365 Days of Metal: Southern Belle, Headed South

Day 16

Norma Jean - Meridional

Band Origin: Douglasville, Georgia, USA
Genre: Metalcore / Mathcore
Label: Razor & Tie
Running Time: 67 minutes
Release Date: July 12, 2010

Best Part: Deftones inspiration adds flair to a solid sound. And aside from the music, Norma Jean's album art has always been spectacular.

Favorite Tracks: A Media Friendly Turn For The Worse, Everlasting Tapeworm, Falling From The Sky: Day Seven, and Deathbed Atheist

Grade: 4.0

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Meridional in 20 words or less:

A heavy, harmonious, yet dissonant record with heartfelt tracks and a distinct musical evolution provided by its practitioners.

The Band:

Norma Jean has seen members come and go since their arrival on the scene in 1997, with lead guitarist Chris Day being the face of the group, being it's only original member. Despite the somewhat revolving door feeling that this band carries along with it, Norma Jean, inspired by the real name of immortal bombshell Marilyn Monroe, continues to press along and released five full length albums, all showcasing a distinct evolution. Known more in the beginning for their angst, agression and pounding style, Norma Jean has evolved their sound to also incorporate more melody and style that capture both the heaviness and subtlety of their approach.

Norma Jean's other releases include: Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child (2002), O God, the Aftermath (2005), Redeemer (2006), and Norma Jean vs. The Anti Mother (2008)

Jay's Take on Meridional:

Norma Jean's last three records have all worked from different angles, incorporating minor stylistic changes or new approaches  to their heavy, and angry baseline. Meridional takes flight by taking some of the best elements from their previous work and taking a grass roots approach individually to this record - looking to inject it with a sound that according to the band, is a tribute to how Norma Jean came to life. Their previous record, Norma Jean vs. The Anti-Mother, included the first major point of inspiration for much of the stylistic changes seen in Meridional. Having worked closely with one of my favorite artists, Chino Moreno of Deftones, Norma Jean added a more melodius aspect to their sound, which blended with their heavy base created an album that truly is distinct in comparison to the rest of their discography. Meridional was a real surprise for me when it released last year, and it represents the largest leap forward that Norma Jean has made as a group - a record that is bright and calm in its harmony, and dark and foreboding in its aggressiveness.

Sample of the Day:



- J