In This Moment - A Star-Crossed Wasteland (2010)^{Release ID: 18878}

In This Moment are still going strong! Their 3rd album A Star-Crossed Wasteland starts heavy and ends soft. It actually sounds like the missing link between their first two albums. They take the raw heaviness of Beautiful Tragedy and mix it with the elegant melody of The Dream. As a result you get to hear the music equivalent to a bar fight followed by a romantic date.

Producer Kevin Churko had also produced a few albums by Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, and Hinder that same year, so that's a good excuse for the more classic metal/hard rock edge this album has. Either way, it's an amazing way to complete the band's starter trilogy.

Heavy opening track "The Gun Show" wastes no time re-introducing Maria Brink and co. Brink howls like a rabid wolf over the technical guitar skill of Chris Howorth. "Just Drive" starts with acoustic strumming before the hammering heaviness touches down. Thundering through is the drums and guitars as Brink screams out the verses. Those screams make a great harmonic contrast with her ethereal cleans in the chorus. Then we have the beautiful "The Promise", a melodic duet with Adrian Patrick of Otherwise.

"Standing Alone" is another grand banger, as the bass groove and drum fury speed on. It really stands out with the howling and singing contrasting with each other. Touching piano begins the title track, which then leads into heavy moody instrumentation. It is a nice vision of bright hope and dark despair together. Another one of the heavier tracks, "Blazin'" brings back the brutality from earlier on in the album and fires away in rage. Chris Howorth and Blake Bunzel brings their guitar talents up high, especially during the blazing soloing before a cheering bridge that shall bring life to live shows. "The Road" is a memorable catchy song, especially the soloing by Gus G. of Firewind.

"Iron Army" is a big generic, with the breakdowns and screams sounding stale at that point. There's also a bit spoken vocals in "The Last Cowboy" throughout the verses, which is quite interesting. Closing track "World in Flames" is the album's soft ending, filled with emotional beauty in the soulful vocals. Although I'm not a fan of ballads, ending an album with one is often a wise move, with that one being a final goodnight kiss. However, the bonus track "Remember" is a pleasant soundtrack to a nightmare.

A Star-Crossed Wasteland fills the gap between the first two In This Moment releases. They know how to mix melody and heaviness seamlessly for an impactful punch. Despite a couple tracks having slight vulnerable weakness, everything else has helped made this album a memorable one to remember!

Favorites: "The Gun Show", "Just Drive", "Standing Alone", "Blazin'", "The Road", "World in Flames"