Norma Jean

Norma Jean has delivered a stunning, epic and impassioned modern metal album, with a sound totally isolated within a small sub-genre beside label-mates Zao and Living Sacrifice. The band utilises the familiar Solid State sound of emotionally crushing, jagged, progressive metalcore well. "We never sat down and talked about what we wanted to sound like,” says drummer Daniel Davison. "We've been listening to Converge, Isis, Unsane, Helmet and Fugazi, and we grew in our talents. In our other CD, we were just learning how to play our instruments.” That's hard to believe when one starts to digest the technical prowess displayed on the album, but the band’s live track record may help put things in perspective. "Last year we played 200 shows, this year we’ve only played over 100 because we took some time off,” says Davison. Bands on Solid State have to deal with the pro-Christian stigmata attached with the label, but luckily, people are putting Norma Jean's talent first. "Kids that haven't been in the Christian scene have been really responsive to our new CD. After seeing us tour with their favourite bands, kids are more apt to give us a chance. We want to play in the general market as much as we can,” says Davison. Norma Jean are far more inventive, intelligent and forward-thinking than most heavy bands around today, in any market, and Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child is worthy of attention from anyone who seriously considers themselves a fan of heavy music, period.