WRUV Reviews

Norma Jean – Meridional
Release Date: 2010Jul13 (US)
Label: Razor & Tie
Rating: 4.5/5

Norma Jean is a band that has eluded me over the years. Not that I haven’t heard them, but I was truly underimpressed with both Redeemer and The Anti-Mother; maybe it had something to do with knob-turner Ross Robinson (a.k.a. The Godfather of Nü Metal), or the reflexive cringe I get when I see that Solid State label. For their fifth album, they signed to heavyweight Razor & Tie, and enlisted the help of near-unknown producer Jeremy Griffith. He actually makes his presence known throughout Meridional, contributing vocals, guitar, organ and piano.

Norma Jean has improved its arrangements above all else. The basic ingredients remain remarkably similar in my memory––style and tone have changed little––but their developed delivery has come further than I thought possible. This is the kind of music that can restore faith in the term ‘metalcore’.

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Self titled debut, Disgust Of Us, is a post punk album and has also been billed as “gentle core”.  Definitely rocking but tempered by the vocals of Cheryl and filled out by Patrick (no last names given).  Poignant lyrics are beautifully delivered along side the hard post punk sound.  The conflict between a hard and soft sound is well balanced and makes for a good listen.

Tracks: 1,3,4

Oceano – “Depths”
released April 14, 2009 by Earache

They claim to be “the heaviest, most pissed off band on the planet.” I don’t know how you quantify ‘pissed-off-ness,’ but they are one of the most physically imposing bands I’ve seen since Crowbar (bassist Jason Jones is the one skinny dude). Does the deathcore quintet measure up to not only that, but the exhaustive 11-part allegorical definition of ‘depth’ in the liner notes? No, and there isn’t a band that does. The Chicago natives do branch out from the trunk a bit, incorporating keyboards (9) and some damn fine song structures (4) when pouring on the sludge and driving you through the grind. But ultimately it’s mostly single-serving heaviness, and now that they have an established base (albeit amidst controversial promo photography and live show antics), their charge will be to distinguish themselves from like-minded folks such as Suicide Silence and Whitechapel. The limited edition comes with two bonus tracks and a documentary DVD.

1 is an intro
FCC OK
Try 4, 5, 9, 10

01. Descent
02. Inhuman Affliction
03. Empathy For Leviathan
04. Plague Campaign
05. Fractured Frames, Scattered Flesh
06. Disgust For Your Kind
07. Depths
08. District Of Misery
09. With Legions
10. Slaughtered Like Swine
11. A Mandatory Sacrifice
12. Samael The Destroyer
13. Abysm

Rating: