Send "Norma Jean " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Absolutepunk |
 If the Anti Mother sessions with Deftones’ Chino Moreno and Helmet’s Page Hamilton taught Norma Jean anything, it was definitely to think bigger. While 2008’s The Anti Mother was mixed among fans and critics, it definitely set the stage for Norma Jean’s latest wrecking ball, Meridional. Norma Jean has always been one step ahead with their brand of heavy music, never dumbing it down for the masses, and Meridional is no exception. By taking the aggression of O God The Aftermath, the melodies that littered Redeemer, and the experimental approach of The Anti Mother, the band has created their heaviest, loosest, and most progressive album yet.Meridional begins with “Leaderless and Self Enlisted,” and while it has all the classic Norma Jean elements – ripping guitar chords and Cory Brandan’s massive howl – it still sounds fresh, but the musicianship is just tighter and heavier. Really, the Douglasville, Georgia, quintet pours on the heavy like a southerner pours on the hot sauce. “The Anthem of The Angry Brides” is may be the heaviest song in the band’s canon, as it’s a two and half minute burst of pure disjointed mathcore. The floggings continue with the punishing “Bastardizer,” as the track is buoyed by breakdown after breakdown, courtesy of guitarists (and original members) Chris Day and Scottie Henry....full text |
| Rocksound |
| Though ‘Meridional’ doesn’t test the deep, unending waters of metallic prog or express any defi nite post-rock intent, there are undeniable leanings towards the two that give Norma Jean’s latest significant weight and exhibits taints of hidden complexity. There’s little evidence of blind conformism here, instead ‘Meridional’ displays Norma Jean as a creative and assertive force. Perhaps the former metalcore merchants’ best device is a healthy attitude to melody; blending it throughout with a rhythmic sway that’s both smart and compelling yet never forced. Appealing too is the album’s harnessing of unveiled emotion. Vitriol oozes from ‘Meridional’ both within its harsh riffs and inside the vocal pipes of Cory Brandan, who repeatedly broadcasts a coarse statement of intent startling the listener into taking note. Although the album doesn’t appear to experiment to the same extent as the band’s previous long players, it still demonstrates a fresh, but more importantly, genuine document. Unusually, ‘Meridional’ ends as strongly as it begins – the anthemic hearts of ‘High Noise Low Output’ and ‘The People That Surround You On A Regular Basis’ are perhaps the best tracks of the album and leave a signifi cant impact. If only every moment of ‘Meridional’ could be as powerful....full text |
| Alterthepress |
| First thing I'm going to admit is that I haven't listened to Norma Jean in a long time, and wouldn't call myself a fan. When I first sat down to listen to their latest release, 'Meridonal', I wasn't sure what to expect. My idea of them consisted of intense metal for the most hardcore of fans, but it means I can attack this without comparing it too much to their older stuff. This album has been over a year in a making, and they've even left their previous label to join independent Razor & Tie. They even describe it as “something totally new”, and it's certainly that. The second it kicks in, you can really notice how different it is to their older stuff. Taking much more inspiration from heavy rock and bands like Saosin. The intensity is still there, but in a much more melodic way. The opener 'Leaderless and Self Enlisted' has huge riffs, pounding drums and shouted vocals which anyone can 'sing' along to. 'The Anthem of the Angry Brides' brings a bit more of the NJ sound, with fast atonal riffs, big beatdown sections and intense vocals, which new and old fans won't be dissapointed with. Sung vocals even show up in a few of the tracks, providing a nice contrast. Each track is an individual enslaught on the ears, with tracks like Bastardizer being pretty much one big intense beat down, prone to a few circle pits live by the sound of things. Althought clearly their own sound, it does vary between tracks, ranging from the truly brutal metal sound to much lighter (in comparison) tracks like 'A Media Friendly Turn for the Worse' which reminds me of bands like He Is Legend with huge vocal harmonies and big guitar riffs....full text |
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