I am always keeping a keen Metal eye out for Heavy Metal collectibles. Picture discs of my favorite bands are an irresistible item for me, with their usual low print run and display appeal. Picture discs are vinyl records, they come as either 7″ or 12″ and have graphics and/or images actually printed on the vinyl itself. Sometimes, picture discs can be found that are die-cut as well, making for an even more unique Heavy Metal collectible. Recently, I have been unearthing some of my Heavy Metal picture discs from years/decades passed, while picking up some new picture disc finds as well. I try not to spend a ton of money on these picture discs either, getting a great Metal deal is my long standing goal. One particular picture disc I purchased this past year is a Maria Brink/ In This Moment – Prayers 7″ and it is hand numbered 292/600. That is a very limited print run… just 600 of these picture discs exist! Um, I would lean towards this picture disc being considered rare. This picture disc was originally released in 2007. I bought this fine Maria Brink/In This Moment picture disc at Century Media Records online or CM Distro… for a whopping five dollars. Five dollars!
The two songs on this picture disc are taken from the In This Moment debut album – Beautiful Tragedy. The two songs are: prayers and daddy’s fallen angel.
This is the Maria Brink/In This Moment – Prayers 7″ Picture Disc I Bought Earlier In 2009:
Maria Brink is the lead vocalist for In This Moment, a Metalcore Band that released their U.S. debut album Beautiful Tragedy on March 20, 2007. Maria Brink delivered some of the heaviest vocals I have ever heard from a female lead Metal vocalist, her Death Metal growls caught my attention very quickly on this terrific album. Don’t be fooled however… Maria Brink can sing lights out, make no Metal mistake about it. This album I highly recommend, especially for fans of Metalcore and Metal female vocalists. Honestly, Beautiful Tragedy should pacify any yearning Extreme Metal fan.
The second album from In This Moment, features much more diverse and matured vocals from Maria Brink. A tremendously more commercial path In This Moment took, with The Dream. Released in the U.S. on September 30, 2008, The Dream not only took me by surprise with it’s 180 degree Metal Music turnaround, it is also one of my favorite albums from that year. The Dream in my Metal opinion, is a top ten Heavy Metal album from 2008. Maria Brink delivers harmonious and melodic vocals on The Dream. Her soothing and ultra emotional vocals on The Promise: Into The Light are beyond memorable for me.
You can read a more detailed album review I wrote on The Dream, by clicking here: IN THIS MOMENT – THE DREAM
Maria Brink has an amazing voice and is an extremely talented lyricist, in my Metal opinion. In 2009, In This Moment re-issued an expanded edition of The Dream, with several new bonus tracks. The one new song, (bonus track), that caught my Metal attention the most is the cover song Call Me from the legendary/Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee… Blondie. You can read more details I wrote about this song by clicking the heading below:
IN THIS MOMENT – Covers “Call Me” with Heavy Metal respect
A cool CD single I picked up from In This Moment is titled Prayers. I bought it due to my needing anything and everything that Maria Brink’s vocals are on. Plus, I am a collector of this band, so getting ahold of this CD single for only two bucks is a Metal deal of the century. Yes, this CD single was on the clearance rack at Century Media Records online… CM Distro.
Two other In This Moment CD singles are out there that I do not own, yet I will eventually. They are:
Beautiful Tragedy – released in 2007
Forever – released in 2008
I can’t say enough about the musicianship of the entire In This Moment band… both past and present members. After just two studio albums, this is a Metal Band that can only get even better… and I will be as eager as ever to listen. Maria Brink has already elevated herself to the very top of today’s female Metal vocalists, that is my Metal opinion and I am not bashful to admit it.
If anyone out there knows of any other Maria Brink and/or In This Moment picture discs, imports or CD singles that exist, feel free to comment… it would be appreciated with the highest Metal gratitude.
Yes! I got rid of it! I actually sold it! The “it” I am referring to is the absolutely annoying new album from Lita Ford – Wicked Wonderland. I foolishly bought the CD at Walmart for an even $10.00, (factor in the 6% sales tax and it set me back $10.60). The good Metal news is, I sold it today, finally! I brought it to f.y.e. and man, I never expected to get this much loot for it… f.y.e. took Wicked Wonderland off my hands for $6.25!! I’m NOT complaining. An extremely generous price that f.y.e. is, (for some reason), willing to pay for this CD. I was issued store credit towards other Metal purchases at f.y.e., a fine deal to me. Sure, I am out $4.35 at the end of the day, however, getting rid of this CD for any amount of money is a joyous Metal memory for me. I did state in my review, on this album, that I was definitely going to sell it… I actually held onto it for way too long.
Ah, Lita Ford. Reflecting on the 1980’s would not be quite the same without her being in the Heavy Metal world. Lita Ford proved back in those glorious ’80’s that she was more than just eye candy, she really did shred on the guitar for her albums. Plus, Lita Ford’s vocals always had the harmonic, Heavy Metal diva flare happening. Lita Ford even did a very sappy duet with Ozzy Osbourne, Close My Eyes Forever, that I honestly could never stomach back in 1989 and my opinion has not wavered since. Well, it is 2009 and Lita Ford is back, uh, yeah. Wicked Wonderland is her new album, the title really sums it all up quite well. The lyrics throughout this entire album are wicked indeed… with nuances, imagery and flat out references to sex and lust galore. I want to taste your goddess flesh and I penetrate you are two lines taken from the song Indulge… pretty hot stuff if you are a young dude that can’t buy a date for Saturday night. Lita Ford should have known that the majority of her audience buying Wicked Wonderland are the Old School Heavy Metal crowd and we are no longer eighteen and pissed off at our parents anymore.
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