NEW MELODIC TURN FOR METALCORE ACT
You can now place Norma Jean officially on the map. Having worked with the stellar production of Russ Robinson (Deftones, The Cure, Slipknot) and collaborated with Chino Moreno (Deftones), Cove Reber (Saosin) and Page Hamilton (Helmet), it’s quite apparent Norma Jean commands significant attention and respect in the music industry.
Of course, one listen to its fourth studio album, The Anti Mother, makes that clear as well. Never has the celebrated band sounded so accessible, and yet, the metalcore act completely retains its roots. It’s a combination sure to please older fans and reach new ones on this year’s “Warped Tour.”
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“The Birth of the Anti Mother” grabs the album’s theme of deceit from the beginning and never lets go, grating just long enough before infusing cheerleader chants, of all things, in the middle of the track. “Robots 3, Humans 0” fires with militant riffs and breakdowns that reveal some of Norma Jean’s best work to date. “Opposite of Left and Wrong” is a short, searing guitar-driven tour through NJ’s heavier side.
The collaborations and partnerships work in the band’s favor here in two ways—providing the band with some outside credibility alongside the stellar work created on The Anti Mother. It’s possible this will be seen as the band’s cornerstone work in a (hopefully) storied career. –Matt Conner