Norma Jean – O’ God the Aftermath
Author: Aidan Gray
Norma Jean’s March 1st release “O’ God the Aftermath”, their follow-up to “Bless the Martyr, Kill the Child”, is a strange mix of things that should not be, and things that are just plain odd. The disc, which is made up of 11 songs, all with titles that confuse even the most literate of people, is an angst filled release that is leading the charge into the realm of ‘core for Solid State Records. Following the departure of Josh Scogin, Norma Jean fans will be pleasantly surprised that Corey Putnam, formerly of Eso-Charis, has done a rather superb job of filling those shoes. Too often compared to Botch, elitist “math metal” freaks will continue to slander every Norma Jean release, but “O’ God the Aftermath” will surely please even the most scrupulous of Jean fans. Fans of the breakdowns, the technical sounding PsyoPus-esque guitar taps, and those who enjoy a barrage of throaty goodness for four minutes, will find this release somewhat appetizing. With the “metalcore” sound becoming a dime a dozen, and with the constant saturation of “metal metal” bands now starting to enter the market, Norma Jean continue to ensure that their riffs, and their quality of music won’t be put to shame. Despite this release not being the greatest thing since sliced bread, the appeal to listen is definitely still there. If monotone screams, and tap-tone harmonics aren’t your thing, steer clear and invest in something more metal or more hardcore, not something that is overtly crossed over, and rehashed. Aside from the odd song titles, confusing CD inlay, and disturbing pictures that adorn the booklet, this avalanche in d-minor is sure to please – this is why it scanned 20,000 copies in its first week of release.
Rating: 7/10
Website: http://www.normajeannoise.com
Label: Solid State Records
(No Ratings Yet)
