Genre is a subjective term used to describe music and, contrary to what most people believe, it is fluid and constantly changing and can only be an accurate description if defined by the musicians themselves. Artists need the freedom to experiment and develop. Without these opportunities, subgenres gradually disappear and the music becomes less inspiring. Listeners see less of the musician's reality in his new music and the emerging discography begins to be tinged with lethargy and mediocrity.
Perhaps in an attempt to circumvent this artistic death, modern metal tends to borrow from heavy music as it ages. Many metal musicians have replaced drum and guitar solos with more technical-sounding instruments. Bands like Motionless in White, Bring Me the Horizon and 3TEETH have experimented with heavy dance music in their latest works. Joining them in their creative experimentation is In This Moment's latest album, GODMODE .
The title track, “GODMODE,” is a self-promotion that explores how one can be confident in their identity in an ever-changing society. This first piece begins with a long, slow introduction that suddenly turns hostile. Reeve praises Maria Brink's voice. In fact, even an overclocked Saw would struggle to reproduce Brink's voice nearly perfectly. In This Moment begins the album by showcasing his electronic experiments with futuristic sound design and a ghostly mechanical sound that resonates throughout the verses. The chorus acts as a temporary respite from the pounding of electronics. Even with the strange supporting lyrics, "GODMODE" is a forced but intense opener that sets a solid standard for the rest of the album.
Unfortunately, the title track is followed by an avalanche of equally mediocre songs. Within this collection of repetitions and cheesy metal riffs, "SACRIFICE" offers an unforgettable combination of constant techno influences and captivating vocals. The track takes the original futuristic sound design of the title track and transforms it into a fast, basic beat that contrasts with Brink's much slower vocals. "Sacrifice" proved to be an effective experiment in fusing electronic and metallic sounds. The result is an energetic and vengeful song that still favors metal fundamentals like grunge breakdowns and aggressive vocals.
In contrast to the success of "SACRIFICE", the weakest song on the album, "DAMAGED", shows how easy it can be to combine these genres with failure. “DAMAGED” features Ice Nine Kills frontman Spencer Charnas as well as the rest of the band. "DAMAGED" has a notable rap intro that is repeated repeatedly throughout the song. The song is only partially redeemed by its disappointing chorus, only because it interrupts a failed attempt at rapping. The song's bridge is an overly dramatic opportunity for Charnas to duet with Brink, which is interrupted by the harsh, unpleasant sound of heavy breathing. The most frustrating thing about the song "DAMAGED" is that the lyrics are really good, but the method chosen to tell the story distracts too much from its actual content. Brink's exaggerated vocals are annoying but not necessarily intrusive, and the melody is equally enjoyable. But the rap parts of the song are so destructive that the entire song suffers.
Closing the album, “I WOULD DIE FOR YOU” represents a more mature return to form for In This Moment. A return to metal basics such as slow, dirty melody, drum fills and dramatic breaks makes this latest track feel like an old discography. However, the song remains unique from the band's previous work, which revisited techno influences and moved away from the sexual and political content of their previous music. With a clear and sad dramatic tone, I would die for you tells the love story of a couple willing to sacrifice everything for each other. In an attempt to tie this final song to the rest of the album, "I WOULD DIE FOR YOU" hints at future musical components by opening the album with a similar chorus that leads to a climax that ends the breakup. The resulting mix of genres perfectly sums up the best intentions of what In This Moment were trying to create with this album. The song explores a new way of conveying a familiar message and is able to move the audience while hinting at the authenticity that was prevalent at the time. Unfortunately, the rest of the album does not share its success.
Alternative music fans care about songs that they feel represent them and resist outside influences that interfere with that perception. At that time, they were trying to do something unusual and risky by suddenly changing their voice. Considering that only a few songs reflect the true creativity of In This Moment, it is clear that GODMODE will at least divide fans' opinions. Anything new will always be a failure to some extent, and you've probably seen a good portion of that already. Overall, GODMODE is unlike other In This Moment creations, and while its mediocrity may frustrate fans, the experimentation ensures that the artist continues to create authentically and will continue to excel in the future.
Writer and artist Mevik Smith can be reached at rmonsmi@umich.edu .
