Norma Jean + The Chariot + Dead & Divine @ Sheffield Corporation – 2nd March 2012
Witnessing tonight’s gig is the musical equivalent of being caught in the eye of the fiercest tornado in history! Not one, but two of the most exciting, unpredictable, thrilling live bands I’ve yet to witness playing on the same stage, supported by Canada’s finest metalcore group… This was always gonna be an epic night. And it surpassed expectations.
Hailing from Burlington, Ontario, Dead & Divine have tough, chunky riffs to spare! Solid grooves and an ear for melody, their tunes could make you wanna dance almost as much as they make you wanna punch something. The five-piece have been touring solidly for the best part of a decade and they thrive in a live environment. Matt Tobin’s vocals have just the right mix of grit, power and harmony. His bandmates aren’t too shoddy either, battering out rhythms while throwing themselves around the stage. Imagine a mix of fellow Canadians, Alexisonfire and Cancer Bats and you won’t be far off. Impressive stuff.
The Chariot‘s frontman, Josh Scogin, used to be vocalist in tonight’s headliners, Norma Jean. Since 2003, however, he’s been the driving force behind The Chariot, a band which truly defy categorisation. Throw around tags like mathcore, metalcore, etc if you will, but you’ll never sum up their disjointed, creative and visceral sound. This is the band’s second tour of the UK since releasing the critically acclaimed Long Live album at the end of 2010 and they are one band who really have to be seen live to be appreciated fully.
Tonight, they kick things off as they mean to go on, Scogin straddling the gap between the stage and the crowd, screaming into the faces at the front of the pit while the rest of the band physically abuse their instruments behind him. Tracks like Calvin Makenzie are as fierce as they are quirky and the whole band don’t let up for one second while they’re on stage. Not that the stage confines them! Scogin is all too happy to surf across the sea of arms in front of him and guitarist, Stevis, even takes his guitar into the crowd with him as fans mosh all around him. They even make their cover of The Who’s My Generation sound all their own. Quite simply, you never quite know what’s going to happen next. As it should be!
Headliners, Norma Jean, might be forgiven for being a little nervous following such impressive performances, but they take it all in their stride and deliver a set so immense that it’s clear why they have the pivotal spot on tonight’s bill. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, they’re here in support of their fifth album, Meridional. They don’t quite have the unpredictability of The Chariot but they make up for it with sheer power and in-your-face aggression. Their unique take on the metalcore genre, once described as “diverse and anti-traditional” has made them a much respected name on the scene and they’ve packed out The Corporation nicely tonight.
Cramming in tracks from all five albums, the set is paced excellently, with the highlight being a guest appearance by The Chariot’s vocalist during a quite brutal Memphis Will be Laid to Waste. The energy levels are so high that, after the last song of the night, drummer Chris Raines collapses on the floor while concerned bandmates and road crew gather around him. Never let anyone say Norma Jean don’t give it their all!
Norma Jean are one of the best live bands on the planet. Fact!
Review & photos – Steve Gerrard