It’s not easy to make it in the music business in America these days. According to the industry itself, the sales are in rap and Disney bands, neither of which can be classified as earthshaking approaches to music IMO. There are progressive bands along with solo projects by individual artists who have known success. However, making it as a female fronted metal band, unless your name is Evanescence, is one tall order.

In This Moment appears to have been pretty successful in moving up the ladder to success, even some international success. The band is driven, both professionally and musically by New Yorker Maria Brink, who teemed with guitarist Chris Howorth to get things moving in 2005. Originally, the troop, currently composed of Brink, Howorth, Jeff Fabb (drums), Blake Bunzel (guitars) and Jesse Landry (bass) did it the hard way. They recorded a couple numbers, put them on MySpace and did some touring to drum up interest. That interest grew and the band signed a contract, followed shortly by the release of their first offering, Beautiful Tragedy. The title found widespread support and In This Moment was on their way. Touring in the US with big name acts like Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil followed and then the band headed for Europe to work some of the largest concerts on the continent. This caught the eye of the Osbourne camp (as in Ozzie Osbourne) and ITM found themselves center stage with the Osbourne / Rob Zombie tour. And the success continues as the band is on a US tour covering much of the country.

The release under review here is the second release. It features a somewhat "reserved" vocal style from lead singer Brink. But the music is metal, American metal, hard and to the point. A single from this CD, Forever, has driven the band into the mainstream here in the good ol’ USA, a welcome relief from the Disney boy bands with whom it competes. The song begins with a pounding drum and crunching guitars, pure American rock and roll. Brink enters the fray with a subdued vocal, almost a lament. But, as the guitars begin to build, so does her voice. My understanding is that previously, Brink was a bit of a screamer, and she does some of that on this CD, however, she can sing a rock song as well as any women this side of Pat Benatar. Lyrics are a bit on the emotive side:

All in all, a fine interpretation of the classic American metal format with a strong female voice.

The next title Forever Infinity is an anthem to the road, and again conducted in full metal format. Brink wails, the guitars crunch, the drums drive the sound forward. But the lyrics speak to the loneliness of the performer; miles from home and away from loved ones. Americans seem to like this story line, it’s a theme we encounter with many of our musicians in nearly every genre, rock, country western, whatever. And ITM does a pretty good job of describing that heartache over a solid guitar based rock standard.

ITM also does a strong ballad. The Promise (Into the Light) meets these criteria. Into is over a soft piano line, accompanied by strings as Brink sings the traditional American rock ballad. For a screamer, she does a commendable job, a fine interpretation and a strong range combine to make this one of the more interesting titles on the CD, and one we might not expect given the bombast of the solid rock presented on the other titles. She truly has a strong voice and, as evidenced here, is capable of a number of styles. And her interpretation of lyrics is a strength, as is the beauty of the other instruments on this title.

However, ITM is a rock band. Arguably, the most representative song on the CD is Standing in the Rain, another killer rock number. One of the more interesting components here is the layering of Brinks voice. Perfect harmony, over a blazing guitar background. Production wise, this is about as good as the band gets. And, in the tradition of American metal, this may be about as good as it gets. If you’re a fan of the American metal scene, this will not disappoint. Brink exhibits the full range of her voice and the band provides a solid representation of what ITM is all about. Great rock.

Imagine may be even more representative of the American metal scene. Brink reverts to the screaming vocal here, and the band is right in line. Drums provide the customary framework, the guitars wail, but it is Brink driving the song. You’ve heard this style before, bar bands everywhere love this type of music, it gets people out of their seats and on to the dance floor. But they probably aren’t half as good as ITM (and are unlikely to have a vocalist as visually stimulating as Brink). But this is Pat Benatar music, with better guitar players.

The CD concludes with The Rabbit Hole (The Dream), which is a 60’s style atmospheric tune, something like what we might have heard from Jefferson Starship, and with a similar lyrical message. Again, Brink carries it off over a soft guitar that shows another side of her repertoire. The song even carries a choral like sound with Brinks voice multilayered, leading into a guitar buildup that brings us old Dead Heads back to the days in the Haight when men were men and no one really cared one way or the other.

All in all, a first rate American metal offering from a first rate American band. No symphonic here, no opera singing and the lyrics won’t keep you up at night wondering if it’s all worth it. But if you want to rock, this is for you. Satisfaction guaranteed.

8 / 10