Reviewed by Tony Cummings

One Cross Rhythms reviewer who heard this album was distinctly unimpressed, seemingly hearing little beyond a cacophonous noise. Q magazine on the other hand were enthusiastic. Certainly the music here is not for the faint hearted. It goes beyond metal and hardcore into a primal brew of cathartic pain. Vocalist Corey Brandon (formerly Eso-Charis) positively rages on the song "Bayonetwork". As he rasps "This is between me and this blade! And my heart," and the guitar, bass and drums rage around him the sound is brutal yet somehow retains a strange elegance. There are long instrumental passages and some hypnotic riffing and complex drum fills hinting that the band are moving slowly into prog metal. Since their club tours of the UK, Norma Jean have found a growing non-Christian audience. It remains to be seen though how much spiritual edification non-Christian headbangers will derive from 'O God, The Aftermath'. Even HM magazine commented that it was "so utterly mysterious, revolting, and deformed that the 'unsaved' won't realise its spiritual virility."

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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