Despite the growing popularity of hardcore music, it is still seen by many as a niche genre, and many music listeners don't give it a try either because of unwillingness or inaccessibility. With
Redeemer, their third major release, Norma Jean aims to change the state of hardcore.
Redeemer is quite a departure from Norma Jean's two previous albums,
Bless the Martyr, Kiss the Child and
O' God, The Aftermath.
Redeemer features much more cohesive rhythms and a more melodic feel overall. Fans of the Norma Jean's previous work will not be disappointed however, as
Redeemer still features the forceful beats and guitar riffs that put Norma Jean on the map.
Singer
Cory Brandan, who was added to the band just before
O' God, The Aftermath, really finds his element on
Redeemer with a fantastic mix of clear, understandable screaming and traditional singing. What puts Brandan above his peers is his ability to deliver a forceful, emotional scream, while still making the lyrics understandable, which is important to all bands, but especially Norma Jean.
Norma Jean has always been a deeply personal, profound band in their writing, and
Redeemer follows the trend of their earlier work. Norma Jean shares their spirituality and personal experiences, but share it in such a way that listeners of any beliefs can relate and enjoy their lyrics. Their use of metaphors and figurative, poetic language to send their message makes listening to their words again and again a rewarding experience, as each listener can interpret their work for themselves each time they hear a song.
With their most coherent, accessible album yet, Norma Jean is poised to become the leader in mainstream hardcore. Despite accusations of selling out by some of their fans that would prefer not to share Norma Jean with the mainstream, Norma Jean has produced their best work yet, and holds promise for the future.
Redeemer deserves a B for its high level of innovation, and is a must for any Norma Jean fan, and makes a great introduction to hardcore music for anyone interested in the genre.