Review Summary: Norma Jean returns with a mixed bag of tracks, varying their style into numerous genres in which they have no business being in, venturing into others that sound pretty good. In other news, Cory Putman can't sing...
Norma Jean have been one of the forerunners in today's much maligned Christian Metalcore music scene. They are a rare band with potential in a genre that has faced much criticism over its repetition, monotony, lack of originality, and existence as essentially an oxymoron. After their original vocalist, Josh Scogin left the band following their first release, singer Cory Brandan Putman joined Norma Jean...
And that, is essence is what the band has become since Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child; Cory Putman's band. The following releases, O God, The Aftermath and Redeemer saw more of a focus on Putman's anguished yelping and occasional clean singing. Redeemer, for me at least, was a very good effort,which brought an excellent balance of brutality,melody, and passion to the table. However with this new release, The Anti Mother, Norma Jean seems to be traveling a bit too far down the path of softer, cleaner, melodic hardcore instead of the heavier metalcore we're used to hearing. It is not apparent from the album's opener, "Vipers, Snakes , and Actors", that the band is heading down this path to the mainstream; as a matter of fact the opener is a very good track, with the bands usual chaotic guitars, chug chug rhythm, and anguished vocals. However, from the outset of the second track, "Self Employed Chemist" Norma Jean's one long standing weakness becomes exposed: This guy cannot sing, and unfortunately, over the course of the CD, Cory's failed attempts at clean singing continually resurface , glaringly out of place in the supporting music.
The album is without a doubt a mixed bag vocally, but instrumentally its more, of the same from, if not a bit better than Redeemer. The normally hectic guitars that have been the band's trademark are still present, but are varied up with more conventional rhythms and progressions to stop them from becoming vexing and repetitive. The instruments are in fact, a step above the band's past material.
The Anti-Mother, although marred quite badly by the poor clean vocals does have some rather excellent moments. Despite the overuse of clean vocals, and my personal dislike for them, I actually really enjoyed "Robots 3 Humans 0". Although the vocals are annoying and... well...bad the instrumentation is catchy, the lyrics are very sing-along esque, and passionate. Another highlight is the track immediately following, "Death of the Anti Mother". A dark, brooding atmosphere hangs over the music, and the clean vocals are absent. Cory's screams are full of conviction and anger, and the gloom carries the song making it by far the best on the album.
The band is evidently taking on a more commercial direction, with cameos being made by many artists with significant mainstream success, among them, the Deftones Chino Moreno, and Helmet's Page Hamilton, on the tracks "Surrender Your Sons", and the "Opposite of Left and Wrong" respectively. This tracks are among the worst on the CD, as they are full of the trashy clean singing, and feature extremely repetitive instrumentation. Cove Reber of Saosin also makes appearances on numerous tracks, most notably the closer of the alblum, And There Will Be A Swarm of Hornets. This track is actually very well done, and in a way saves The Anti Mother from being a complete wash, as the tracks immediately before it are.
The songs use of a female choir, and alternating quiet/loud sections make it a nice breath of fresh air for the band.
Although a package of the very good and the very bad, Norma Jean is able to throw together a mostly solid batch of songs. The push for commercial success and mainstream notability is evident, and it does hinder the band's musical evolution on this album. Fans of the band's older material, you'll probably wish death upon yourself while listening. Fans of Redeemer, although maybe a bit disappointed will be rather content.
The Clear Best
Death of the Anti Mother
Robots 3 Humans 0
And There Will Be A Swarm of Hornets
The Clear Worst
Self Employed Chemist
Surrender Your Sons
The Opposite of Left and Wrong
Final Verdict 3/5
Constructive criticisms are welcome I'm still a young writer and I'm always looking to improve.
