Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for In This Moment - Beautiful Tragedy (2007)

In the late 2000s, Myspace was responsible for helping several metalcore bands gain popularity on the internet, one of those bands being In This Moment. They ended up getting signed into Century Media, and a radio station interviewed the band and played a few of their songs, granting them more exposure. Beautiful Tragedy is a different album from the pop-infused alternative metal the band would have later, with infectious Gothenburg-influenced melodic metalcore that is worth reviewing...

The guitars unleash strong riffs and harmonic melodies, but what really stands out is the unique voice of Maria Brink. She can sing beautiful melodies perfect for choruses and add harsh fury to her screamed vocals practically surpassing most other metalcore vocalists out there. There's bound to be some action in live shows!

Spooky whispers swim through rain in the intro "Whispers of October". Then sheer hooks explode in with standout "Prayers". The title track is another incredible standout. A catchy chorus stands out alongside more of the killer hooks. The next song to follow is "Ashes". That one and "Daddy's Falling Angel" are quite catchy, and while they follow the predictable formula of alternating between screaming and singing, the band knows how to get it right in the writing.

"The Legacy of Odio" is a beautiful mellow track. Brink sings in true anguish, and the emotion bleeds into the heavier sections. "This Moment" can greatly work as the band's theme song, as least in this early era. It summarizes harsh vocals harmonizing the cleans and blending Swedish melodeath with metalcore breakdowns in this upbeat tune.

"Next Life" is a bit sticky, though I can't deny the Killswitch Engage influence there. "He Said Eternity" has more of the beautiful melodies while keeping the upbeat pace. "Circles" start off with a bit of ambience before launching into metalcore. The only other bands I know who can execute that idea perfectly are early Cave In, Norma Jean, Silent Planet, and Textures. One last mellow ballad, "When the Storm Subsides" almost works as a prequel to Parkway Drive's "A Deathless Song".

You don't often stumble upon an album where a female vocalist can scream her lungs out in one song, and then perform serene singing in a different commercially approved track. Although In This Moment would go a whole different direction later on, Beautiful Tragedy is another album that has given metalcore a next life....

Favorites: "Prayers", "Beautiful Tragedy", "The Legacy of Odio", "This Moment", "Circles"