While not nearly at the same level, I could see some similarities between them and what Pantera was doing some 15 years ago, pushing the boundaries of where (in their case) metal ended and noise began. Again, Norma Jean isn't the only band that is playing both sides against the middle, but the inspiration may be traced back to Dimebag (RIP), Phil, and the rest for their envelope pressing.
Since their last album, they have seen the exit of their vocalist and bass player. They have since been replaced by Cory Brandon on mic duty and Jake Schultz on bass. Now I am unprepared to comment on the differences between the lineups, but I will say that Brandon has an energy that really seems to drive the rest of the band forward. Behind him the guitars of Chris Day and Scottie Henry have a focused, laser-like precision to the orchestrated chaos which is the heart and soul of the band.
Granted, I do not love the album or the band, but the more I listen to it, there is more to listen to. The biggest problem uncovered as those layers are peeled back is the lack of variety. There are definitely songs that stand out, such as "The End of All Things Will Be Televised" and "A Small Spark vs a Great Forest," but if you listen straight through, there is not a lot of variety from song to song. I am not asking for ballads or straight up hardcore, but the structures are very similar.
Bottom line. This is a good album. There is a lot of inventiveness in the orchestrated insanity, heaviness countered with brief bits of melody, plenty to keep the metalcore fan happy. This is a band to keep an eye on, this could be the start of something much bigger.
Recommended.
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