Ritual

Ritual represents a significant stylistic pivot for In This Moment, moving away from the hyper-polished industrial pop-metal of 'Black Widow' toward a more organic, blues-influenced 'Southern Gothic' sound. Released in 2017, the album was produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Churko and features a notable guest appearance by Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford. The record is characterized by its heavy use of ritualistic themes, incorporating covers of Phil Collins and Radiohead that are reimagined through a dark, cinematic lens. Critics, including those at AllMusic, noted the album's shift toward a more mature, atmospheric sound that emphasized Maria Brink's vocal range and the band's ability to craft cohesive thematic worlds. It stands as one of their most conceptually consistent works, bridging the gap between alternative metal and theatrical gothic rock.