In This Moment - Mother (2020) [Hi-Res]

Initially conceived as a metalcore counterpart to Evanescence, In This Moment moved into more melodic territory with its fantastical 2008 breakthrough album, The Dream. Though capable of throat-scraping screams, vocalist Maria Brink shone brightest on mature and atmospheric material, putting In This Moment in the running as a promising goth-rock band. The Los Angeles-based act also widened its exposure by touring with the like-minded Lacuna Coil as well as metal veterans Megadeth and Ozzy Osbourne.

Beautiful TragedyBorn of a chance meeting and the innate musical rapport established between vocalist Maria Brink and lead guitarist Chris Howorth, In This Moment quickly grew from local cult favorites performing in Los Angeles clubs to a MySpace phenomenon before landing a deal with Century Media. Along the way, the group was fleshed out by rhythm guitarist Blake Bunzel, bassist Jesse Landry, and drummer Jeff Fabb. In This Moment embarked on several U.S. tours with the likes of Diecast and 36 Crazyfists and gradually honed its melodic metalcore songwriting for their 2007 debut album, Beautiful Tragedy. The band supported it on the Hot Chicks of Metal Tour, featuring Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation, among others. The Dream arrived in 2008 and became their breakthrough as well as their first on the album charts. It was followed by the Top 40 A Star-Crossed Wasteland in 2010 and the electro-charged, Top 20 hit Blood in 2012.

Black WidowThe group moved to a major label, Atlantic, for their fifth studio long-player, 2014's Black Widow, and were rewarded with their debut inside the Top 10. In June 2017, the band dropped the single "Roots" in anticipation of the release of sixth full-length Ritual, which arrived the following month and hit number 23 on the chart. The following year, recording for their seventh album coincided with a tour, teasing the theme of "mother" in its stage show. The band pushed their sound into heavier territory, including a single, "The In-Between," and the album Mother, which appeared in March 2020. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia