Norma Jean + Liferuiner + Night Verses + Branson Hollis @ Birmingham O2 Academy – 27th April 2014

Norma Jean bring their ‘Wrongdoers’ tour to the second city this Sunday evening. On the back of their recent 2013 album, the album that was featured in top album lists all over the place during the end of the year. The praise wasn’t misplaced, the album was a master class in what metal can be and it was another move forward for Norma Jean. With them, they bring Night Verses, a relatively new band formed in 2012 after lead singer Douglas Robinson, formerly of post hardcore boys The Sleeping, witnessed a performance by unknown Post Rock group known as The Sound Archives. They hooked up, practised together and immediately joined forces to create Night Verses. Also on the line-up this evening was Canadian melodic hardcore  band Liferuiner, who I wasn’t familiar with but was keen to hear, as I’d heard good things about them.

Having been subject to the Sunday Service on the trains, I was a little late, meaning I missed first band, Branson Hollis, but I arrived in time to see Night Verses finishing their soundcheck. They jumped head first into their set pretty much straight after finishing soundcheck. Already the energy of frontman Douglas was plain to see, as he jumped around the stage like a man possessed. Drummer, Aric Improta plays with incredible precision and undoubted drum skill while also having the energy of a chihuahua on steroids. ‘Time Erases Time (Strung Out)’ shows off some of the effect-heavy guitars that are a staple of Night Verses’ sound and ‘I’ve Lost My Way Back Down’ sees Douglas soaking the stage with sweat as he spastically shakes his head around. The band show off considerable talent tonight, they play intricate riffs, complex rhythms and emotive vocals while also managing to sound dirty and aggressive. It’s just a shame that the room is barely half full to witness their undoubted talent.

Liferuiner hit the stage next, well, most of them do. Vocalist Jonny O’Callaghan chooses to stay in the crowd as he feels he can connect with the crowd more if he is down on their level. He wanders side to side, imposing himself on the whole room, and it’s definitely achieving the desired effect, as people can’t take their eyes off him. His deep guttural screams throughout the set never let up and they perfectly compliment the heaviness of the rest of the band. While you could forgive them for sitting back and just playing while Jonny does his stuff, this is far from what they do. The energy levels never let up, with the freedom of the stage the band are constantly jumping around and just generally have a good time. The band are on their third line up change, after originally starting as a twisted jokey take on the usual straight edge hardcore bands that were everywhere at the time. The band was then reformed with a completely different line-up, now original frontman Jonny has returned. Its all very confusing, but the band mainly play songs from their newest album ‘Future Revisionists’, their first album in this lineup. A lot of it is pretty generic kind of hardcore, Jonny’s vocals sound brutal throughout though and they get the crowd nicely warmed up for Norma Jean.

Norma Jean have always been a band that strives for perfection, ever since debut album ‘Bless The Martyr And Kiss The Child’ they have been leading the way for metalcore bands. Numerous member changes and five albums later, they only have one original member left, guitarist Chris Day. But over the course of the four albums with now lead vocalist Cory Brandon, they have proved that they are one of the most flexible bands in the genre. With each album sounding different to the one proceeding it. They’re current tour sees them promoting latest and, in my opinion, their best album yet, ‘Wrongdoers’.

Opening with ‘Anthem Of The Angry Brides’ they have the crowd in their hand completely. Cory is perching on the barrier throughout, with members of the crowd climbing upon each other just to shout the hook ‘You’re not getting under my skin’. The crowd throughout was very mixed, with a select dozen happy to be bashed about on the barrier while the rest stood back and enjoyed the show. This did however create a large empty gap in the middle of the room. For a band such as Norma Jean I’m sure they would be a little disappointed with the turn out, for such a small room they really should have been packing it out. Though I don’t think the fact that it was on a Sunday really helped their plight.

Nevertheless, they pile through the set, which is very short, but features a nice mix of songs from their back catalogue. With an obvious focus on newer material, the best of the bunch is undoubtedly the title track ‘Wrongdoers’, one of the more melodic tracks of the evening, but a track that is still aggressive in its own right. Ending the set with the huge fan favourite ‘Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste’, with Cory once again inviting the crowd to strain their voices into the mic. It’s a fantastic end to the evening where Norma Jean once again demonstrate why they’re such a good band, not just within the metalcore scene which they have wrongly been lumped in.

Review – Francis Sebestjanowicz
Photos – Steve Gerrard

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