For her recent series, photographer Emily Stein dives head first, camera in tow, into a wasteland of teenage angst. The mosh pit has been at the center of the heavy metal, punk and rock music scene for decades. While it’s still carried out by people of all ages, this traditional activity is highly popular among young people. Saturday’s Mosh positions the mosh pit as an arena for teens to let go of all the troubles of young life.

Like a coming-of-age tale, the mosh pit is a transformative event many teens experience at an early age. With heads banging, boys and girls are allowed to get physical, breaking all the rules parents, teachers and society have enforced on them. It’s a moment of freedom from every day life. Joy, aggression and hysteria are some of the emotions witnessed here, but most of all, teens uninhibited.

Images © Emily Stein 2014