In This Moment - Beautiful Tragedy
By
CrpnDeth,
Staff Photographer/Writer
Monday, June 4, 2007 @ 9:38 PM
Century Media Records
|
|
|
I gotta admit, when articles tote “The Hottest Chicks of …” I usually have to check it out. I also usually walk away thinking Jesus, if that’s the hottest they have to offer ….they are in sad shape! But the new issue of Revolver has “The Hottest Chicks in Metal”, and thankfully, they are talking about skill and talent (along with the glamour shots of Christina and Marta (Lacuna Coil and Bleeding Through respectively).
Flip through the mag (without making the pages sticky kids) and you will find a load of talent showcased. Once such highlight is Maria Brink, who fronts In This Moment. I’m thinking they have to be somewhat heavy if Revolver is showcasing them. After reading about the band, I decided to start checking them out. Glad I did, although now I am a little alarmed my buddy George over at CM hadn’t alerted me to this band before. Normally sticking to the heavier side of things, I think I actually shocked myself by digging the hell out of this band.
But of course, that is not to say they are not heavy. Their debut release, Beautiful Tragedy, is heavy and catchy as hell. While not full blown metalcore as some have stated, Maria’s clean vocals are just as catchy and hook laden as the guitar riffs. The novelty is that you can still understand her during the aggressive verses. Its really hard to put a tag on the band, and that’s the best part. They just may have come up with something original in this day and age when everyone is trying to sound like everyone else.
Prayers opens the disc, not only to the growl of Maria but also to the brutal riffs of Chris Howorth and Blake Bunzel. Its not long before drummer Jeff Fabb and bassist Jesse Landry come galloping in behind them. Beautiful Tragedy then comes up next, and you really start to appreciate the conflicts and contrasts in Maria’s voice, just before it starts to whip you to shreds in Ashes. The first three songs alone really grab you and in no time flat give you a peek at the potential this band has, coming right out of the gate swinging. The band has a knack for letting an acoustic beginning transform in to a crunchy path of guitars that end up chasing you to the next tune.
This disc is just an absolute breath of fresh air in a genre that is stacked with copycats. I even get the impression that between the riffs and beat blasts the band may even be holding themselves back a little. Regardless, when they do let loose on the disc it’s enough to make people take notice. The strength and versatility of the vocals on When the Storm Subsides where only an acoustic guitar is played underneath will truly demonstrate the band’s talents. You will absolutely be doing yourself a favor by adding this to your collection.
****
|