In This Moment have taken a step back in their sound on their new album “Blood.” Much like I told Whitney the other day, I don’t know what the fuck genre this album falls under except nu-metal. A genre that we all thought was dead. Blood sounds like a bad mix of a shitty techno club and the worst Marilyn Manson album. Maria Brink badly sings, screams, and even raps her way through this album. Don’t get me wrong because there are parts of the album that shine through but they are few and far between.
Take the title track, “Blood”, for example; the song has techno elements, techno laced guitar and vocals and some of the most lackluster lyrics ever thought of. Sadly, I find it catchy as hell and I keep listening to it. The same goes for songs like “Adrenalize”, “Whore”, and “You’re Gonna Listen” because when Maria Brink wants to get nasty with her vocals she absolutely can. Some of the best screams in modern metal come from Ms. Brink. Clean vocals? Not so much. I cringe whenever I hear her attempt to sing or in the case of Whore, rap. Yes, rap! The intro to Whore has Maria Brink rapping over some of the most basic guitar and drum work ever from a metal band.
As the album drones on you get songs like “Burn”, “Scarlet”, and “The Blood Legion” which slow down the pace and are a mix of a ballad and radio rock megahits. Mixed within all of those might be the most In This Moment of all the In This Moment songs of the album “Beast Within” god this song reminds me so much of their first album it isn’t funny. I wish they could return to that form and show the metal world what a band with a fantastic lead singer could do. Have I mentioned Chris Howorth yet? Throughout all the drama, bullshit, shitty music, and changes the band has gone through the one thing that has remained the same has been his fantastic guitar playing. Here is hoping he will leave the band and start something good someday.
Rating: 5/10
A few catchy moments and good vocals can not save a band from making a sub-par album. The band seems to want to head in a new direction, the Hot Topic and All-Stars tour direction. If they keep up the sound that this album has started then they should be in every store and on every tour for many years to come.
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