Maximum Metal Rating Legend

In This Moment Blood Company: Century Media Release: 2012 Genre: Metalcore, industrial Reviewer: ChaosLord

Fully invested in a rebirth of sound

Their fourth album "Blood" is not your mamma's In This Moment; it is an ITM fully invested in a rebirth of sound and an endeavor of stepping completely outside the box. Blood is laced throughout with a heavy dose of industrial elements that add a whole new element to the band and take them to a different level altogether. Now before I continue, don't panic fans, the catchy riffs, big choruses and Maria screaming her pretty little head off are still present.

Blood is a more sensual, atmospheric album that really sees the band expanding their creative horizons. The single and subsequent title track is an industrial, catchy piece of songwriting that was in my head the first time I heard it. Throughout the album, the songs are heavy, intense and in your face in a way that the band has not explored before. Tracks like Whore, Burn, Commanche and Beast Within are very mature, well written songs that break away from the everyday chug-a-chug riffing that has become somewhat prevalent in metal.

Maria's voice goes to totally different areas with effects, more clean vocals and a much more emotional tone than on prior albums. The choruses of the songs are big and ballsy, giving you plenty opportunity to sing along. Guitarists Chris Howorth and Randy Weitzel continue to bring the catch, groove heavy riffs that have endeared so many fans to this band.

A lot of bands seem shy nowadays of straying from what has garnered them so much of a fanbase and critical acclaim and tend to get stuck in a repetitive rut that will can cause them to fade into obscurity. With Blood, ITM shows that they have no fear of stepping outside the boundaries of their bread and butter and making an album that they want to make. Hopefully, fans will keep an open mind when listening to this album rather than passing judgement after one listen. You need to listen to the album a few times to really give it a chance to sink and get its claws into you.

Once you do that, I promise that you will be searching for Blood like a ravenous vampire awakened after a 2,000 year slumber.