All cultures, religions, and belief systems share one commonality. Life springs forth from a mother. She bears, nurtures, cultivates, raises, and prepares children for the world. Without her, existence ceases. Much like the earth, life grows, thrives, and survives inside of and because of her…

 

Since coming to life in 2005, gold-selling hard rock provocateurs In This Moment have presided over a diehard fan base under the watch of a similar “mother” figure frontwoman Maria Brink—joined by co-founder and lead guitarist Chris Howorth, bassist Travis Johnson, guitarist Randy Weitzel, and Kent Dimmel. As millions convened upon the group’s otherworldly and unforgettable concerts, they quietly emerged as one of the most influential and impactful bands of the 21st century. To date, the quintet have garnered two gold singles—“Blood” and “Whore”—and one gold album, Blood [2012]. The latter notably launched a trifecta of Top 25 entries on the Billboard Top 200 with Black Widow [2014] and Ritual [2017]. Bringing their total stream tally well past 200 million as of 2020, Ritual elevated them to new creative and critical peaks as well. In a 4-out-of-5 star review, KERRANG! called it “their best vehicle to date” as Alternative Press claimed, “Maria Brink is the Lady Gaga of the metal world” and went on to add, “Ritual flourishes as the metal love child of art-pop, gospel, Morrissey and Johnny Cash that the world didn’t know it needed until now.” Between selling out headline tours coast-to-coast, the group performed in arenas everywhere alongside Disturbed and appeared at countless festivals from Rockville to Sonic Temple.

 

 

Along the way, they assembled their seventh full-length, the aptly titled Mother [Atlantic/Roadrunner]. Once again, In This Moment joined forces with longtime trusted collaborator Kevin Churko [Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch] in the studio. They pieced together a 14-track opus steeped in the lore they’ve created, yet indicative of another spiritual, philosophical, and stylistic evolution. Whereas Ritual hinted at a bluesy sonic sorcery, Mother breathes the activating mantra of an unbreakable spell. “We are so excited to unveil Mother to the world,” says Brink. “We feel like everything we’ve done has led us to this point and we can’t wait for everyone to experience the next chapter.”

 

Fittingly, first single “The In-Between” nods to In This Moment staples by name: “Blood,” “Whore,” and “Beautiful Tragedy,” to name a few. At the same time, it slips from Maria’s intimate verses into a distortion-backed promise, “I’m gonna bring a little Hell. I’m gonna bring a little Heaven.” Elsewhere, cinematic organ gives way to haunting whispers on “As Above So Below.” She turns down a Faustian pact over a dramatic eighties beat and hummable riff before a sweeping and soaring vocal crescendo, “What you give comes back threefold, as above, so below.” The seductive groove of “Lay Me Down” spirals towards a hypnotic hook as guitars toss and turn.

 

In many ways, In This Moment’s conjuration of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” crystallizes their power like never before. Accompanied by a choir of femme fatales including Lzzy Hale of Halestorm and Taylor Momsen of Pretty Reckless, it might just be the fiercest Mother moment of all lifted to the heavens by a stadium-busting beat and Howorth’s six-string precision. Welcoming another friend into the fold, Joe Cotella of Ded cameos on “Hunting Ground.” Everything culminates on the last word of “Into Dust” with one last catharsis.

 

In the end, Mother gives new life to In This Moment and, ultimately, hard rock.