Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for In This Moment - Ritual (2017)

The young, blonde, and proud queen of dark modern metal continues to show her capabilities in the 6th In This Moment album Ritual! Maria Brink and her crew have travelled through different music realms to add to their "rock out and dance" sound. She wanted to unleash the power from her heart with the suggestiveness being an afterthought.

Their 2017 album was recorded in Las Vegas with their new drummer Kent Diimmel having replaced Tom Hane the previous year. Brink was visiting her family in Salem before recording, which inspired her to make Ritual a concept album based on the Salem Witch Trials. Both the metal and electropop sides of the band are still around, but this time they added in some blues rock-infused guitarwork. This allowed a more organic vibe in the instrumentation and vocals.

Intro track "Salvation" starts things off ominous, like a run through a dark evil jungle, fleeing from the authorities. The first actual song and single of the album, "Oh Lord" already hints at the then-unexpected Southern blues rock direction. Paying homage a certain Billy Idol hit is "Black Wedding", a f***ing great song that you can use for a metal wedding! And of course, you can recognize a metal legend in Judas Priest's Rob Halford in this song. "In the Air Tonight" is the probably best cover I've heard of this Phil Collins hit. My only complaint is how muffled the drumming sounds, even during the beat-drop leading to the final chorus. Nonetheless, Maria Brink and co. nailed it!

Brink channels her inner Lady Gaga in the suitable "Joan of Arc". She can really swing through the pop rock jungle with her vocal vines. She can also run through the loud riff inferno in "River of Fire". One of the best songs here "Witching Hour" shows that the band can blend an electropop groove with guitar strumming that's not too far from a James Bond film soundtrack without causing a trainwreck. The sneaky "Twin Flames" also has excellent power.

"Half God Half Devil" drops a bit of quality due to how Korn-sounding it is. "No Me Importa" floats through nice slow chords, though they have a bit of mainstream repetition. Now if you're looking for the soundtrack to a workout scene in an action film, "Roots" is what you're looking for. That would really get you ripped and ready to take on bad guys in different eras. Closing the album is "Lay Your Gun Down" which dramatic synth-piano. As great as the climax when it builds up to there, this isn't really the best track to end it all. I've heard better...

In This Moment have maintained the strength they've carried with them since their debut from 10 years before this album. Ritual has secured the band's place on top and would've been as perfect as The Dream if not for a couple tracks towards the end. Still they continue to grow, and if this isn't one of the best albums to add blues rock elements into alt-metal, I don't know what is!

Favorites: "Black Wedding", "In the Air Tonight", "Joan of Arc", "Witching Hour", "Twin Flames", "Roots"