In This Moment – A Star Crossed Wasteland
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Highlights: Gun Show, Just Drive, The Promise, A Star-Crossed Wasteland, The Road, World In Flames
In This Moment first caught my ear with their 2008 release “The Dream” and since then I have been a huge fan. Their latest release “A Star-Crossed Wasteland” is once again a step forward in the right direction for this California based metal quintet. With each album, it is obvious that In This Moment is growing by leaps and bounds as a band. Their spectrum continues to broaden and expand with each album and this album is an example of a band that has found their place in metal by forging their own definitive sound. In This Moment sounds like no other band out there. Originality and having your own distinct sound aren’t easy things to accomplish these days but they’ve managed to pull it off and do it well.
The best way I can describe “A Star-Crossed Wasteland” is a collection of songs that are aggressively beautiful. The album seems to be a happy medium between the heavy grindcore of their debut “Beautiful Tragedy” and the more melodic and accessible follow up “The Dream.” There is something for every kind of metal fan on this album. In This Moment totally unleashes the sludgy metalcore style with songs like “Gunshow” and “Blazin'”which has singer Maria Brink’s guttural vocals leading the rest of the band as they trod through the murky sludge filled verses. The band takes a total 180 at times to deliver a more mellow metal sound with songs like the title track and the subtle beauty of album closer “World In Flames.”
I personally love it best when In This Moment marries the melodic with the heavy on songs like “Just Drive” and “The Promise.” “Just Drive” is a great example of Maria Brink’s ability to be the heaviest of heavy metal vocalists yet be beautifully melodic to the point of giving me goosebumps. This song in my opinion also showcases the versatile talents of the band. Guitarists Chris Howarth and Blake Bunzel are so in sync with each other that at times it’s like hearing one huge guitar. I love the mix of acoustic and electric guitars and the lead solo is completely face melting. The rhythm section of drummer Jeff Fabb and bassist Kyle Konkiel totally shine through on this song as well sending a sonic blow to the dome that leaves you wondering what the fuck just hit you. “The Promise” is a beautiful song in my book that is a damaged love song of the heaviest proportions that features a duet between Brink and Otherwise vocalist Adrian Patrick. “Standing Alone” is a true testament of just what this band is capable of doing as it has an infectiously catchy chorus and melodically heavy verses. This song is a real repeater as in having to listen to it a few times. Much like “Just Drive,” this song is one that I cannot get enough of.
A great album is an album that you can talk about for days and as you can see from this review, this album is one that has spoken to me in volumes. “A Star-Crossed Wasteland” shows In This Moment has grown as a band and that they are just really skimming the surface of what they are capable of. The songs are smart, well thought out, well crafted and delivered with the energy of a band that has the hunger and determination to make their mark in the metal world. With “A Star-Crossed Wasteland” I feel that In This Moment has succeeded in making that mark and I’m already looking forward to seeing where they go from here.
In This Moment is about to hit the road with Nonpoint so be sure to catch them in a town near you!
In This Moment/Nonpoint 2010 Tour
* Nov 09 Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO
* Nov 10 Gators Farmington, NM
* Nov 11 Clubhouse Music Venue Tempe, AZ
* Nov 13 Boardwalk Orangevale, CA
* Nov 14 Avalon Santa Clara, CA
* Nov 15 Last Day Saloon Santa Rosa, CA
* Nov 17 Knitting Factory Concert House Reno, NV
* Nov 19 Studio Seven Seattle, WA
* Nov 20 Venue Vancouver, Canada
* Nov 24 The Aquarium Fargo, ND
* Nov 26 Eagles Club/The Rave/Eagles Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
* Nov 27 Magic Stick Detroit, MI
* Nov 30 Peabody’s Downunder Cleveland, OH
* Dec 01 The Opera House Toronto, Canada
* Dec 02 The Lost Horizon Syracuse, NY
* Dec 03 Santos Party House New York, NY
* Dec 04 Webster Theater Hartford, CT
* Dec 05 Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ
* Dec 07 Northern Lights Clifton Park, NY
* Dec 08 Crocodile Rock Allentown, PA
* Dec 10 Hooligans-Jacksonville Jacksonville, NC
* Dec 11 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA
* Dec 14 Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK
* Dec 16 Tree’s Dallas, TX
* Dec 17 Clicks Live Tyler, TX
About The Author
