Meridional

Norma Jean | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B003M9P3JO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,641 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Leaderless and Self Enlisted

2. The Anthem of the Angry Brides

3. Deathbed Atheist

4. Bastardizer

5. A Media Friendly Turn for the Worse

6. Septentrional

7. Blood Burner

8. High Noise Low Output

9. Falling From The Sky: Day Seven

10. Everlasting Tapeworm

11. Occidental

12. The People That Surround You on a Regular Basis

13. Innocent Bystanders United (included secret track Oriental)

Editorial Reviews

Grammy-nominated Metal band Norma Jean return in 2010 with their heaviest record yet. Meridional, the band's fifth studio album, revisits the abrasive and chaotic roots of classic Norma Jean while offering fans a dark experimental side: the band stretching out on moody, slow-burn jams. It is an album that finds the band comfortable in its legacy but progressive and bold in its creativity. Meridional was recorded at Glow In The Dark Studios in Atlanta with producer Jeremy Griffith.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nearly Unrivalled... July 14, 2010

By C. Conard

Format:Audio CD

What is Norma Jean? Not the same band that released Bless the Martyr, that's for sure. No, in the years since O God, The Aftermath, (and probably more precisely, Redeemer)NJ has worked to augment their chaos with heavy doses of melody and even choruses. Few bands have been able to pull off melodic destruction like Norma Jean, and it all comes to stunningly realized fruition on "Meridional".
One of my main gripes with the "screamo" genre(I'm not referring to Norma Jean, mind you)is that the melodic parts are too distinct from the heavier areas, sounding completely brutal one second and sounding almost like a boy band the next. Apparently that is not the way to do it, if "Meridional" and NJ's last two records were any indication. I'm still not sure how they do it so well, but the melodies are buried underneath the mess of sounds, for the most part. On some songs, such as High Noise Low Output and Falling From the Sky:Day Seven, the melodies come to the forefront, to the point where NJ can sound like a completely different band. Some songs are undoubtedly the most accessible ever written by NJ, especially Falling From the Sky, but I really enjoy these stylistic changes. Also Cory really flexes his vocals on this record, sounding both angrier and more euphoric than previous outings. And for some, this change will probably be unwelcome.
Meridional is receiving terrific reviews, as it deserves to. It is a suprising, inspiring album that I picture most people loving. In my mind itt doesn't have the immediate magnetism of Redeemer, which is my personal favorite by NJ and probably always will be. But "Meridional" is largely unparalleled in heavy music today, and it will easily become regarded as a masterwork. The bottom line of this review is simple: like Norma Jean? Get this record. Which you probably already have.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely satisfying, and powerful record. July 13, 2010

By Chulito Pojito

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

I got into Norma Jean late, with the first record I listened to was "Redeemer." However, I have journeyed back to listen to the rest of what they have to offer. This new album is wonderful, and if not, as great than what I think is the best record they have made which would be "Redeemer." They definitely strayed away from the sound you may have heard in "The Anti-Mother" where they leaned more toward having melody shine through their music, or better yet, having Putnam (the singer) actually "sing." He never truly sings (except for "A Media Friendly Turn For The Worse" and "Falling From The Sky")yet his screams become enhanced with the ambient distortion in the background in many of the final songs of the album. The band itself gives wonderful performances from great drumming to creative guitar riffs (What would you expect from Norma Jean, horrible instrumentals? Bah). This record can be best compared to that of what is heard in "Redeemer" only that Norma Jean has expanded that talent significantly, creating wonderful, blood rushing moments in their music. However, they do have very melodic songs towards the end of the album, where the beginning really doesn't have any melody, yet there are some songs that slow the fast pace of the beginning of the album such as the Third Track "Deathbed Atheist." It's definitely a little wave where the pinnacle is at the beginning (First four) and then it settles a little. However, It rises again at the end. The music won't be as heavy as "Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child" and not as erratic as "O' God, The Aftermath" and at times it won't feel heavy at all (some songs such as "Falling From The Sky" and "The People That Surround Us on General Basis" and especially "A Media Friendly Turn For The Worse" enter a very all too familiar realm, along with two instrumentals to fill up space and time) yet it delivers a substantial amount of quality only Norma Jean can execute with such force. With the little bit of actual singing heard is great from Putnam and definitely fabricates a nice touch when mixed with his screams in the songs, in turn adding emotion, and none the less, Attitude to their music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Norma Jean's Best (and perhaps the best of 2010 so far!) August 2, 2010

By Media Lover VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Without a doubt "Meridional" is Norma Jean's masterpiece album. It's more melodic than "Anti-Mother" with about twice the intensity. Nowhere on this album will you hear anything even remotely as chaotic as "O' God, The Aftermath" but there are moments (specifically on tracks like "Anthem of the Angry Brides" where this album gets flat HEAVY. Not only are the riffs thrashy and technical, but they're also very "groove-ish" on this album. I can't help but bang my head and scream along!

Honestly, I can't think of a single bad thing about this album... Buy it... NOW.