first 8 sliding-scale offerings.

Recorded in late 2008 and released as a limited promo disc during their 2009 European tour, the self-titled debut from LINK features eight tracks of dark, heavy and epic brutality - a worthy choice to mark the occasion.

Comments guitarist/vocalist Michael Maes: "Since the CD was sold out we already had the idea to put it online for a free download - we got in contact with Rayny (Forster, Moshpit Tragedy founder)and really liked the idea of being their 50th album release. We strongly believe that music should not be a business, but something we can share without any compromise!"

Proudly the very first label to adopt a 'pay-what-you-want-even-nothing' download concept, Canada's Moshpit Tragedy Records officially came to be on 6/6/06, releasing limited edition punk/metal cds from bands all over the world.

In October 2006 the label signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Cargo Music, Inc. and announced two reissues from New Orleans' sludgemeisters EYEHATEGOD and UK crust act EXTINCTION OF MANKIND. Although the EYEHATEGOD release was ultimately scrapped, when Moshpit Tragedy made the format switch later that year, Metal Hammer printed an article in which vocalist Mike IX Williams - along with OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Rob ‘Blasko’ Nicholson - are quoted showing support for the label's new direction. Digby Pearson (who signed some of the most infamous heavy metal acts worldwide) has since been quoted on his Ask Earache blog saying "Rayny has a great promotional angle and decent taste in music, if he can persuade some biggish bands to join him then it could really spell trouble for the regular music industry."

In the past three years since making the switch their current model, Moshpit Tragedy has been joined by over 60 of the hardest working bands involved in the underground scene; SKARP, OROKU, BALLAST, AFTER THE BOMBS, AGRIMONIA, LEPER, PREYING HANDS. Some of them even reach legendary status; EXTREME NOISE TERROR, PHOBIA, MISERY, TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION and AMEBIX (although their "Monolith" album has since been taken down for legal reasons).

Comments Moshpit Tragedy founder Rayny Forster: "We have made some great progress in the past few years and I would like to thank the bands, fans, labels, zines, writers and publishers who have contributed to what I hope we all believe is a worthwhile effort. Everything we have achieved to this point has happened thanks to your word of mouth!"

Now entering it's fourth year of pay-what-you-want downloading, Moshpit Tragedy continues to release music on it's own imprint, as well as expanding to include entire catalogs from other choice labels as well.

Download Link from Moshpittragedy.com and read the first review right here on Bravewords.com.