Blood (In This Moment album)

Blood is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band In This Moment. It was released on August 14, 2012, by Century Media Records.[6] As has been the case with every In This Moment album, the record has a different sound, dropping many of the traditional metalcore elements in favor of electronic samples and further experimentation. This is the first album to feature rhythm guitarist Randy Weitzel, bassist Travis Johnson, and drummer Tom Hane.

Blood
Studio album by In This Moment
Released	August 14, 2012 (2012-08-14)
Recorded	2012
Studio	The Hideout, Las Vegas
Genre	Alternative metal[1] nu metal[2] industrial metal[3] metalcore[4]
Length	48:14
Label	Century Media
Producer	Kevin Churko Kane Churko
In This Moment chronology
A Star-Crossed Wasteland (2010) Blood (2012) Blood at the Orpheum (2014)
Alternative cover
Special edition cover
Singles from Blood
"Blood" Released: June 12, 2012 "Adrenalize" Released: February 1, 2013[5] "Whore" Released: December 17, 2013

This is the band's first album to be certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7]

Background

After over a year of touring to support their third studio album, A Star-Crossed Wasteland, the band was ready to start work on their upcoming fourth record. Lead vocalist Maria Brink revealed that this album would be darker and the first time the band would be working with outside musicians.[8] However, the band found themselves in a difficult position. Original members Blake Bunzel and Jeff Fabb left In This Moment to join American Idol finalist James Durbin's touring band.[9] An official statement was released on their Facebook page in November announcing the departure. The statement also stated that the rest of the band members were ready to head back to the studio in the beginning of 2012 for a summer release. Guitarist Randy Weitzel was introduced during In This Moment's appearance at Shiprocked in December 2011 and drummer Tom Hane was introduced at Soundwave Festival in February 2012.

Release and promotion

Brink and Chris Howorth saw the band departures as something positive and it would heavily influence the album. Brink says, "it's meant to be that they moved on and some other things in my life, it's so cool 'cause it's just like this brand new everything and it feels really awesome. And you're going to be able to hear it."[10] Howorth says, "Jeff and Blake leaving kind of opened us up a bit and we went from the heart. We went a different route and it was more organic than ever before." Brink and Howorth reteamed with long-time producer, Kevin Churko, at the Hideout in Las Vegas to begin process on the album. Two songs emerged from those sessions, "Blood" and "Hello" (later became "From the Ashes"), which Howorth says brought them a new management deal with In De Goot.[11]

"Blood" made its first appearance during In This Moment's set at the Soundwave festival on February 26, 2012. Other new songs that made it onto their First Blood Tour included "Adrenalize", "Whore", "Burn", and "You're Gonna Listen". The words to the album intro, "Rise with Me" were sung by Brink over Dredg's "What Have I Done" on their 2011 tour as an intro.

On May 14, 2012, it was announced that the album would be released on August 14, 2012, and that the first single, "Blood", would be released on June 12, 2012.[12] A stream of the studio version premiered in a Cage Match battle on WWBM on May 31, 2012.[13] "You're Gonna Listen" was available for streaming on July 3, 2012.[14]

The album artwork and track listing for Blood were released on June 18, 2012.[15]

Reissue

A deluxe edition featuring a bonus disc of remixes was released on December 14, 2012. It was sold exclusively at all Hot Topic stores and was to contain the iTunes Store bonus track of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer", however the song was left off of the initial pressing. The bonus track was available as a free download to those who purchased the release. The error was corrected in later pressings. Blood was re-released on May 31, 2013 in Europe as a two-disc edition titled "Reissue & Bonus" featuring the same track listing as the Hot Topic release.

The album was reissued (this time as a special edition) for the third time on January 21, 2014. It contains the bonus track Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" and includes a DVD titled Blood at the Orpheum, which was shot on May 21, 2013 at the Orpheum Theater in Madison. This is the first live concert DVD shoot for the band. A cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" was performed at the show, however it was omitted on the release. A Blu-ray version of the release was made available exclusively at Best Buy retail stores and the audio of the concert was released digitally at the same time titled Blood at the Orpheum.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[16]
The Phoenix	[17]
Under the Gun Review	7/10[18]

Chad Bowar from About.com wrote, "In This Moment is a polarizing band, and although there are a couple of marginal tracks, their fans will be pleased with Blood, which delivers all the elements they have come to expect along with some new twists. The band's accessible side will also continue to attract more radio play and attention from hard rock aficionados."[16]

Ryan Reed from The Phoenix stated, "Blood sounds like R-rated Evanescence—a waste of such devilish talents. Elsewhere, In This Moment are up to some weird, wild, wonderful stuff."[17] Kristen McConnell from Under the Gun Review commented, "There are some great moments, and they're not overpowering, but I think at this stage in their career they have the ability to take a little bit more risk when writing guitar parts or drum parts. I do like how it’s a completely different sound from all of their other records though, and that's exactly the step they needed to take to secure themselves a position among other great metal bands."[18]

Commercial performance

Blood debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200, selling around 20,000 copies in its first week.[19] This marked the band's highest-peaking album until the release of Black Widow in November 2014. As of February 12, 2014, the album had sold over 227,000 copies.[20] On May 10, 2017, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[21]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rise with Me"	Maria Brink Chris Howorth Kevin Churko	2:07
2.	"Blood"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Kane Churko	3:27
3.	"Adrenalize"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Mitchell Marlow	4:15
4.	"Whore"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	4:05
5.	"You're Gonna Listen"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Kane Churko	3:43
6.	"It Is Written"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	0:30
7.	"Burn"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Marlow	4:44
8.	"Scarlet"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	3:50
9.	"Aries"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	0:41
10.	"From the Ashes"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	4:26
11.	"Beast Within"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Kane Churko	3:49
12.	"Comanche"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Kane Churko	3:17
13.	"The Blood Legion"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Marlow	4:29
14.	"11:11"	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	4:51
Total length:			48:14

iTunes Store and special edition bonus track[22][23]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Closer"	Trent Reznor	4:50
Total length:			53:04

Special edition DVD/Blu-ray: Blood at the Orpheum[23]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"It Is Written"
2.	"Rise with Me"
3.	"Adrenalize"
4.	"Blazin'"
5.	"Beast Within"
6.	"Beautiful Tragedy"
7.	"Into the Light"
8.	"The Blood Legion"
9.	"Gunshow"
10.	"Whore"
11.	"Burn"
12.	"Blood"

Japanese edition bonus track[24]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Remember" (B-side from A Star-Crossed Wasteland)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Jeff Fabb Blake Bunzel	4:23
Total length:			52:37

Hot Topic exclusive edition bonus disc

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Blood" (Sluggo Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Kane Churko	3:53
2.	"Adrenalize" (Mr. Kane Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Marlow	3:55
3.	"Whore" (Nikka Bling Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	4:16
4.	"The Blood Legion" (Mitch Marlow Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Marlow	4:49
Total length:			15:73

German reissue bonus disc[25]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Closer"	Reznor	4:50
2.	"Blood" (Sluggo Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Kane Churko	3:53
3.	"Adrenalize" (Mr. Kane Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Marlow	3:55
4.	"Whore" (Nikka Bling Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko	4:16
5.	"The Blood Legion" (Mitch Marlow Remix)	Brink Howorth Kevin Churko Marlow	4:49

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Blood.[26]

In This Moment

• Maria Brink – lead vocals, piano
• Chris Howorth – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Travis Johnson – bass guitar
• Randy Weitzel – rhythm guitar
• Tom Hane – drums

Additional personnel

• Kevin Churko – production, recording, mixing, mastering
• Kane Churko – additional engineering, additional production
• Harvey Thibault – Pro Tools editing
• Nick Helbling – Pro Tools editing
• Mike McHugh – studio assistance
• Mitchell Marlow – additional programming, guitar (tracks 7, 13)
• Jake E. Lee – guest guitar solo (track 5)
• Anthony Clarkson – artwork, layout
• Robert Kley – band photos

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2012) Peak position Canadian Albums (Billboard)[27] 15 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[28] 124 UK Albums (OCC)[29] 187 UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[30] 13 US Billboard 200[31] 15 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[32] 5 US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[33] 5 US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[34] 1 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[35] 5

Year-end charts Chart (2012) Position US Independent Albums (Billboard)[36] 46 US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[37] 27 Chart (2013) Position US Independent Albums (Billboard)[38] 30 US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[39] 19

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21]	Gold	500,000
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. Verel, Jeroen (August 8, 2012). "Album Reviews :: In This Moment – Blood". Metalkrant. What we get here is heavy alternative metal with a little bit of an industrial influenced sound every now and then.
2. "In This Moment: "Blood" In US Charts and European Feedback". Century Media Records. The new album sounds like No Doubt being minced by Metalcore and turned into Crossover, flavoured with a hint of Nu Metal which should make a tasty dish for fans.
3. Price, Johnny. "Album Review: In This Moment – Black Widow". RockRevolt Magazine. Retrieved May 11, 2015. The band continues its fusion of industrial and metal and pushes the envelope even further than they did on Blood.
4. Whiteley, Petra (August 10, 2012). "CD Review: In This Moment – Blood". Reflections of Darkness. The album has that Modern Metal feel with its pop-leaning melodies, with a bit of Metalcore thrown into mix, with some interesting 'spices' as guitar solo with a twist in 'Blood'.
5. "RockRevoltMagazineIssue2". Rockrevoltmagazine.com. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
6. Ramanand, Liz (May 14, 2012). "In This Moment Announce Title and Release Date for New Album 'Blood'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
7. "In This Moment's Blood Album certified Gold". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
8. "Q103 Exclusive Chat With Maria Brink". Qq103albany.com. October 16, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
9. Erickson, Anne (November 13, 2011). "In This Moment Guitarist, Drummer Leave Band to Join James Durbin". Loudwire. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
10. "In This Moment: No Musical Wasteland". Loudmag.com.au. February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
11. "In This Moment Blood Interview". Barebonesmusic.com. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
12. Ramanand, Liz. "In This Moment Announce Title and Release Date for New Album 'Blood'". Loudwire. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
13. "10 Years Vs. In This Moment – Cockfight". Banana1015.com. May 31, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
14. "In This Moment streams 'You're Gonna Listen'". Metal Underground. July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
15. "In This Moment: 'Blood' Album Cover Artwork, Track Listing Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. June 18, 2012. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
16. Bowar, Chad (August 2012). "In This Moment Blood Review". About.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
17. Reed, Ryan (July 31, 2012). "In This Moment | Blood – CD Reviews". The Phoenix. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
18. "REVIEW: In This Moment-'Blood'". Under the Gun Review. August 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
19. "IN THIS MOMENT's 'Blood' Cracks U.S. Top 15". Blabbermouth.net. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
20. Brown, Matt (February 12, 2014). "Metal By Numbers 2/12: The Charts Are Full of Temptation". Metal Insider. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
21. "American album certifications – In This Moment – Blood". Recording Industry Association of America. May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
22. "Blood by In This Moment". iTunes Store. United States. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
23. "Blood [CD/DVD] – In This Moment". AllMusic. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
24. "Blood : In This Moment". HMV Japan. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
25. "Blood (Re-Issue inkl. Bonus-CD)". Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
26. Blood (CD liner notes). In This Moment. Century Media Records. 2012. 8874-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
27. "In This Moment Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
28. ブラッド | イン・ディス・モーメント [Blood | In This Moment] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
29. "Chart Log UK – 2012 + Weekly Updates + Sales 2012". Zobbel. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
30. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
31. "In This Moment Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
32. "In This Moment Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
33. "In This Moment Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
34. "In This Moment Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
35. "In This Moment Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
36. "Independent Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
37. "Hard Rock Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
38. "Independent Albums – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
39. "Hard Rock Albums – Year-End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2017.