Godmode
Godmode is the eighth studio album by American rock band In This Moment. It was released on October 27, 2023, through BMG Rights Management.[1] Produced by Kane Churko and Tyler Bates, the album was recorded at Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada.[2] It features guest appearances from Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills on "Damaged" and includes a cover of Björk's "Army of Me".[3]Creation
Background and development
Godmode serves as the eighth studio album by the American rock band In This Moment, marking their return to a heavier sound infused with electronic and industrial elements following the more experimental direction of their 2020 release, Mother. Announced on July 18, 2023, the project emerged from a period of creative accumulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing the band to explore new sonic territories without the constraints of a traditional touring cycle. This shift was intended to recapture the aggressive intensity of their earlier work while integrating synthwave and electronic textures, as guitarist Chris Howorth experimented with these styles in isolation.[4] The album's conception was driven by vocalist Maria Brink's desire to delve into themes of empowerment and the duality of human nature, inspired in part by fan feedback from prior releases that emphasized the band's role in fostering personal strength. Brink has described the process as a response to global crises and personal introspection, aiming to empower listeners through lyrics that balance vulnerability and resilience. Key influences included industrial pioneers like Nine Inch Nails, which informed the album's electronic aggression, and classic metal acts such as Black Sabbath, contributing to its raw, heavy foundation. These elements were exchanged collaboratively between Brink and Howorth via digital means, building on their longstanding partnership.[5][6] Development began with songwriting sessions in late 2022, following a two-year hiatus after Mother, during which the band amassed an unprecedented number of ideas. By early 2023, the concept of "Godmode"—drawn from gaming terminology as a metaphor for invincibility and self-transformation—crystallized as the album's unifying theme, reflecting Brink's spiritual exploration of inner power. This timeline aligned with the band's lineup stability since their 2017 album Ritual, retaining core members including Brink on vocals, Howorth on lead guitar, bassist Travis Johnson, rhythm guitarist Randy Weitzel (joined in 2011), and drummer Kent Diimmel (joined in 2016). The stability of this configuration enabled a focused pre-production phase, solidifying the album's direction before entering the studio.[4][7]Recording and personnel
The album Godmode was recorded primarily at Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada, with principal sessions occurring from early 2023 through mid-2023.[7][8] The production was helmed by Kane Churko and Tyler Bates, marking a shift from the band's longtime collaborator Kevin Churko to his son for this project.[8][9] Technical aspects of the recording emphasized the band's signature blend of heavy metal aggression and electronic influences, incorporating industrial synth elements alongside layered vocals and prominent guitar riffs to create a dynamic sonic palette.[10] Maria Brink's vocal arrangements featured extensive layering and increased screaming compared to recent efforts, contributing to an organic intensity in the tracks.[11] Mixing techniques focused on maintaining wide dynamic range to preserve the raw energy of live performances, avoiding over-compression while integrating experimental rhythms and time signatures.[12] The core recording personnel included Maria Brink on lead and background vocals, piano, and keyboards; Chris Howorth on lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals, and programming; Randy Weitzel on rhythm guitar; Travis Johnson on bass guitar; and Kent Diimmel on drums.[13] Additional contributions came from guest vocalist Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills on the track "Damaged."[11] Production credits list Kane Churko as producer, engineer, and mixer, with Tyler Bates as co-producer.[8] No major session musicians beyond the core lineup were involved. One key challenge during the sessions was integrating the band's evolving electronic and industrial elements with their established metal foundation without compromising the album's aggressive edge or resulting in overproduction, an effort the band described as exciting yet demanding after two decades of collaboration.[11][12] This balance was influenced by the empowerment themes emerging from development, which shaped vocal and arrangement choices to evoke resilience.[14]Content
Composition and themes
Godmode blends industrial metal and alternative metal, incorporating elements of metalcore through aggressive riffs and breakdowns, while integrating electronic textures for a futuristic edge.[12][10] The album features synth-driven intros that build atmospheric tension, as heard in the title track, alongside chugging guitar work that emphasizes heaviness.[12][15] Vocalist Maria Brink employs dynamic shifts between clean, melodic singing and ferocious screams, enhancing the emotional intensity across tracks.[10] The production by Kane Churko contributes to the clarity in blending these industrial and heavy elements.[8] The album's 10 tracks average around four minutes in length, resulting in a concise total runtime of 39 minutes.[16] Compositional techniques include drop-inspired tunings on guitars for added weight and electronic breakdowns that punctuate the metalcore foundation, creating a sense of propulsion in songs like "The Purge," which transitions from slow, synth-laden builds to explosive choruses.[17] Lyrically, Godmode centers on the concept of "godmode" as a metaphor for personal invincibility and empowerment, exploring the duality of strength and vulnerability amid adversity.[18] Themes of spiritual rebirth and transcendence recur, with narratives touching on purification and sacrifice as paths to inner strength, evident in conceptual arcs like those in "Sanctify Me" and "Sacrifice."[19][20] Compared to the band's 2017 album Ritual, Godmode intensifies the industrial influences for a heavier tone while retaining melodic hooks that echo earlier works like the metalcore-leaning debut Beautiful Tragedy, but with broader appeal through pop-tinged choruses.[12][21] This evolution balances aggression with accessibility, marking a cohesive step in the band's sonic progression.[6]Track listing
The standard edition of Godmode, released on October 27, 2023, contains ten tracks with a total runtime of 39:05. All tracks were written by members of In This Moment (primarily Maria Brink and Chris Howorth) along with co-writers including producer Kane Churko and guitarist Randy Weitzel, except for "Army of Me", a cover of Björk's song written by Björk Guðmundsdóttir and Graham Massey; production was handled by Kane Churko and Tyler Bates throughout.[22][23][3]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Godmode" | 4:01 |
| 2 | "The Purge" | 4:01 |
| 3 | "Army of Me" | 3:10 |
| 4 | "Sacrifice" | 4:22 |
| 5 | "Skyburner" | 3:53 |
| 6 | "Sanctify Me" | 4:11 |
| 7 | "Everything Starts and Ends with You" | 3:33 |
| 8 | "Damaged" (featuring Spencer Charnas) | 3:25 |
| 9 | "Fate Bringer" | 3:53 |
| 10 | "I Would Die for You" | 4:36 |