In This Moment is an American rock band formed by the duo of vocalist Maria Brink and guitarist Chris Howorth in 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The band started as “Dying Star” but later that year, they changed to their current name.
The band’s lineup has witnessed several changes within the past years and it currently consists of; vocalist Maria Brink, guitarist Chris Howorth, bassist Travis Johson, guitarist Randy Weitzel, and drummer Kent Diimmel.
The band has garnered a massive fanbase with its infectious song lyrics and provocative live performances. Their breakthrough album “The Dream” brought them to light in 2008 and it featured throat-screaming vocals by vocalist Maria Brink.
The question of In This Moment being a Christian rock band has always been a cause of debate, especially with the band employing some religious themes and making comments about religion. An analysis of factors like; the band’s songs and other musical elements, comments by band members, and their religious stance will answer the question: Is In This Moment a Christian Rock Band?
Is In This Moment a Religious Band?
In This Moment has always been linked to religion. Many have tagged the band as a religious band because of some noticeable affiliations with Christianity and Satanism. Some people think that the band is a Satanic band, while others feel that they are a Christian band.
Before going further, we’ll analyze what it means to be a religious band. A religious band is one whose songs are influenced by the religious beliefs of a particular religious group.
We don’t consider In This Moment as a religious band because of the nature of their songs, comments by band members, and the fact that their songs employ the imagery of different religious groups. In an interview with Nick DeMarino of Outburn Online and the band’s vocalist Brink, she revealed that she is not religious because she does not subscribe to any particular religious group. In her words:
In one sense, it was this balance for me between Christianity and…I don’t think I’m a very religious person in the sense that I don’t follow any one specific religion. I believe in a higher light, I believe in God, I believe in science, I believe in Jesus, I believe in Mother Earth and quantum physics, so I have a very overall wide spectrum. I think it’s all connected and it’s all one. I used to always think that with this Lord that I couldn’t believe in these other sides of myself because I was sinning or I was wrong or I was going to burn in hell. I had a mother who believed in Christ, and I felt that magic in me, but she also believed in other things”
In another interview with ultimate guitar and Brink, when asked about what spirituality means to her, she stated:
“I am spiritual. I pray and meditate a lot, and I believe in love and God and the universe and energy. I’m a total hippie.
We pray before every show that we do. I believe in the heavenly father and heavenly mother and her energy.
I’m not one specific religion. As long as it’s about good vibrations and love, and I feel like it’s elevating my psyche more and my heart, then I love it.”
Other members of the band also believe in spirituality, God, and faith but do not subscribe to a particular religious group. The band’s 6th album “Ritual” was embedded with a lot of religious themes and messages. Songs in the album contained both Satanic and Christian imagery. Some of such songs are;
Oh Lord
“Oh Lord won’t you save me
Save me from me
Oh Lord won’t you forgive me
For I have lost control
Oh Lord won’t you tell me
Am I righteous or the damned?
Oh Lord won’t you please hear me
Do I obey or do I command?
Oh oh (Exorcise the demon)”
Half God Half Devil
“You look at me like I’m a revelation
You wanna know if I can bring salvation
You saw a sinner, saw a saint inside of me
You wanna know if I’m a friend or an enemy
I can be your heavenly or I can be your hell
I can say a prayer for you or I can cast a spell
I push you to the darkness just to pull you to the light cause I can take away your breath or I can bring you back to life
Half God Half Devil”
Black Wedding
“Priest are you there?
Can you hear my voice?
Do you hear my prayers?
Are you out there?
Forgive me, priest
For I have sinned (I know not what I do)
Mother, I am here, I can hear your song
I can feel your fear, he’s done you wrong
Temptation fed, his desires
In the ring of fire (in the ring of fire)”
Holy Man
“Show me a holy man, show me a holy man
I need faith to believe again
Show me a worthy man, show me a worthy man
I need faith to be free again
Show me a savior, show me a savior
Show me something pure that I can understand
Show me a savior, show me a savior
Cause even the worst kind of sinner is a holy man”
What Kind of Music Band is In This Moment
In This Moment is an American rock band. The band incorporates elements of alternative metal, metalcore, hard rock, Gothic metal, pop metal, and industrial metal genres.
These music genres are characterized by repetitive metal guitar riffs, use of synthesizer or sequencer lines, distorted vocals, transgressive themes, catchy hook and anthemic choruses, dark and introspective lyrics, dark atmospheres during live performances, aggressive or screaming vocals, distorted electric guitar, double bass drumming, occasional blast beats.
The band has also incorporated screamo, post-hardcore, and arena rock into their music. This Moment draws influences from bands like Nirvana, M83, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, etc. The themes in the band’s songs range from death to pain, anxiety, frustrations, anger, love and breakup, greed, and spirituality.
In This Moment has 7 studio albums that have been nominated for and have won several awards. The band won the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, and Loudwire Music Awards and was nominated as the Best Metal Performance by the Grammy’s in 2021, and has topped several music charts within and outside the US.
Is In This Moment a Christian Rock Band?
A Christian band is a band that upholds the principles and teachings of Christianity. Songs by a Christian band portray Christian beliefs and glorify God, Jesus Christ, and other structures of the religion.
Songs by a Christian band are embedded with religious and spiritual themes and are used to spread positive Christian messages. The songs are used to share personal or collective Christian beliefs.
A Christian band has members that have outrightly expressed their faith in the religion and their lifestyle reflects Christianity. The band must also publicly label itself as a Christian band and this should be seen in its songs, concepts, and lifestyle.
The notion of In This Moment being a Christian band has lingered for years, owing to the band employing Christian themes in some of their songs and the use of Christian imagery during some of their live performances. The band has been listed as a Christian band but a larger segment of the audience has always countered this claim.
Some band members have stated that they are spiritual, pray and meditate, and believe in love and God which is Christian attributes but they have not openly subscribed to Christianity.
From our observation, songs by the band portray both Christian and Satanic themes accompanied by other themes relatable to humans. However, the band cannot be considered a Christian band, because they do not meet the criteria to be addressed as one. Songs by the band are not an expression of beliefs in Christianity and are not made explicitly as Christian songs. Also, the band has refuted any claim of being a Christian band. As such we do not consider In This Moment a Christian band.
In This Moment Christian Songs
In This Moment employs Christian imagery in their songs but those songs are not classified as Christian songs due to other factors like the band’s religious stance and lifestyle. Christian songs are an expression of faith and belief in Christianity, they are used to spread the gospel and other Christian messages.
Songs by In This Moment are not intended for the purposes listed above. As such, the rock band has no Christian songs. Notwithstanding, some songs by the band deeply employ Christian terms and themes. Songs like “Oh Lord, and ” “Holy Man” can be used in a Christian setting.
Is In This Moment a Satanic Band?
As a band that explores diverse religious concepts, In This Moment has also been linked to Satanism. Many have allegedly classified In This Moment as a Satanic band because of their frequent use of dark themes and anti-christian imagery.
The band disclosed that some listeners have pigeonholed them as a Satanic band but that is not true. In an interview with Toni Gonzalez of Loudwire Nights and Brinks, the vocalist stated:
“They all think I’m a Satanist, and I got people chained up in my basement,” Brink laughs. “There are videos of people dissecting the “The In-Between” video on how it’s evil, and how there are six hands around my head.”
The band has stated that the dark and gloomy lyrics they use as well as their creepy videos and anti-Christian themes should not be considered Satanic, rather fans should regard it as an expression of art and creativity. She added that since it’s art, there is a tendency for people to give different interpretations which is fine. Songs like “Big Bad Wolf” and “Half God Half Devil” portray dark themes which have been considered Satanic.
Final Thoughts
Irrespective of the religious controversies surrounding the band, we won’t deny the fact that In This Moment has produced a creative body of work that appeals to a diverse audience. The band has been on a hot streak, as their fan base keeps increasing due to their infectious blend of various music genres, their ostentatious live performances, and other inputs which have made them stand out among the rest. The band is notable for utilizing religious elements in their songs, but they have been very clear on the notion of not being a Christian band.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!