The great thing about In This Moment is the mix of aggression and melody. Maria Brink's range is unlike any other female metal vocalist's. The way she goes from melodic croon to hardcore scream in the blink of an eye ... it's pretty spectacular.

They are a tight outfit with great riffs and lead guitar work; their chops are the backbone of her edginess. They work so well together, bringing out every hook, melody and nuance of their sound. On their third album, "A Star-Crossed Wasteland," they display the same blend of emotion as on their last two releases, "Beautiful Tragedy" and "The Dream," just with a heavier and darker sound.

Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Five Finger Death Punch) again handles producing duties, and he mixes punchiness and clarity nicely. The guitars are clear and upfront but not overpowering. The drums are a huge slam of power, and Maria's voice is forceful-yet-angelic.

Her scream and the sludgy riff of "Gunshow" kick off "A Star-Crossed Wasteland," giving a taste of what we can expect from the L.A. metalcoresters. The piano intro of the title track builds up to an enlightening chorus, and Maria’s soft voice is emotional and delightful. "The Promise" utilizes aggressive backup vocals from the band, and "The Road" has a positive uplifting feel, with progressive and poppy guitar leads. CD closer "World In Flames" sounds a little Tori Amos, with piano and Maria's smooth vocals.

If you liked In This Moment's first two endeavors, "A Star-Crossed Wasteland" will surely please. Each of the 10 tracks displays a diversity and maturity that should propel In This Moment higher.