Norma Jean - The Anti Mother

[Drew Beringer]

Norma Jean - The Anti Mother
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Record Label: Solid State

Norma Jean vocalist Cory Brandan explains The Anti Mother as “The Anti Mother is a character we created which represents anything that is deceptive, and yet possesses an outwardly beautiful nature.” Which makes sense, as the fourth album from the metalcore staple is the most melodic album they’ve created. Going back to work with Redeemer producer Ross Robinson, the band has learned how to channel that aggressiveness into something more melodic, while still being just as destructive as before. How this turns out on disc is yet to be heard.

“Vipers, Snakes, and Actors” begin the showdown in fine Norma Jean fashion: Brandan’s growl is overpowering, the drums hit like Josh Hamilton, and the guitar chords could be arrested for causing a domestic disturbance. “Self-Employed Chemist” features Brandan’s singing skills and musically it sounds like something off a From First To Last album. It’s not my favorite song, but it is rather catchy. “Birth Of The Anti Mother” is rambunctious, with a dizzying guitar and bass combo. It’s an auditory beatdown, as Brandan screams “We came for blood!,” while “Death Of The Anti Mother” is a slower, sludgy song, putting the dismay on display.

The band enlisted some guest vocals on The Anti Mother, but with a little twist. The band asked their guests to co-write the song with them. The first evidence of this is “Surrender Your Sons” which features Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno and Saosin’s very own Cove Reber. The track has a definite Deftones vibe to it; it’s beautifully haunting in the verses, while incredibly vicious in the chorus, making it one of the highlights on the album. Page Hamilton of Helmet fame helped with the creation of “Opposite Of Left And Wrong,” a chunky alt-rocker with huge cymbals, while the call and return of the two vocalists is stimulating. “Discipline Your Daughters” features more singing and doesn’t sound like a Norma Jean song at all, whereas “And There Will Be A Swarm Of Hornets” is a nine and a half minute sprawling headbanger that closes out The Anti Mother, leaving a buzzing sensation in your ear canal.

It’s no surprise to me that Norma Jean is at their best when they let everything hang out and go apeshit with breakdowns and vocal shredding. While they show that they are more than capable to add melody to their repertoire, it feels awkward and forced at times. “Self-Employed Chemist” and “Discipline Your Daughters” feel out of place. Tracks like “Vipers, Snakes, and Actors” know how to rock the party though. In the end, you are still getting what you expect out of the Douglasville, GA, quintet: solid metalcore (albeit, metalcore you have heard before; they aren’t exactly reinventing the wheel here) with a furious assault of energy and a tinge of melody, only this time a lot more melody. It may take a few listens for fans to really get into the album, but overall, The Anti Mother continues the solidity and consistently that Redeemer began. The actual music seems oxymoronic to the origin of the title, as the beneath the rough exterior of Norma Jean lies clean and pure melody.

Track Listing:
1. Vipers, Snakes, and Actors
2. Self Employed Chemist
3. Birth of the Anti Mother
4. Robots 3 Humans 0
5. Death of the Anti Mother
6. Surrender Your Sons (feat. Chino Moreno and Cove Reber)
7. Murphy Was An Optimist
8. Opposite of Left and Wrong (ft. Page Hamilton)
9. Discipline Your Daughters
10. And There Will Be A Swarm Of Hornets
Produced by: Ross Robinson

Norma Jean are:
Cory Brandan – vocals/guitars
Scottie Henry – guitars
Jake Schultz – bass
Chris Day – guitars
Chris Raines – drums

Buy the album now at http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/badgeitunes61x15dark.gif (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=285381722&id=285381431&s=143441)

Official Website (http://www.normajeannoise.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/normajean); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/normajean)

[Sic Transit Zeb]

I'm liking this release so far good stuff drew. I odnt' quite like it as much as Redeemer though.

[SexyJeff]

Had this since saturday and I agree that it's pretty much what I was expecting from Norma Jean. The melody is a great addition to their sound. They may not be reinventing the metalcore wheel, but they still put a majority of other metalcore bands to shame

[omgshe'sdead]

This band is terrible.

Really terrible.

As in like, if the metalcore train crashed into a huge truck of suck, that would be this band.

[aradiantsunrise]

This band is terrible.

Really terrible.

As in like, if the metalcore train crashed into a huge truck of suck, that would be this band.



Did you even listen to the new album before saying that? And if so, why are they terrible in your opinion?

[TooLateF0rRoses]

this album was much better than i expected. Not saying it is amazing, but it is pretty solid.

[Adam Pfleider]

good review Drew.

I would have given it at least an 80% though. I think this band has continued to grow into its own, and even a song like "Robots 3 Humans 0" could be a radio hit I would be proud of. This album was just what I expected, and after a few listens am not too disappointed in.

[pand75]

Yeah I'm really digging this release, but it's my least favorite out of them all. Even the Luti-Kriss album is ahead of this one IMO. Don't get me wrong, this album is incredible, just it's their weakess effort. Once again, IMO.

[Kgod]

Good review, and I can't wait to pick this album up.

[asteria]

this band, has always been a one of those bands that i can listen to a few songs from, but never an entire cd.

however, after reading this review i might actually check out the entire album. thanks!

[Daniel Thompson]

great review, drew

[thepianominstre]

I'm only a so-so metalcore fan, but I still spin Redeemer when I'm in the mood for that sort of thing and it's grown on me... I'll be picking up Anti-Mother today.

[xlanyonx]

I love this album, I didn't think I would as much as I do. It's different to their older stuff, reminds me of ETID in a way. *****

[Ryzenfall]

Nice to see an actually good and thought-provoking reason for an album name.

[peewhai]

Some people should really stop holding on to Norma Jean's past releases.
Norma Jean is a phenomenal band and each release should be appreciated for its own qualities and distinctive sound. The anti-mother is an extremely solid and well crafted piece of art. If you can't accept and respect their growth well I suggest you go listen to some on-the-surface trash like bring me the horizon and the devil wears prada.
Kudos to Norma Jean for sticking to their guns while all the other metal-core warped tour bands spend some quality time fixing their hair and getting some sweet baddass tattoos that reel all the little boys and little girls in.

[lenard27]

the drums hit like Josh Hamilton

Clutch comment. I've listened to this on myspace, and my initial are impressions are it's better than Redeemer but not quite as good as Bless the Child.

I would kill for a Bless the Child rerelease that was rerecorded. I like how Scogin doesn't like to use any computers at all and it shows off the true talent of the band, but sometimes it gets grating on my ears. Same thing happens with the Chariot now. Wishful thinking, though.

[AntiCitizeN]

Wasn't their heaviest album but it was alot more personal and the musicianship did get alot better.
I really enjoyed it. I disagree with his singing sounding forced though. I saw Robots 3 Humans 0 live in Detriot and it was amazing. And there will be a swarm of hornets is probably the best song that they have ever written. The more I listen the more I am amazed and how deep and personal this is and how I can connect to it.

They didnt remake the wheel but they just added rims to theirs.
The Almighty Norma Jean is still the king.

[UKBoss44]

Great review...I agree with almost all of it. The album does feel forced at times and it's obvious that the band is stretching themselves a bit far by trying to create an album full of melodic hardcore. Personally I feel Redeemer was a much better release than this one because it played to their strengths, but after a while all bands need to take chances and change things up so i respect them for trying. All that said, this is definitely my least favorite Norma Jean album.

[UKBoss44]

And there will be a swarm of hornets is probably the best song that they have ever written.

wow...don't mean to be a dick but are you serious?

[sevinw0rds]

Some people should really stop holding on to Norma Jean's past releases.
Norma Jean is a phenomenal band and each release should be appreciated for its own qualities and distinctive sound. The anti-mother is an extremely solid and well crafted piece of art. If you can't accept and respect their growth well I suggest you go listen to some on-the-surface trash like bring me the horizon and the devil wears prada.
Kudos to Norma Jean for sticking to their guns while all the other metal-core warped tour bands spend some quality time fixing their hair and getting some sweet baddass tattoos that reel all the little boys and little girls in.

Hell yes, dude.

Picking this up after work today, these guys are classy and so is their sound...

[genericmadness]

I am expecting to love this.

[AntiCitizeN]

wow...don't mean to be a dick but are you serious?

Had the best breakdowns off that album it was just amazing. It's up there with Memphis, Liarsenic, and a Small Spark. IMO. Death of the Anti Mother and Discipline your daughters was good too.

Why didn't you like that song?

[CrenshawPunch]

Good review. Drew, you always write good reviews. I wonder though, how they would come out if you didnt have to read what everyone thought of the album months before you actually heard it. With that being said, I am not a fan of this album, save for the song with Chino.

[jbergamotto]

I was never a big fan of Redeemer and when I checked out a few tracks of this new release, it just never did it for me. I can respect growth and not sounding like every other metalcore band however Cory Brandan's gritty vocals that are meant to be melodic turned me off ever since Redeemer. Trust me I don't list to every chugga-chugga breakdown central group out there but maybe I personally was never ready for this kind of growth. Either way, I do tip my hat to them for trying to not make the same album twice. BTW, I don't think this reminds me of ETID at all other than the fact these two bands are buddys.

[thebarrelboy]

snore core

this band is so boring

and Ross Robinson sucks

[SandManTEND13]

WOW 87% for member's thats alittle to high I would think, I mean the only song I really enjoy is Memphis Will Be Laid to Rest and thats only cause of the sweet begining

[SandManTEND13]

WOW 87% for member's thats alittle to high I would think, I mean the only song I really enjoy is Memphis Will Be Laid to Rest and thats only cause of the sweet begining

[Handraa]

I thought it was a good album
different from anything they have done.

[12ave]

;-) True, Discipline Your Daughters doesn't seem like Norma Jean, look likes a Southern Rock / Metalcore like if they do it with Mayenne And The Soon Of Disaster. How could you say Self Employed Chemist And Discipline Your Daughters should be there, they are my favorite track with Viper, Snake And Actors and And There Will Be A Swarm Of Hornets.

Good review, maybie you should of talk of the progression from Bless The Child And Kiss The Martyr, cause people keep saying this bands get worst every album.

[Handraa]

;-) True, Discipline Your Daughters doesn't seem like Norma Jean, look likes a Southern Rock / Metalcore like if they do it with Mayenne And The Soon Of Disaster. How could you say Self Employed Chemist And Discipline Your Daughters should be there, they are my favorite track with Viper, Snake And Actors and And There Will Be A Swarm Of Hornets.

Good review, maybie you should of talk of the progression from Bless The Child And Kiss The Martyr, cause people keep saying this bands get worst every album.
Ha.
well they don't know what they are talking about then.
people need to stop holding on to past releases.

[Xianmusicfan]

I heard this when they streamed it on myspace...it was okay. I like Vipers, Snakes, and Actors, but the rest of album didn't really impress me. It wasn't bad by any means but it just didn't stick. Bless The Martyr is still my favorite

[airik625]

Another great review, Drew.

[goodnewsgeorge]

how's the song with cove sound?

[Klatzke]

I don't like any of their other albums, at all, and i liked this one.

[AndyReierson]

Some people should really stop holding on to Norma Jean's past releases.
Norma Jean is a phenomenal band and each release should be appreciated for its own qualities and distinctive sound. The anti-mother is an extremely solid and well crafted piece of art. If you can't accept and respect their growth well I suggest you go listen to some on-the-surface trash like bring me the horizon and the devil wears prada.
Kudos to Norma Jean for sticking to their guns while all the other metal-core warped tour bands spend some quality time fixing their hair and getting some sweet baddass tattoos that reel all the little boys and little girls in.

Thank you.

Bless The Martyr was good when it came out but compared to their recent material and where they are as a band now, its a steaming pile of metalcore excrement.

[AndyReierson]

This band is terrible.

Really terrible.

As in like, if the metalcore train crashed into a huge truck of suck, that would be this band.

Hahahahaha. I like Norma Jean but that made me laugh.

[youngmountain]

I really liked bless the martyr and O god the aftermath because they were solid, heavy and knew exactly what they were, the later albums sound really forced to me, this seems to follow the pattern, shame.

[youngmountain]

how's the song with cove sound?
I didn't like his bit when i heard it, nothing against Cove he just didnt really fit well in the song.

[Chalie22]

Does this band still sound like botch? Or did they move into a new "direction"

[Cheesus]

Good review! I can't figure out wtf the cover art is.

[FaceLixeMurder]

I really like this album, it is exactly what I wanted

[Handraa]

I didn't like his bit when i heard it, nothing against Cove he just didnt really fit well in the song.
i thought it sounded good...although it was like ten seconds or so..

[TheZeroKid]

Good review! I can't figure out wtf the cover art is.

I believe it's a heart with a swarm of bees around it, though it would make more sense if it was a swarm of hronets, so it could go with one of the song titles. Of course, they could in fact be hornets on the cover, I can't really tell the difference unless I'm looking at an encyclopedia.

It's a good album, I love how they're trying something new with their old sound. Hardcore and melodic. I like it.

[Nick Le]

Some people should really stop holding on to Norma Jean's past releases.
Norma Jean is a phenomenal band and each release should be appreciated for its own qualities and distinctive sound. The anti-mother is an extremely solid and well crafted piece of art. If you can't accept and respect their growth well I suggest you go listen to some on-the-surface trash like bring me the horizon and the devil wears prada.
Kudos to Norma Jean for sticking to their guns while all the other metal-core warped tour bands spend some quality time fixing their hair and getting some sweet baddass tattoos that reel all the little boys and little girls in.

I agree completely.

That said, I really love this album.

[Drew Beringer]

Does this band still sound like botch? Or did they move into a new "direction"
They don't sound like Botch Jr. anymore.

[knowthisx]

Some people should really stop holding on to Norma Jean's past releases.
Norma Jean is a phenomenal band and each release should be appreciated for its own qualities and distinctive sound. The anti-mother is an extremely solid and well crafted piece of art. If you can't accept and respect their growth well I suggest you go listen to some on-the-surface trash like bring me the horizon and the devil wears prada.
Kudos to Norma Jean for sticking to their guns while all the other metal-core warped tour bands spend some quality time fixing their hair and getting some sweet baddass tattoos that reel all the little boys and little girls in.

Because old Norma Jean sounds like Bring Me the Horizon?:-|

One would think that enjoying previous releases by a band would be part of being a fan of said band.

God, that rhymed unintentionally.

[d00d81that]

i actually like this album. it sounds solid. tis a good listen (: doesnt seem like norma jean is gettin much love for this release, but its just about their growth as a band... i suppose?

[Handraa]

i actually like this album. it sounds solid. tis a good listen (: doesnt seem like norma jean is gettin much love for this release, but its just about their growth as a band... i suppose?
i agree.
it was a very very good record.
one of those where you could listen to it from the beginning and not skip through a song.

[hailthewarrior]

your writing lately is superb drew.

[yummysushi]

took a few listens but i LOVE this record. phenomenal job. good review.

[Forevercali5]

great review drew...

...i've only listened to The Anti-Mother once (since i just picked it up on my lunch break) and the slow melodic songs did kind of throw me off....but overall i liked what i heard at first listen. I think its great that they are taking a chance musically... Redeemer is still better....but maybe this album will grow on me once i listen to it again...

Lyric-wise, they're still as amazing as ever.

[iAMhollyood315]

Did you even listen to the new album before saying that? And if so, why are they terrible in your opinion?


probably because his definition of "metal" is bands like In Flames. I wouldn;t expect kids over there to listen to bands like Norma Jean and like them.

[littlebeav]

Had the best breakdowns off that album it was just amazing. It's up there with Memphis, Liarsenic, and a Small Spark. IMO. Death of the Anti Mother and Discipline your daughters was good too.

Why didn't you like that song?

I'm so with you on that one. I love that song. But, being a gigantic old school Deftones fan, "Surrender Your Sons" gives me chills. I just love the sound. I don't even know the words at all.

[Drew Beringer]

I'm so with you on that one. I love that song. But, being a gigantic old school Deftones fan, "Surrender Your Sons" gives me chills. I just love the sound. I don't even know the words at all.
Deftones love!

[I'm DC]

Self Employed Chemist sounds more like Senses Fail than From First to Last in my opinion.

Good record though, I enjoy it!

[Chemical Love]

I love this album more every time I listen to it.

[weworemasks]

eh, they should've kept sounding like botch. some good shit on here, but a weak release.

[demondays524]

I'm not normally a Norma Jean fan, but I'm impressed with this album.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Not digging much of the melody but nice review

[Greg.Kushlan]

This is really the only norma jean album I can stand. I love the more post hardcore sound it has compared to their past albums.

[iseethesun123]

This is an amazing record. I love it. They have totally progressed in a good way

[drudo182]

Just bought it and am about to start it up but I'm kind of surprised at the lower ratings given. Most places have given it quite high marks.

[xobstacleonex]

Does this band still sound like botch? Or did they move into a new "direction"

pretty sure you mean the chariot.

norma jean has gone in a completely different direction, which is admirable.

[dmb]

the drums hit like Josh Hamilton

That's the best line I've ever read in a review... great analogy

[Drew Beringer]

That's the best line I've ever read in a review... great analogy
haha thanks, I'm always looking for quirky analogies.

[dantar]

this album is really good.
listen to it yourself before judging it based on everyone else's opinions.
if you're expecting a ton of breakdowns & boring music then you won't like this album at all.
if you like interesting & well crafted, passionate music then give this a chance.


i also enjoy reading all these comments w/ people getting album & song titles wrong..

[werealldudes19]

i gotta get this

[genericmadness]

Does this band still sound like botch? Or did they move into a new "direction"

This band hasn't sounded like Botch for a couple of albums now.

[eskaparate]

this is def more accessible than their other albums. kinda what the DEP did with their last one. i dig.

[drudo182]

Don't compare them to Botch. I'm so sick of that.

They should have shed that name with Redeemer. With this new one they should even further.

[deepsd]

i think this release is horrible. i mean what was NORMA JEAN thinking, i can understand putting more melody in it and expanding their horizons musically but this is just not good. what happened to the great song writing of O' GOD THE AFTERMATH. that was an amazing album and REDEEMER was good but not the best it seemed really childish and just breakdowns and not song writing. im sorry i would not advise picking up this album at all.

[maxrabkin]

What happened NJ? O' God The Aftermath is one of my favorite cds of all time.

The drumming on this is meh at best.
No memorable parts whatsoever.
Sigh. I'll just keep listening to O' God and think of good times.

What's sad though is that they'll stop playing songs like Liarsenic or Dillemachine to get this new stuff out there. Guess I won't be seeing them live anytime soon.

[oldwirehands]

This was like Redeemer for me. There are few solid track and the rest is garbage. I love "Surrender Your Sons..." though. That is a cool song. Overall, nothing with beat O' God The Aftermath. That was their last solid album. All the songs they've written afterward have either been mediocre or just garbage.

[LikeEatingGlass]

Well, I started enjoying this album from the first listen through.

What I've noticed most across the span of the CDs in terms of Branden's vocals is he's moved from a shout that blurs together, to a nicely fleshed out deeper growl. He takes the time to annunciate his words a lot more clearly. Listen to a tk from O' God and then one from Anti and it's so apparent. Better production values have helped too.

Musically O' God is a better listen.

[inflabby]

haha they should have gone post metal without corey. Think "Pretty Soon, I dont know what , but somethings gonna happen" from the bless the martyr record. That song is just beef and chaos. i miss that old norma jean vibe. They could be up there with isis or neurosis if they took that step.

[mich3ll3]

New fans or old fans people will either hate this album, love it, or be okay with it.

Right now honestly I hate it with the few listens. It's not that it's horrible, but it bores me. Norma Jean has been my favorite band for three years and half, and they were always that type of band that I just pop in a cd and it would drive me nuts. I give them props for trying to not make the same thing all over again, evolving, and trying to be more melodic-but so far this cd for me just doesn't do it.

I still love them, they're my favorite band, and I'll keep trying to listen to The Anti Mother...but if I had just found about this band yesterday and their new cd, I'd think they're creative, but so boring. And nah it's not that I need them to have a lot of breakdowns to listen to them because not all I listen to is metalcore.

[xobstacleonex]

This band hasn't sounded like Botch for a couple of albums now.

bingo

[Cheesus]

Did anyone else get weird vibes from their producer in the youtube studio blogs?? I know he has done decent work in the past but it seemed like HE was writing the Norma Jean album and fucking it up at that.

Someone else watch them and let me know.

[arson]

I've never really been into Norma Jean, but I bought "The Anti Mother" and I really love it. However, since this is the first Norma Jean record I'm paying a lot of attention to, I can't compare it to their past releases.

[DivisionStreet]

Sounds like Thrice meets Deftones to me.

[SexyJeff]

i actually like this album. it sounds solid. tis a good listen (: doesnt seem like norma jean is gettin much love for this release, but its just about their growth as a band... i suppose?

That's exactly it. People still compare their new stuff to Bless The Martyr because they're still living in 2002. It's been that way since O' God partly due to the whole Scogin leaving thing. There is that reason, but apparently it just isn't acceptable for any band in the "scene" to evolve and grow. You'll always have those haters who dream that NJ would've rehashed Bless The Martyr 124293697 times.

I know I'm gonna get some asshole on my case for saying this, but I'm glad Scogin left NJ. Bless The Martyr wasn't as great as everyone makes it out to be. I go back and listen to it and can barely make it 1/2 the way through without turning it off. Stop being elitist assholes

[wypij]

it's good.. "murphy was an optimist" is an interesting song.. i like it a lot for some reason.

this release has made me think twice about norma jean. i like them more now.

[Electric Child]

the drums on this album are so fucking boring for the most part.

[AshesAshes]

Good review, I enjoyed this album more than expected

[iamthehulk]

the drums on this album are so fucking boring for the most part.

Norma Jean - Daniel Davison = rubbish + Ross Robinson (produced Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot) = utter excrement

...my recommendation: go ask Matt Goldman to help you make right your wrongs (aka: Redeemer and The Anti Mother)

[inflabby]

Norma Jean - Daniel Davison = rubbish + Ross Robinson (produced Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot) = utter excrement

...my recommendation: go ask Matt Goldman to help you make right your wrongs (aka: Redeemer and The Anti Mother)
daniel davison was outstanding , he played for O god era and had some cool sounding chops, dellamachine, absentimental, liarsenic. now thats pretty tight.

[Rubbersoul87]

very good

i like the experimental, post- hardcore vibe

[abusedcat]

Really good.
Haven't enjoyed a heavy album in quite some time.
It's very intelligent, a thinking man's metal album.

[drudo182]

I am still heavily into this album. I love it. It just gets better and better with every listen.

[HowlinDog]

This is a very good album you have to go into it without preconceived notions or using past albums as a reference

[vakuola]

I like this album, tho "Opposite of left and wrong" and "discipline your daughters" are really mediocre tracks.

[WasteofPaint31]

That's exactly it. People still compare their new stuff to Bless The Martyr because they're still living in 2002. It's been that way since O' God partly due to the whole Scogin leaving thing. There is that reason, but apparently it just isn't acceptable for any band in the "scene" to evolve and grow. You'll always have those haters who dream that NJ would've rehashed Bless The Martyr 124293697 times.

I know I'm gonna get some asshole on my case for saying this, but I'm glad Scogin left NJ. Bless The Martyr wasn't as great as everyone makes it out to be. I go back and listen to it and can barely make it 1/2 the way through without turning it off. Stop being elitist assholes

How can you not make it the entire way through Bless the Martyr? Its one of the only heavy cds I can see myself listening too for the rest of my life. Everything else they have done is ok but completely forgettable. Scogin is what made Norma Jean, and this new NJ will never be able to do anything a quarter as good as BTMAKTC or anything The Chariot has done.

[Klatzke]

How can you not make it the entire way through Bless the Martyr? Its one of the only heavy cds I can see myself listening too for the rest of my life. Everything else they have done is ok but completely forgettable. Scogin is what made Norma Jean, and this new NJ will never be able to do anything a quarter as good as BTMAKTC or anything The Chariot has done.
Scogin is so incredibly overrated.

[kwill063]

the album as a whole is quite incredible. the song Opposite of Left and Wrong
is probably my current favorite..couldn't be any more amazing.

[BlesstheMartyr7]

this cd is amazing. but i dont think The Devil Wears PRada is on the surface trash. They are one of the most unique bands out there.

[BruisedxBroken]

this cd is amazing. but i dont think The Devil Wears PRada is on the surface trash. They are one of the most unique bands out there.

I gave TDWP a fair shake more than once, even wanted to like them, but no dice. To me, they're everything that's wrong with metalcore. Horribly generic music, weak lyrics, fashioncore image and breakdowns that ruin what could have been a barely listenable sound. The screaming is decent, but the growling is completely unnecessary. Althought admittedly, i'm not a fan of gutteral growling in any form.

As for Anti-mother, I feel like NJ strayed too far away from the hardcore sound i'm comfortable with. I'm not a tones fan, but the colab w/ chino was actually one of the few bright spots for me. Bless the child and the aftermath were both too brutal for my tastes, but redeemer found that happy medium between heavy and melodic that bands like underoath and burden of a day have perfected. I still dig this band a lot, if only for Redeemer, I just hope they're able to add a bit more straight-ahead hardcore to their next release.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

Scogin is so incredibly overrated.

true

[COREhorizon]

I love this album, I didn't think I would as much as I do. It's different to their older stuff, reminds me of ETID in a way. *****
yeah, just like ETID (even some riffs)
and I liked the album, it just gets boring after like 3 songs

[MBIIdollaBill]

I was lied to... I thot Moreno was also featured on Robots Humans... so I guess its ok that I couldn't hear him on the track, I am not insane (at least not for that reason)

[MBIIdollaBill]

wait i just checked the wikipedia page and it sez that both Rever and Moreno are on robots humans... wat am i missing???

[RickyRotten]

Most people have no idea how good this album is. It easily exceeds any expectation of this Genre. Most people will not comprehend its magnitude by any stretch of the imagination. Its like trying to explain why a Gibson Les paul is better than an Ibanez Les Paul designed guitar. Its above your head if you don't have an adequate appreciation for music you will never get it. Most are not deserving of it, The Anti-Mother...... hell what its about is enough in itself.

[blessphemy]

re-listened to this to get pumped for the new one...i liked it much more than i first did i guess the anti-mother is a fine wine...

[stellaband]

The anti mother in my opinion has some of the best songs these dudes have made... def the most creative songs even though O God was insane and redeemer was solid. This cd was another norma jean classic

[92kevjam]

Pretty good review. The buzzing in the last 4 minutes of the album gets annoying after listening to it for a while again and again