Over their past four albums, Norma Jean have evolved from what was once a by no means simple, but fairly mono in outlook chug-wee metalcore outfit into a multi-faceted, explorative riff monster. Though some may say they lost some of their fire on ‘Redeemer’ and ‘The Anti Mother’, these albums showed that they were unafraid to break stereotypes and bring elements into their sound that many would steer well clear of, with devastating results.
Enter ’Meridional’. Anyone doubting Norma Jean’s fire of recent years, please eat your words as soon as you hit play. ‘Leaders and Self Enlisted’ brings a direct kick in the face ‘O God, the Aftermath’ style whilst keeping the creative spark alive with a huge chorus. Soon after technicality is brought to the forefront on ‘The Anthem of the Angry Brides’ before leading up to a rapturous breakdown at the end, vocalist Corey Brandan Putman coming out all guns blazing with a powerhouse of beats behind him.
The Southern influence in the riffs on display is duly noted through the next three songs, combining filthy fury, dark haunting passages and caustic subtlety courtesy of the bands two remaining original members on guitar, Chris Day and Scottie Henry. That said, someone could’ve surely pointed out the similarity between the opening of ‘A Media Friendly Turn for the Worse’ and Thrice’s ‘Under A Killing Moon’, as the two are shockingly similar.
The somewhat disturbing interlude of ‘Septentrional’ leads us straight into the riotous ‘Blood Burner’ which would no doubt leave anyone learning the guitar in a bit of a muddle. The great thing about Norma Jean is that where the timings shouldn’t make sense and the riffs/beats shouldn’t work, they somehow find each other perfectly and often lead to flat out heaviness, which is always welcome.
Writing with Chino Moreno has clearly had an effect on the band, with plenty of vocal effects present and once again the will to try to bring something different to the plate in this genre where the same formulas are often overused (see ‘Falling From the Sky: Day Seven’). It’s obvious that these songs have been thought through and improved wherever possible as each one is full to the brim with ear-surprising elements on each listen, whether this will be recreated live effectively is yet to be seen however.
There seems to be an overlying theme of astronomy on ‘Meridional’ (The title and interludes make up the four directions of the celestial globe) and this also links in with the albums artwork, so it will definitely pay off investing some time in this album to grasp it fully. Corey’s lyrics are always well thought out and it’s a shame that they can sometimes get lost in all the chaos that surrounds them.
The epic eight-minute ender of ‘Innocent Bystanders United’ is a testament to how far the band have come over the years and there’s even a surprise for those who leave the CD running long enough afterwards. ‘Meridional’ is a well executed and complex album, though it’s not a return to form for the band, purely because the band never lost their form in the first place. They have constantly progressed and with a new label under their wing, this heavy, atmospheric whirlwind of an album is just the starting block for an even brighter future for Norma Jean. Do not dismiss this album and be sure to catch them on what could be the tour of the year with Architects this October.
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