NORMA JEAN – Meridional (Review)

NORMA JEAN
Meridional
[Razor & Tie]
9
Stream : “The Anthem Of Angry Brides”

It’s been said before, but Meridional is NORMA JEAN’s heaviest work yet. There is very little breathing room from track to track with this album – it’s constantly furious and brutal. Cory’s vocals have never sounded better, and all the members have tightened their arsenals to make everything faster without sacrificing originality. The “you’re not getting under my skin” breakdown in “The Anthem Of Angry Brides” will easily creep into your head at work, and it’s these kind of addictive moments that you will find again and again on Meridional. The band has revisited their more chaotic side with this album, while at the same time keeping things somehow experimental and progressive. Nothing is straightforward or simplistic – even the fastest moments feel well written and intricate in their own ways. The haunting interludes are sparingly used, and sound even better as a result (hear “Deathbed Atheist” in its entirety). There is still singing on this release, by the way. “A Media Friendly Turn For The Worse” is such a song to show Cory during his more vulnerable stages, and his vocals on that track are some of the best he’s done to date. What ever part of this album you play, you are sure to be impressed. If you weren’t a fan before, Meridional will change that. This album is an incredibly powerful follow up to The Anti-Mother, and tops anything the band has done previous to it. Major kudos to NORMA JEAN with this one. (NL)