In This Moment – A Star-Crossed Wasteland

Releasedate: 12-07-2010; Label: Century Media
By: Elvira Visser

An American band that was founded back in 2005. Three years after they had completed the line up, as they started out only with Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth, they rocked the stage opening for Ozzy Osbourne. In this year they continued to carve out their own sound with a new bass player that joined the band. A new chapter for In this Moment presenting us their new CD “A Start-Crossed Wasteland”.

Thinking you are arrived in the desert, stepping outside of a train expecting some country influenced metal you might be surprised. The vocalist welcomes you with a screaming sharp sound that not makes heart beats. The pinched screaming sound from vocalist Maria Brink does the first track no good. However give the album a try because there is more. There are some tracks that have this aggressive screaming but besides this there are also sensitive, pure vocals and whispers. This side of Maria can be heard on “A Star-Crossed Wasteland” and “World In Flames”. “Just Drive” is a good representation of the album both showing the screaming and clean vocals. The track has singing choruses alongside harsh yells and more aggressive moments. Another surprise on the album is ‘The Promise”, a duet featuring Adrian Patrick (Otherwise), with a nice change of pace. Maria’s screams are knife sharp in this song but the track is maybe one of the nicest on the album. In has it all in store to become a great track, it is catchy, has two vocalist who’s voices sound great together it has emotional moments but also the screams.

A mistake from the band is maybe their first track as it might scare people. The band is much better then they portray in “Gunshow”. You need to listen the full album to judge them, because after the first track you might take a wrong conclusion. Personally I am still not a fan of her sharp screams but appreciate the contrast between the clean vocals and the screams. It gives the CD energy and power.

Line-Up:
Maria Brink – Vocals
Chris Howorth – Guitars
Blake Bunzel – Guitars
Jeff Fabb – Drums
Kyle Konkiel – Bass

Tracklist: 01. Gunshow 02. Just Drive 03. The Promise 04. Standing Alone 05. A Star-Crossed Wasteland 06. Blazin’ 07. The Road 08. Iron Army 09. The Last Cowboy 10. World In Flames

Links:
In This Moment MySpace