01-12-2014, 13:40
enters the Billboard chart this week at #8
Spotify online listen
not yet rated by allmusic
5th studio album
SteveO alert!!! metal band, female vocalist
first I've heard of them
not my thing but it wasn't terrible
artist website - http://inthismomentofficial.com/landing/
Bio - from allmusic
![[Image: MI0003714858.jpg?partner=allrovi.com]](http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/714/MI0003714858.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
Born of a chance meeting and the innate musical rapport established between vocalist Maria Brink and lead guitarist Chris Howorth, In This
Moment quickly grew from local cult favorites performing in Los Angeles clubs to a MySpace phenomenon before landing a deal with Century Media
Records. Along the way, the group was fleshed out by rhythm guitarist Blake Bunzel, bassist Jesse Landry, and drummer Jeff Fabb; embarked on
several U.S. tours with the likes of Diecast and 36 Crazyfists; and gradually honed its melodic metalcore songwriting for the recording of the
2007 debut album Beautiful Tragedy, which was supported via the band's inclusion in the Hot Chicks of Metal Tour, featuring Lacuna Coil and
Within Temptation, among others.
Album Review - from ultimate-guitar
![[Image: MI0003803411.jpg?partner=allrovi.com]](http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0003/803/MI0003803411.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
In This Moment claim to have made their most unique album yet, and at face value, that's an accurate way to describe it. With "Black Widow"
further traveling towards a more industrial/electronica-influenced metal sound that they were dabbling with previously in "Blood," there's a lot
more emphasis on the synthetic melodies and beats and less emphasis on the conventional metal instruments - though the lead single off the
album, "Sick Like Me," shows otherwise, being the only track that strongly banks on the band's former metalcore style. But for the most part,
guitars and drums play more of a supporting role to the legion of synthesizers, drum machines, and post-production effects (i. E. Lots of
stutter effect), so don't expect a similar display of instrumental acrobatics found in "A Star-Crossed Wasteland" on this album.
Though it's indeed a significantly new sound for In This Moment, in the grand scheme of things, it's easy to tell what/who is inspiring this new
sound. If the overwhelming trend of injecting trap music elements into all kinds of music (yes, metal included) in the past year or so wasn't
what inspired the 808-filled verses of "Sex Metal Barbie," then you could also tie that styling back to Mindless Self Indulgence and what they
were doing back when they released "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy" over a decade ago. "Big Bad Wolf" emulates Celldweller's style
of industrial metal, while the following track "Dirty Pretty" not only bears a Marilyn Manson sound, but the rough and swingy guitar riff and
the low and throaty vocals unabashedly calls back to one of Manson's most recognizable tunes, "The Beautiful People." Even the old-timey
sampling used in "Black Widow" is more or less taking a page out of Rob Zombie's book.
Then, of course, are the expected ballad tracks on "Black Widow" that showcase In This Moment's softer side, which thankfully hasn't been lost,
but conjures some hits and misses. Brent Smith of Shinedown makes an appearance to duet with Brink on the power ballad "Sexual Hallucination,"
and while it may not top "The Promise," the duet Brink did with Adrian Patrick of Otherwise on "A Star-Crossed Wasteland," it still satisfies.
"The Fighter" also has Brink in good form, as well as developing a more orchestral feel for the power ballad, with Brink playing the piano which
is backed by string arrangements. But the band end up flying too close to the sun of theatrics with the final bout of the album - the
penultimate dialogue track "Into the Darkness" comes off like an overwrought project for drama school, which ushers in the final ballad "Out of
Hell," where the minimalist formula of the lone piano is cluttered by Brink's flighty vocals and some ham-handed samples of city sound effects.
With the album title referring to the deadly nature of the female black widow spider, the primary theme found in the lyrics of "Black Widow" has
Brink playing the independent femme fatale card stronger than in any other In This Moment album; though the choice to really commit to this by
the fifth album seems like odd timing, seeing as Brink has always held that image since the band's beginning. Nonetheless, the theme runs strong
here, though it also runs into repetition: Brink's one-finger salute to the judgmental haters she's amassed and suffered through in "Sex Metal
Barbie" echoes again in "Natural Born Sinner," as well as her self-description as a dangerous anti-role model in "Sex Metal Barbie" also echoing
in "Bloody Creature Poster Girl."
Along with the repetition, there are some conflicts in messages that make the album's lyrics not fit perfectly: the fatal attraction fantasy in
"Black Widow" bears the context of unapologetic control over whomever Brink captivates, but the similar fatal attraction narrative in "Sick Like
Me" expresses a mutual sadomasochistic relationship; and even though "The Fighter" has Brink expressing her independence stronger than ever
before (definitely being the best track on the album lyrically), that message gets immediately contrasted in "Bones," where Brink confesses her
dependence towards someone close to her that passed away. The boldness and strength Brink broadcasts throughout the album is commendable
overall, but the stumbles are evident.
The most admirable thing about "Black Widow" is the ambition that fueled its creation. It's easy to tell that with In This Moment grasping the
higher rungs of the ladder in recent years, they wanted to create a show-stopping album. As the stepping towards a more electronic rock sound
has the band stepping away from delivering impressive instrumental work found in their earlier albums, it's only replaced with over-the-top
production and no captivating experimentation expected of bands that urge to travel outside of their conventional bounds; even worse, it copies
this "different sound" from more influential bands without much expansion. In attempt to make their biggest album yet, "Black Widow" ends up
being a lot of sizzle and no steak.
first single but Bloody Creature Poster Girl was the best:
[video=youtube;03X0B6u-AxM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03X0B6u-AxM[/video]
Track Listing
1. The Infection
2. Sex Metal Barbie
3. Big Bad Wolf
4. Dirty Pretty
5. Black Widow
6. Sexual Hallucination
7. Sick Like Me
8. Bloody Creature Poster Girl
9. The Fighter
10. Bones
11. Natural Born Sinner
12. Into the Darkness
13. Out Of Hell
Spotify online listen
not yet rated by allmusic
5th studio album
SteveO alert!!! metal band, female vocalist
first I've heard of them
not my thing but it wasn't terrible
artist website - http://inthismomentofficial.com/landing/
Bio - from allmusic
Born of a chance meeting and the innate musical rapport established between vocalist Maria Brink and lead guitarist Chris Howorth, In This
Moment quickly grew from local cult favorites performing in Los Angeles clubs to a MySpace phenomenon before landing a deal with Century Media
Records. Along the way, the group was fleshed out by rhythm guitarist Blake Bunzel, bassist Jesse Landry, and drummer Jeff Fabb; embarked on
several U.S. tours with the likes of Diecast and 36 Crazyfists; and gradually honed its melodic metalcore songwriting for the recording of the
2007 debut album Beautiful Tragedy, which was supported via the band's inclusion in the Hot Chicks of Metal Tour, featuring Lacuna Coil and
Within Temptation, among others.
Album Review - from ultimate-guitar
In This Moment claim to have made their most unique album yet, and at face value, that's an accurate way to describe it. With "Black Widow"
further traveling towards a more industrial/electronica-influenced metal sound that they were dabbling with previously in "Blood," there's a lot
more emphasis on the synthetic melodies and beats and less emphasis on the conventional metal instruments - though the lead single off the
album, "Sick Like Me," shows otherwise, being the only track that strongly banks on the band's former metalcore style. But for the most part,
guitars and drums play more of a supporting role to the legion of synthesizers, drum machines, and post-production effects (i. E. Lots of
stutter effect), so don't expect a similar display of instrumental acrobatics found in "A Star-Crossed Wasteland" on this album.
Though it's indeed a significantly new sound for In This Moment, in the grand scheme of things, it's easy to tell what/who is inspiring this new
sound. If the overwhelming trend of injecting trap music elements into all kinds of music (yes, metal included) in the past year or so wasn't
what inspired the 808-filled verses of "Sex Metal Barbie," then you could also tie that styling back to Mindless Self Indulgence and what they
were doing back when they released "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy" over a decade ago. "Big Bad Wolf" emulates Celldweller's style
of industrial metal, while the following track "Dirty Pretty" not only bears a Marilyn Manson sound, but the rough and swingy guitar riff and
the low and throaty vocals unabashedly calls back to one of Manson's most recognizable tunes, "The Beautiful People." Even the old-timey
sampling used in "Black Widow" is more or less taking a page out of Rob Zombie's book.
Then, of course, are the expected ballad tracks on "Black Widow" that showcase In This Moment's softer side, which thankfully hasn't been lost,
but conjures some hits and misses. Brent Smith of Shinedown makes an appearance to duet with Brink on the power ballad "Sexual Hallucination,"
and while it may not top "The Promise," the duet Brink did with Adrian Patrick of Otherwise on "A Star-Crossed Wasteland," it still satisfies.
"The Fighter" also has Brink in good form, as well as developing a more orchestral feel for the power ballad, with Brink playing the piano which
is backed by string arrangements. But the band end up flying too close to the sun of theatrics with the final bout of the album - the
penultimate dialogue track "Into the Darkness" comes off like an overwrought project for drama school, which ushers in the final ballad "Out of
Hell," where the minimalist formula of the lone piano is cluttered by Brink's flighty vocals and some ham-handed samples of city sound effects.
With the album title referring to the deadly nature of the female black widow spider, the primary theme found in the lyrics of "Black Widow" has
Brink playing the independent femme fatale card stronger than in any other In This Moment album; though the choice to really commit to this by
the fifth album seems like odd timing, seeing as Brink has always held that image since the band's beginning. Nonetheless, the theme runs strong
here, though it also runs into repetition: Brink's one-finger salute to the judgmental haters she's amassed and suffered through in "Sex Metal
Barbie" echoes again in "Natural Born Sinner," as well as her self-description as a dangerous anti-role model in "Sex Metal Barbie" also echoing
in "Bloody Creature Poster Girl."
Along with the repetition, there are some conflicts in messages that make the album's lyrics not fit perfectly: the fatal attraction fantasy in
"Black Widow" bears the context of unapologetic control over whomever Brink captivates, but the similar fatal attraction narrative in "Sick Like
Me" expresses a mutual sadomasochistic relationship; and even though "The Fighter" has Brink expressing her independence stronger than ever
before (definitely being the best track on the album lyrically), that message gets immediately contrasted in "Bones," where Brink confesses her
dependence towards someone close to her that passed away. The boldness and strength Brink broadcasts throughout the album is commendable
overall, but the stumbles are evident.
The most admirable thing about "Black Widow" is the ambition that fueled its creation. It's easy to tell that with In This Moment grasping the
higher rungs of the ladder in recent years, they wanted to create a show-stopping album. As the stepping towards a more electronic rock sound
has the band stepping away from delivering impressive instrumental work found in their earlier albums, it's only replaced with over-the-top
production and no captivating experimentation expected of bands that urge to travel outside of their conventional bounds; even worse, it copies
this "different sound" from more influential bands without much expansion. In attempt to make their biggest album yet, "Black Widow" ends up
being a lot of sizzle and no steak.
first single but Bloody Creature Poster Girl was the best:
[video=youtube;03X0B6u-AxM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03X0B6u-AxM[/video]
Track Listing
1. The Infection
2. Sex Metal Barbie
3. Big Bad Wolf
4. Dirty Pretty
5. Black Widow
6. Sexual Hallucination
7. Sick Like Me
8. Bloody Creature Poster Girl
9. The Fighter
10. Bones
11. Natural Born Sinner
12. Into the Darkness
13. Out Of Hell
