It’s an ominous start from chanting, rising organs, and an outburst of frantic riffing crafting one of the best album openers. Delivering Hard Rock courtesy of guitarist Zander Brown with strong messages belted out by the fierce Taylor-Grace commanding the front. Fiercely independent, the album is completely in-house and a testament to these two exceptional musical talents.
The title track ‘Go Hard Or Go Home’ kicks the album off properly, and for those uninitiated, we are introduced to Taylor-Grace’s ear-rupturing vocals. A full-throttle Beth Hart after a gargle of whisky, over driving riffs matched by the tub-thumbing drums keeping everything in check. The track also gives a brief glimpse into the tight and impressive phrasing of Zander Brown on guitar. It’s a short and precise solo that is well thought-out and fits perfectly within the folds of the track.
Third track in, and there is a slight change to the direction again with track ‘Feral’, which is pure power rock straight from the 80s. Taylor-Grace takes on the rock siren roll over Zander’s beefy palm-muted fretwork. Again, the band’s guitarist’s fingers deliver an immaculate with a smouldering few bars of magic. It’s the third track, and I already think this is one of the year’s albums for me.
The stadium rock riffing of ‘Who I Am’ is a chance for Zander to stretch himself—a track inspired from having PTSD, and looking at trauma in a different light. The message is essential to this band and is a key difference that has them standing out over their contemporaries. The recent electric single ‘Family Photo’ carries on the personal lyrics, with Taylor-Grace commenting, “This track is one of the toughest I’ve written. When I was born, a relative disowned me for being a girl. I’ve heard people praise this person highly to me, saying ‘they’re still your relative’ when they’ve never deserved it. I didn’t realise how it affected me until I started writing it. It’s for all those people who have been disowned for reasons they can’t control.”
Two powerful tracks regarding powerful subjects. Not Now Norman is not a one-dimensional rock act, albeit one with some serious talent for songcraft. But they are a band with important things to say. Something that comes to the fore with the track ‘Mama’ is the beautiful, passionate lyrics set to gentle synths, explosive synths, and lung-busting choruses. What a track! These guys do tension so well, and the guitar solo is face-melting.
The band wear their influences proudly, and the classic rock vein running a string through these tracks, the West Coast vibe of ‘Midnight Sun’, the pounding middle finger to a previous ex who was the king of man-spinners on ‘Mister Know It All’—a vocal tour de force with a drop of cowbell. Zander Brown’s measured yet electric playing is highly tasteful and manages to enhance the tracks and not be all about the show. The guy can play without a doubt but his ability to keep things restrained and his lyrical phrasing is some of the finest work I have heard in a long while.
Interestingly, Inspired by the North Korean government, ‘King Of A Wasted Land’ brings acoustic guitars into the fray. Finally, Zander is giving free rein, on not one but two solos, to fully use the full length of the fretboard, to this listener’s delight.
The album wouldn’t be the same with Taylor-Grace’s lyrical genius. ‘Bad Liar’ exemplifies this with witty drama infused lyrics regarding 2 of her best friends who were cheated on by their partners. ‘Bad Liar’ was born as a therapy for them. Spat with an undercurrent of anger that flows into ‘Why Don’t You Like Me?! an anthem to all the people badly affected by bullying and trolling.
Melding fast cars and women, ‘Green Light’ is a fast and furious “fun track that points fun at songs with corny lyrics about cars and good-looking women.” The Hair metal ballad vibe is strong on this one, and the result is a smoking sundown classic.
The cover of Britney Spears ‘Toxic is a bonus for those who purchase the album, though the 12 tracks beforehand are enough to spend the cash. Taylor-Grace says, “I felt like I was holding back on our debut album, ‘It’s Not This One,’ after its release. That is very much not the case with the band’s second. Everything, and I mean everything, has gone into it.
Check out the track Mama, below
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