I heard some of the new songs a couple of times live already before this album came out. This was very promising so I was looking forward to this release. The song which made such a huge impression on me during their live shows was "nobody takes pictures of the drummer" because there is this contagious riff which goes as a leitmotiv through this song and this track definitely is THE killer on this album. This riff is the kind of tune you want as a ringtone on your cell phone. But don't get me wrong, the rest of the album definitely is worth listening to as well. Nora is a rock machine which holds your attention for the full length of this album. The beautiful artwork complete another killer release by Trustkill records.

Hitting us hard with messages of having a clean conscience, respecting women and having the strength and power to continue, Nora have released an absolutely brutal album in "Loser's Intuition". This NJ hardcore/metalcore band rip the listener into tiny peices with ferocious vocal styles, powerful riffs and battering drum work. On their Trustkill debut full-length, Nora have not changed much since their earlier EPs, but they have definately improved on their songwriting skills and worked hard on their music quality. Carl Severson unleashes some of the most bloodthirsty vocal styles I have ever heard, delivering ruthless raw screams and barks that are sure to crush the weak in their path. If it wasn't for the neat set out of lyrics and song meanings in the cover booklet, noone would have any idea what he was saying or singing about. Many people may find his approach rather boring after awhile, but without Severson's presense on these tracks they would definately lose a great deal of their intensity and venom. This album is very good lyrically, touching topics that do need attention, and ultimately posting a message that things can be better than what they are. With a dual guitar attack that has the power and ferocity to rival any band out there, Nora have quite a good groove in their tracks supplied by the guitars. The deep grooving bass lines add a great amount of violence to this bands sound, while the hard hitting snare and heavy kick work in the drum section rounds off this bands intimidating approach. Overall, this is an impressive beastly album that will take hold of the listener and bash them until they are black and blue. Although this album is very solid from start to finish, it doesn't really have any dynamic changes or breakdowns that will jump out and take the listener by surprise, and this could make the album less appealing to some people. In saying that, it will be hard to top this effort next time around, but with a little more experimentation I believe Nora can really shine in today's hardcore/metalcore scene.

I didn't know what to think at first, but now I know. This band plays brutal hardcore with some of the harshest vocals I've heard in a long time. The music is brutal in an overtly aggressive way, yet it finds time to breathe and it leaves with a sense of purpose. The purpose, in this case, being each song built around lyrics about the frustration of women being in second class roles, personal awakenings in life, peer pressures of being assimilated in society, etc. Nora is refreshing to listen to because they help you understand their anger and frustration by explaining their songs. It seems as if most bands have little to say about why they are mad, but not Nora.

Take your ideas of what hardcore should be and multiply that by about 5 fold… and that’s a glimpse into what Nora’s first full-length album is all about. With the release of “Loser’s Intuition”, Nora saw what hardcore was becoming, split off with their own genre twist and made something almost entirely new. While most albums of the same genre seem to be getting tedious and repetitive, Nora is quite the polar opposite. With the noticeable exception of the ordinary hardcore screams, every song maintains its own originality. The music is incredibly lashing and dynamic with hammering beats and inventive guitar pieces. Although the overwhelming vocal delivery does actually get a little boring after a few listens, its dismissable. Lyrically this is a remarkable album, tackling a wide array of topics from individual realization to desensitization due to media, in addition to one song entitled “Nobody Takes Pictures Of The Drummer," which contains a well-rounded and well put point about the ever-so-popular subject of “selling out”. How much can you do on one album while staying within the limitations of one genre? Take a listen and you tell me; I can’t remember the last time I sat down and listened to an album that had song after song capture me like this. Every song has unique groove that never seems to let up. This isn’t one of those albums that is only good for one song that you’ll probably end up ripping to MP3 and burning onto a CD. If you asked what song to check out I would probably rattle off the album's entire track listing. This is the first full-length recording for Nora, which is going to make it hard to follow-up and keep the hardcore kids at bay. While I’m amazed by their originality, I can't help but wonder if they can pull this off again. The pressure is on! I can’t wait to see what Nora delivers next.

Officially Nora's first full-length, despite their four-year existence - after two EPs, Kill You For A Dollar and Neverendingyouline, and a split with the Dillinger Escape Plan - Loser's Intuition is their first gasp in years, after a brief break-up and line-up retooling, and is an excellent return to form, surpassing the achievements of past releases but shedding the sonic deadwood that threatened Nora's past works with repetitious tedium. Musically, Loser's Intuition is rife with the discordant noisecore pioneered by legendary fellow NJ natives Deadguy, and the mighty Turmoil, yet possesses sufficient breakdowns and a linear song construction to appeal to hardcore's mosh-happy contingent. Nora's mix of complexity and simplicity walks a fine line, as they risk alienating some and boring others, but with the complicated-core sub-genre growing increasingly self-indulgent, and moshcore increasingly banal, Loser's Intuition is an album that cuts through both in a violent and captivating way. 'Wave Goodbye' and 'Nobody Takes Pictures of the Drummer' plow and pummel, switching back and forth between mid-paced metallic battering, dissonant guitar work, viciously brutal throat abuse and hardcore runs. But it's with 'For The Travelers,' the original album title, that Nora hits the hardest, offering anthemic vocally shredding, catchy riffs, a shifting tempo, brief Godflesh-inspired discord coupled with an urgency and a straddling of their various styles to greatest effect. Song explanations and artwork by Derek Hess only add to the musical power of Loser's Intuition, which is a punishingly proficient release and a welcome return.

This hardcore-metal five-piece from New Jersey, Nora, aren't exactly doing anything new, but what they're doing is absolutely brutal. "Loser's Intuition" features crisp production and a tight performance of barely restrained musical violence. The lyrics sheet is nicely fleshed out with short explanations of what the songs are supposed to be about, which is handy as you can never understand guys who sing like this. Fans of Converge and Coalesce, short hair and short fuses should check it out.

The truth speaks, and it is angry. New Brunswick’s own Nora deliver a full-on assault from a group of five friends who believe that the future can be better than the present. Matt Haick, Carl Severson, Chris Ross, Spliedt, and Portland — the latter two, it should be noted, are members of the Daily Targum’s productions staff — lash out against injustice, unequal treatment and meaningless personal existences. Loser’s Intuition is a message from and for those who know that change is possible. Musically, the guitarists have done an amazing job escaping the trappings of traditional hardcore. Evil dissonant chords dominate the space not taken up by power chords, however it is the way the two guitars mesh and clash that makes Nora stand apart from their peers. Their formula is simple and brutal, avoiding the emo-core leanings that many hardcore bands seem to have adopted. They keep their messages at the front, their guitars crunching, and their hearts deep into the music. The band utilizes this straightforward approach to its fullest. No special studio tricks, no hiding the mistakes, no trends. Just raw emotions and thoughts expressed through aggressive music. “Nobody Takes Pictures of the Drummer” sums up their views of the bands that have sold their souls to the bright lights, offering bullets for the hardcore heroes that have abandoned their beliefs, hearts and fans. All messages aside, however, Nora reveals a remarkable instrumental skill in the album’s more exploratory moments. The almost prog-rock feel of the middle section “My Bloody Clownsuit” is one of the brightest moments in the album, creating a dark but intriguing soundscape and further demonstrating the band’s true musical skill. The spoken word sections throughout the album — most notably in “My Bloody Clownsuit” and “Warthog” — give a stark but powerful contrast to the aggression of Nora’s full-on attack. Be warned, this album is not for the faint of ear. While well suited for the band’s feel, there’s a lot of screaming going on here. The vocals are in league with the guitars in terms of sonic grit and fury, outdone only by the bass rumble and drum thunder. There’s plenty of rage on this album, to say the least. Severson’s vocals can be difficult to understand, but the venom behind the words is always clear. While a lot of the lyrical anger is used on well-worn topics, Nora actually takes a good look at some problems that people seem to have forgotten. Women’s rights get a push in “Mudmonster,” and the trappings of jobs and life get shredded in “Leadpipe Moment,” asking “Afraid to try?/Are you alive?” The band’s bio states that their name is based on the Latin word “Nora,” which means “the honorable one” or “light,” in keeping with the band’s mission statement. Of course, they also base the name on the girl from “Pump up the Volume,” but that doesn’t seem quite as relevant. Perhaps the ideals of the band and album are best summed up in a line from “Kill You For a Dollar,” “it could have been so much better than this." Stand up, fight for your beliefs, and improve your life. Nora is here to make you realize what’s going on, and that there is still time for change. With all that’s going on in today’s world, theirs is a voice of reason that should be heard.

Early on a lot of people compared the driving fury of New Jersey's Nora as a band that was reminiscent of, say, Converge and Coalesce, though with heavier vocals. The comparisons were accurate enough, but Nora has definitely refueled the intensity and direction then some since their last disc 'The Neverendingyouline.' Singer Carl Severson (could he be related to "Doc" Severson on 'The Tonight Show'?) is out of control on this disc, his ear-piercing hardcore screams leading the metallic guitars and bashing drum blasts as they kick it into high hardcore groove throughout most of this spastic 'Loser's Intuition' disc. No question Nora deserves the kind words and praising in the press they have received over the years, 'cause they always deliver, each time in a more aggressive shape and form (check out "Leadpipe Movement" and "My Bloody Clownsuit.") While a lot of hardcore bands out there nowadays are trying to be unique or technical, Nora are a brutal hardcore band that have the right 'intuition' to just turn it up, crank out the numbers and take as many people as they can with them. God bless Nora!

BAND OF THE MONTH It's hard to believe this is Nora's debut full-length. It feels like these guys have been around forever. But actually, the New Jersey fivesome hasn't released anything since their 'Neverendingyouline' EP on Trustkill Records. Their musical approach hasn't changed drastically since then, but they've definitely improved their songwriting skills and shored up their level of conistency. Then again, these guys had plenty of time to get their sh*t together, so we were expecting nothing less. The cool thing about Nora is their business-like approach. This is blue-collar hardcore. Strains of Hatebreed, old Earth Crisis, and myriad metallic influences are abound as this band comes in, plays loud, screams hard, says what they want to say, and leaves without the drama. From start to finish, this CD is a no-frills reminder of how powerful hardcore can be. Nora knows how to work a gritty groove, and fortunately they do it quite a few times on this album. Things get off to a very solid start with the opener, "Wave Goodbye". On this fiery track, Nora avoids the repetition they've dangerously flirted with in the past and delivers a compelling collection of brutal riffs and sick breakdowns. Hell, the first three songs are killer. The ending of "Warthog" is one of the most pleasingly heavy things I've heard all year, courtesy of Nora's solid rhythm section. Vocalist Carl Serverson will never be applauded for his expansive vocal range. And while some may find his monotone delivery less than captivating, let's face it, he has a presence that demands attention. There are plenty of vocalists out there with more innate talent than this guy, but very view are able to harness their power like Severson (listen to him belt out the line 'What about standing up?' in "Leadpipe Moment"). Don't forget to read the succinct lyrics either. Tackling such subject matter as the money-grubbing media and the lack of respect for women in today's culture, these songs are rife with conviction, which is nice to see. And for each song, there is an accompanying explanation of its lyrics and what they mean. We've said it before, and we'll say it again; we really like it when bands do that. A few of these tracks are unable to sustain the energy generated by the first few tracks, but this really is an amazingly consistent effort. I can't name one song that sucks. In addition to the aforementioned tracks, other album highlights include "Bring It", "For The Travelers", and "Mudmonster". Oh yeah, the cover art by Derek Hess is pretty damn cool too. Bottom Line: For those of you that only have a limited amount of dough to spend on music each month, it would behoove you to be cautious when purchasing records. One need not proceed with caution when approaching this record though. It's just plain good.

This is Nora's first full-length album and I must say it is a great album. I think this album is far better than anything they have previously released. It's the same old crazy metalcore, but has a very melodic, groovy feel to it. Carl's vocals seem a little more clearer and that makes a great difference. From start to finish, this album rocks and there are hardly any disappointments. The opening track, "Wave Goodbye," will grab your attention and show you how far Nora has come since their last release. My favorite tracks are "Lead Pipe Moment" and "Bring It" and I think many people will relate to these songs. Nora portrays a very positive message with songs that deal with social, political, and personal issues. They even re- recorded "Kill You For A Dollar" which sounds great, but not as good as the original because there is a noticeable scream missing towards the end. It's nothing major, but I noticed it and I loved that part. Overall, this is another great release from Nora and Trustkill Records that will definitely find its way onto people's top albums of the year lists.

This is Nora’s first full length, though they have been at it for quite some time. It has been just over a year since some major lineup changes, and that time was spent solidifying the lineup, and working on this record. Nora’s brand of hardcore is pretty straight ahead, and repetitive, though there are still more than enough changes to keep things interesting. There is a very over the top feel to the whole record, the guitars are relentless, as are the vocals, with occasional spoken breaks. Everything is over the top, but keeps from feeling cheesy which isn’t easy to pull off. The contrast in the style’s within the songs on this record is even impressive. One of the best examples of that is also one of the best songs on the record, “Nobody Takes Pictures of the Drummer”. The highs and lows in the tempo and feel of the song are a good example of how the record works as a whole. “Leadpipe Moment” is the other real highlight here, though I hear something new every time I listen to this, and I find myself into all ten tracks at one time or another. Overall this is a very good hardcore record. Hopefully this isn’t the last we’ve heard from Nora.

Somewhere in the badlands of chaotic hardcore and devouring the same food as Fall Silent and Converge, we can see Nora. Shortly after the great "Neverendingyouline" the band takes their constructed chaos a step further. On the faster parts on this album you know Nora will be come the band that invented the new rock n roll for the 21st century. Their mix of different styles and influences are an adventure to the listeners’ ears, and it will leave you breathless before you reach the end of the 10 songs. Get the vinyl version (if it exists which I’m not certain of), the artwork is great.

Holy shit. I liked the last EP, but this kills! The disc kicks off immediately and never lets up: Rhythmic and diverse hardcore with equal parts discordant noise and solid, catchy riffing with hints of unique melody interspersed throughout. And don't forget those unnerving screaming vocal attacks. Most of the songs are quick, less than three minutes, but tons of changes really keep it busy, they rarely sit still on one riff. The material has some of that Botch-esque zaniness going on, but this is more controlled and makes for smoother transitions between different patterns. Pounding basslines and rock solid percussion are always the foundation, regardless of potential guitar/vocal madness. And the production? Huge! Totally perfect. very dense and evenly textured. An amazing sound, this is one of the best sounding records I've heard in a while. The lyrics are also fucking fabulous. I think this is the first time in an entire year that I've actually read through all of the lyrics/explanations in one sitting. The explanations are brief and to the point, as the content isn't forced. In fact, not only is the content genuine and intelligent, but it flows with ease, arranged more like thought patterns as they occur than anything else. Topics include everything from disgust for the mistreatment of women to media desensitization and taking control of your own life. Visually the artwork was handled by Derek Hess and there's a lot of text, so things are consistent and haphazard all at once. This is an enormous record, I'm really impressed. I knew I was going to dig this, but to what degree I hadn't a clue.

Nora's latest effort is a bruising journey through the dark alley's of urban New Jersey, taking shape in the form of brutish display of hardcore/metalcore. Complete with the occasional death metal overtones, the group barrel forth like a more focused Converge as they recklessly swerve and grind with their relentless brand of distorted might. Band frontman Carl Severson's throaty vocals sound as if he's literally had a grater taken to his voice box, lunging forth with crushing amounts of raw, visceral screams and barks that can bring to mind a more resilient Coalsece combined with the occasional spoken word interlude. Guitar wise the album is overflowing with wrenching, noisy riffs, full of punchy distortion and speed metal influences that set a very hectic, almost chaotic pace for the music to flow on, while well rounded bass lines provide ample support and cement the searing sonic portion of this disc into a sharply violent direction. Meanwhile, the drum performance captured here is equally as pugnacious as its stringed compatriots, steamrollering forth with an energetic array of deep kick drum thuds and slightly loose snare hits that mold themselves into a blistering set of combative, intimidating beats. From start to finish "Loser's Intuition" is nothing short of an aural mugging, a vicious assault that doesn't let up until the listener is left in a bloody pulp. Featuring crisp production and songs that literally seethe with intensity, you'd be hard pressed to discount the band for their integrity and the genuine blood, sweat and tears they pour into their music. However, from start to finish this album is like a snowball rolling down a mountain, gaining speed and size, but rarely giving the listener a chance to catch their breath. There's definitely a lot of variation in place, but no real pronounced dynamic changes or breakdowns that really manage to take the listener by surprise. There's no question that this is a lethally potent album, but with a bit more experimentation, the material this group could craft would be able to practically dissect the listener into bits and pieces, rather than just merely break their bones with blunt objects like it does at present.

If you're, by any chance, collecting the top hardcore releases of 2001, be sure to pick up Nora's Loser's Intuition. The new album is fresh as hell-- better than anything previously released by the band. It's more creative, more diverse, more imaginative, and much more aggressive. It seems, also, that Nora has jumped to a much higher level of musical maturity. The album displays many different possible influences; there are traces of metal, traditional hardcore, and even some "older"-school and punkish riffs every here and there. Musically and vocally, the album is raw and intense...the vocal style gives off vibes of both complexity and maturity.  Loser's Intuition is an album that any hardcore fan should own and listen to.

I got this disc right before I went to the dentist for a few cavities to be filled. You know how when the dentist gets his almighty drill ready and it makes that horrific buzzing sound that when applied to the tooth causes instant disintigration? Yeah - well that's NORA in a nutshell. THIS IS INSANELY HEAVY. I think my fillings hurt just from the massive bass beats. "Loser's Intuition," is a 30 minute handbook in preparing yourself for a skull fracture. The music is utterly relentless and the approach is straight up metallic hardcore with an unhealthy amount of timing changes and mosh parts. There's no formula to be followed with NORA - no genericness, no comparisons, and few that can rival the sincerity of the lyrics. This band is composed of people who are largely involved in the scene in many ways (vocalist Carl Severson runs FERRET RECORDS), and the lyrics are honest and penned from the eyes of fans of hardcore and the accompaning activities. "The Travelers," is one of the most beautifully written songs I've ever heard and expresses the hardcore lifestyle in a way so clear and purposeful that it makes me 110% thankful for all that we have in this music. Another song that hits a nerve with a nail is "Warthog," written about the times and experiences that we go through that are often unpredictable and with adverse effects that leave us with no choice but to suck it up and adapt. I generally don't get too much out of a band when the music is this loud and intensive, but NORA do things that other bands just don't know how to, plus, Carl is one incredible screamer. Trustkill is always known for an all-around quality product, this is no slouch - the artwork is drop-dead gorgeous and the sound quality (courtesy of Trax East) is monstrous - just short of causing convulsions. It's mosherific with a tender, but battered heart attached.

Have you ever walked into your handy dandy local CD store and bought a CD cause it has a cool cover? Then...you get it home and hours later you find yourself using that very CD as a ninja star on your friends? Welp...no worries, that is not the case here. Nora's latest release is as crushing as the album cover featuring a screw driving through a flimsy body. Best cover of the year, and very easily could be the best hardcore record of 2001. "Loser's Intuition" musically reminds me a lot of VOD's "Imprint"effort, but the difference is this record is masterfully produced. The guitars have far more body then Nora's first release, and there is not a guaranteed structure in each song. This time around the band will throw a variety of changes in rhythm and drum beats, while the guitar licks have progressed to a new level since "Theneverendingyouline". With "Wave Goodbye" you are introduced to Nora's trademark energy. Carl unleashes bellows of pain. The axes at parts hammer out some killer riffs, and at other times they speed up while the drums flail almost uncontrollably. 3 minutes in chugah chugah chugah...and Carl let's the spit fly with "Watch out for their foot in your back. They're as blind as you are, they're as dead as you are, and you're in their way". Amen my brotha! How true is that? If you work in "Corporate America" this track will ring so fucking true! "My Bloody Clown Suit" is a subject that everyone should think about. It has to do with how accustom we have come to watching the news and seeing news bits about atrocities like murder, rape, and loss. All the while we continue to chew on our popcorn. Here the band mashes at the two-minute mark. Those super bruising guitar strings rear their head with the purpose to draw blood. Severson establishes himself as a man that is completely insane...and vocally incredible. The energy put forth is unmatched. Check this shit out! A series of high/low harmonic sounds are the calm before the storm in "Nobody Takes Pictures Of The Drummer". Here Nora shows off their newfound ability to change speeds on a turn of a dime. When they hit the throttle the band functions as a well-oiled machine with the intent to spill blood. The content has to do with something about lying rock stars. Ask the band! "Leadpipe Moment" is probably one of the best names for a hardcore song. And the music backs up the killer name. Guitars with an urgent tone greet you, a creeping bass lick from Spiedt peeks through, and from there a noisecoresque sound takes off. The middle part of the effort has a supper fast and high-pitched mini guitar solo. This gives away to a brutal section that allows Carl to rant about life and happiness. He goes on to make a point about how life is a fight for survival, and how each and every one of us works for "the man". Yet again the subject heading rings fucking true. Hardcore a lot of times is misunderstood by outsiders. But to me the biggest part of hardcore is knowing there are others that go through the same trials and tribulations as the rest of us. The entire CD has a down to earth approach that relates to the common man, but even more so to the common "hardcore kid". Energy, precision, angst, and unmatched musical talent...that is Nora's recipe to creating a hardcore record that to me raises the bar for all other hardcore bands. I think you will feel the same way!