Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for In This Moment - Black Widow (2014)

We have just reached album #5 in my In This Moment review journey. Released in 2014, Black Widow continues the electropop-infused direction from their previous album Blood. And they've progressed quite naturally here...

Note that the band's metal heaviness is still around, but they have more prominent electronic influences than before. While the songs are more suitable on the dancefloor than in a moshpit, there are certainly some headbanging moments, a similar balance to that of what Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie were doing in 1998. Despite turning away their earlier followers, Black Widow is still pretty great, not the best, but still fun. The hard music and personal lyrics shall get you both headbanging and dancing.

The intro "The Infection" features an audio sample from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, complete with the iconic camera sound, to add to the album's theme of personal horrors. "Sex Metal Barbie" features Maria Brink's powerful vocals as she battles against her inner and outer critics. I think now that I've watched the Barbie movie 6 months before this review, I'm able to take anything Barbie-related more seriously. Dual female roles are addressed in full attention in "Big Bad Wolf" through her usual vocal delivery. The delivery continues on in "Dirty Pretty" that has a darker Madonna vibe alongside their previous album's sound. A sample from an old-school documentary starts the title track, talking about how the dangerous the black widow spider is.

Brent Smith of Shinedown guest appears in "Sexual Hallucination" in a duet ballad with Brink. Not really the best, but never a stinker. "Sick Like Me" has more drama in both the music and lyrics, the latter dealing with bipolar relationships. Once again looking back at older movies, at least in the posters, is "Bloody Creature Poster Girl". Brink shows the world in "The Fighter" that she and other women can be independent without help from men. Bipolar relationships are acknowledged once again in "Bones". Then "Natural Born Sinner" encouraged you to stay to your true self.

"Into the Darkness" is a strange interlude with just a spoken dialogue of emotional abuse. "Out of Hell" is a bit of a struggle, but it's good for any teens to overcome problems in their lives. The original edition seemed to take a downward turn in the second half, but the high quality is redeemed in the Japanese edition bonus tracks, starting with "Turn You". That track and "Rib Cage" bring forward their alt-metal sound with similar music to Demon Hunter's self-titled debut but similar lyrics to Ice Nine Kills.

The different direction from Blood is still on in Black Widow. Powerful hooks and lyrical themes make this album solid and enjoyable. Though it can do without the last few tracks in the original edition....

Favorites: "Sex Metal Barbie", "Big Bad Wolf", "Black Widow", "Sick Like Me", "The Fighter", "Turn You", "Rib Cage"