Norma Jean
Redeemer

THE REVIEW

September 12, 2006: Norma Jean returns with a brand new album named "Redeemer."

First of all, let's just say they play noise and are labeled as Christian-rock.

This time the album was produced by a certain Ross Robinson (Slipknot knows who he is...), it's unclear how much influence he had, but the result is slightly less aggressive music with some clean vocal passages.

The album kicks off with "A Grand Scene for Color Film", a beautiful track, perhaps almost close to nu-metal. It is followed by the single "Blueprints for Future Homes", and here too, there are some clean passages. The third track stands out: "A Small Spark Vs. A Great Forest" lasts five minutes, starting in a paced and melodic way, then unfolding and concluding with a finale bordering on madness.

Next comes a quick punch to the teeth. "A Temperamental Widower" reminds us how hard these Americans can hit their instruments. Other noteworthy tracks include "The End Of All Things Will Be Televised" and "Amnesty Please" (absolutely fantastic). The album concludes with "No Passenger: No Parasite". A sort of instrumental track, repetitive, obsessed in both the brief lyrics and music but elevated by an excellent performance by Cory Brandan.

In conclusion, what can we say? Little publicized and not trend-focused, these Norma Jean can teach lessons to the trendy bands claiming to know how to play metal-core. They can go to hell.