Norma Jean – Bless The Martyr And Kiss The Child

Norma Jean
Bless The Martyr And Kiss The Child
Solid State Records/Tooth & Nail Records

Norma Jean (formerly know as Luti-Kriss) has returned with their second album for Solid State Records. Following hot on the heels of their highly acclaimed Throwing Myself, the band was toured relentlessly, rushed into the studio, and now they're back with Bless The Martyr And Kiss The Child.

As time goes, Norma Jean's sound seems more extreme, and the messages more thought provoking (cryptic?). The song titles are certainly some of the strangest I’ve read in some time (‘Pretty Soon, I Don’t Know What, But Something Is Going To Happen’, ‘Sometimes It’s Our Mistakes That Make For The Greatest Ideas’ and ‘I Used To Hate Cell Phones But Now I Hate Car Accidents’), but the songs are pure youthful metal hardcore noise. No one particular track stands out as they all have their moments of inspired twisted guitar sounds and screaming chaotic vocal exercises from Joshua Scogin. One thing worth mentioning is Aaron Jonathan Weiss’s (Mewithoutyou) vocal contribution to the crushing ‘Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste’.

Noted producer Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage) has done the near impossible and allowed plenty of space within the scope of sound utilized by Norma Jean, without turning the album into a wall of noise. If hardcore is your bag, and Hatebreed and Converge get you all excited, then check this band out before they sell heaps of albums and start being labelled sell outs.

For more information on Norma Jean, check out - https://www.facebook.com/normajean.

© Justin Donnelly.