Where to begin?
I might as well get this part out of the way first. Redeemer is my first real experience with the band known as Norma Jean. Sure, I had heard of them, and I think I've even heard a song or two on compilation and soundtrack disks, but not once have I ever stopped and paid attention to Norma Jean. I almost caught them on the Radio Rebellion tour a month or so ago, but missed it due to sickness. So, here we are, Redeemer is playing through the headphones and I am thinking about what I think about the band that is Norma Jean.
The first thing to grab me about the album is the dissonant start to "A Grand Scheme for a Color Film." Once it kicks in, it does not let go until the album has run its course. From the chaotic heaviness of the guitars to the wild drumming to the screaming of "Bring out the shotguns, we're going to town!" it really gets the blood pumping.
Watching me get into this is an interesting thing. You see, just a couple of years ago I probably would have turned a cold shoulder to the chaos that is brewing on this disk. I know, I know, this album wasn't here a few years ago, but I am sure that you get the idea. For some reason that I will never be able to explain, I could not get into this style of music. This year has been a bit of an eye-opener — I may not have the most varied taste, but I am open to discovering something new, and this world of post-hardcore/metalcore and even a bit of screamo is beginning to unfold before me.
Norma Jean is an interesting beast. They seem to be striking that balance between mainstream appeal and fringe extremism. The music is easy to get into, yet isn't easily accessible. They are toeing the line between experimental dissonance and more crushing/melodic metalcore. The barrier is being pressed to the breaking point in a way for a younger generation.
Article comments
1 - Seth
Good review Chris. I'm in the same place as far as Norma Jean goes. After hearing the last two albums and the newest one, I feel Redeemer has more variety and musicality, but it's tough for the average listener to pick out differences from song to song. None the less, it's still good stuff!
2 - Daryl
Norma Jean was a band to keep an eye on many years ago, with Bless the Martyr. Since then, they've gone through a few lineup changes. With O' God the Aftermath, they were really just diving back into the album scene, and really impressed everyone. That is, once they got a chance to get past the enormous differences between the first and second album. In O' God the aftermath, they threw down what they were best at. Metal Breakdowns. Spine tingling, hair raising grunge screaming breakdowns. And no one had a choice but to stand in trance, while one of them played.
With their latest album, I really feel they've bloomed since O' God, into somthing much more musically rounded. Everything seems expertly written to provide somthing that can roll you through the entire album like reading a striking book or a riviting movie. And that is the mark of a great group.
Norma Jean has hammered out some of the best MetalCore since the early days of the scene, and hopefully they've got much more for us in store for the future.
Bottom Line: No one will forget songs like Memphis will be laid to rest, or Murderotica, but this album really moves this group forward by leagues.
3 - JustinS
this is weird, i was reading earlier on ur review of KSE's end of heartache, and I read this one and got to the bottom and its you..I agree with both reviews and had the same opinions you had
4 - JustinS
i will write more on it when I get out of school..have to keep low profile at the moment