Norma Jean (band)
Encyclopedia
Norma Jean is an American metalcore
band from Douglasville, Georgia
, a suburb of Atlanta
. Since their inception in 1997 and replacement of members throughout the years, the band's only original member is the guitarist, Chris Day. To date, Norma Jean has released five studio albums and received a Grammy Award
nomination in 2006 for Best Recording Package
for their second album O God, the Aftermath
. The band's name is derived from the real name of actress Marilyn Monroe
.
, the original Norma Jean line-up featured everyone from the final Luti-Kriss lineup, except a different bass player. Drummer Daniel Davison (writer of much of the bands material), explained that the band got their name from actress Marilyn Monroe
, whose real name is Norma Jeane Baker. It was not until after they decided upon that name that they found out that "Norma" means "pattern", and "Jean" means "God's grace and mercy", combined saying "Patterns of grace and mercy". In 2002 the band released Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
on Solid State Records
. Their original vocalist Josh Scogin
left the band shortly after the release of Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, stating that "it was just something that I felt led to do." Scogin has been known to join in with Norma Jean during live performances to sing "Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste" since his departure. Original bassist Joshua Doolittle also left the band around the same time as Scogin. Doolittle was replaced by Jake Schultz. Scogin left the band and later went on to start The Chariot
; he was replaced by Brad Norris for about a year and a half.
, Living Sacrifice
, and Uses Fire. In March 2005 they released their second album, titled O God, the Aftermath
. The album took on a mathcore
direction, heavily influenced by the bands Botch
and Isis
. It was also Cory Brandan's first album performance for Norma Jean. The artwork for the band's second album, O God, the Aftermath was nominated for Best Recording Package at the Grammy Awards of 2006
. The artwork was designed by Ryan Clark
. On September 21, 2007, original drummer Daniel Davison
announced that he would be leaving the band after their current tour ended, via the band's official website. His last show was on November 7, 2007 at Irving Plaza in New York, NY.
, in January, record in April, and will be playing the entire 2008 Warped Tour
. Writing was officially announced on January 24. On February 13, Norma Jean announced in a Myspace bulletin that they were "about 6 songs deep." They wrote a song with Page Hamilton
of Helmet
, and collaborated with Deftones
' frontman Chino Moreno
. The band described the two songs they wrote with Moreno as diverse and anti-traditional. In early to mid February, they announced that their replacement drummer would be Chris Raines, who is also the drummer for the band Spitfire
.
On August 5, 2008, Norma Jean released their latest full length album, entitled The Anti Mother
. Prior to leaving for their headlining tour, Norma Jean shot a music video for "Robots 3 Humans 0", with music video director Daniel Chesnut. The album continued in the same musical direction that they had headed with their two previous albums, but with less of a botch-influenced mathcore approach; rather, the album saw the band incorporating a more atmospheric sound heavily influenced by sludge metal
and post-metal
bands such as Isis and Neurosis.
On January 3, 2009, Norma Jean announced on their official website that they would be writing songs for their next album. The band's upcoming fifth studio album is said to be a return "back to [their] roots."
On April 5, 2009, Norma Jean announced on their website that they had dropped off their current tour due to a myriad of reasons.
On November 3, 2009, Norma Jean announced that they would be parting ways with longtime label Solid State and signing a deal with independent label Razor & Tie with plans to release an album in the summer of 2010.
Norma Jean announced that a title for one of their new songs will be "Kill More Presidents" and have encouraged fans to film the live performance of this song. The video was released in early March.
Fans can download the first track, titled "Leaderless and Self Enlisted" from "Meridional" by signing up for the bands email list via the band's website.
Norma Jean released their Jeremy Griffith produced album, Meridional
, on July 13, 2010.
In an interview with Exclaim! Magazine that was published the day of the Meridional album release, drummer Chris Raines spoke of how the sound of Meridional came to be and what influenced it." The last few records have been doing different things; this one truthfully mixed a lot of those records with what we wanted to do this time. I think we took all the good that we liked from the past records and added the new touch that we wanted to put on it, which was a heavier and darker theme."
Drummer Chris Raines was replaced by Matt Marquez in late 2010 with no formal announcement made for this exchange or if Raines would ever return.
On November 23, 2010, Norma Jean's former record label Solid State Records released a retrospective box set collection titled Birds and Microscopes and Bottles of Elixirs and Raw Steak and a Bunch of Songs. The three-disc compilation contains the band's first three studio albums (Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, Redeemer and O God, the Aftermath) on CD format. In January 2011, founding guitarist Scottie Henry decided to take a temporary break from Norma Jean. He will be replaced by Jeff Hickey, formerly of The Handshake Murders, for upcoming 2011 tour dates. The band later announced that Henry would return for the next studio album.
with Ozzy Osbourne
, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold
, Hatebreed
, DragonForce
, System of a Down
, Lacuna Coil
, Black Label Society
, Atreyu
, Unearth
, Bleeding Through
, A Life Once Lost
, The Red Chord
, Walls of Jericho, Strapping Young Lad
, All That Remains
, Full Blown Chaos
, Between the Buried and Me
and Bad Acid Trip
.
In late 2006, they headlined the Radio Rebellion Tour with support from Between the Buried and Me, Fear Before
, Misery Signals
and The Fully Down
. They played the entire Warped Tour
in the summer of 2008.
On October 3, 2008, Norma Jean embarked on a U.S. headlining tour called "The Anti-Mother Tour". The tour lasted until November 15, 2008 and featured several other bands on Solid State / Tooth & Nail Records including Haste the Day
, The Showdown
, MyChildren MyBride
, Children 18:3
, and Oh, Sleeper
. Children 18:3 only appeared on half of the tour dates (October 3 – October 26) while Oh, Sleeper filled in throughout the rest of the tour (October 28 – November 15).
On December 28, 2008, Norma Jean performed at the Unsilent Night 2 Festival in Plano, Texas. A total of 30 bands performed at the festival including Scary Kids Scaring Kids
, Oh, Sleeper
, The Secret Handshake
, and Sky Eats Airplane
.
On Sunday, July 12, 2009, Norma Jean performed at "LifeFest" in Oshkosh Wisconsin at 11:15 PM central time.
On Friday, July 17, 2009, Norma Jean performed at Sonshine Festival In Willmar, Minnesota.
On Thursday, September 17, 2009, Norma Jean announced they would enter a headlining tour spanning over November and December with Horse the Band
, The Chariot
, and Arsonists Get All the Girls
. They also announced that in select cities, they would exclusively play their first album, Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child, in its entirety. During the tour, the band played a song titled "Kill More Presidents", a B-side from their 2010 release, Meridional
.
Norma Jean was on the 2010 Mayhem Festival on the Mayhem Festival side-stage along with Atreyu
, In This Moment
, and 3 Inches of Blood
. Other festival participants include: Korn
, Rob Zombie
, Lamb of God
, Five Finger Death Punch
, Hatebreed
, Chimaira
, Shadows Fall
, and Winds of Plague
.
From the 30th September 2010 Norma Jean supported Architects
on their UK headline tour. Further support came from UK metallers Devil Sold His Soul
.
In December 2010 Norma Jean supported Alexisonfire, with drummer Matt Marquez filling in.
In February/March 2011, Norma Jean headlined the "Explosions II Tour" with After the Burial
, For the Fallen Dreams
, Motionless In White
and Stray From the Path
.
Current
Former
Touring
EPs
Compilations
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band from Douglasville, Georgia
Douglasville, Georgia
The city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 30,961...
, a suburb of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Since their inception in 1997 and replacement of members throughout the years, the band's only original member is the guitarist, Chris Day. To date, Norma Jean has released five studio albums and received a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination in 2006 for Best Recording Package
Grammy Award for Best Recording Package
The Grammy Award for Best Recording Package is one of a series of Grammy Awards presented for the visual look of an album. It is presented to the art director of the winning album, not to the performer, except if the performer is also the art director....
for their second album O God, the Aftermath
O God, the Aftermath
O' God, The Aftermath is the second album released by American metalcore band Norma Jean and was released on March 1, 2005. Like their previous album Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, O God, the Aftermath was released on Solid State Records...
. The band's name is derived from the real name of actress Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
.
Luti-Kriss and debut album (1997—2004)
Evolving from Luti-KrissLuti-Kriss
Luti-Kriss was a Christian metalcore outfit from Atlanta, Georgia formed in 1997 that later evolved into the metalcore/mathcore band Norma Jean. The band changed their name to Norma Jean in 2002, but is largely seen as a different band by both fans and the band alike...
, the original Norma Jean line-up featured everyone from the final Luti-Kriss lineup, except a different bass player. Drummer Daniel Davison (writer of much of the bands material), explained that the band got their name from actress Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, whose real name is Norma Jeane Baker. It was not until after they decided upon that name that they found out that "Norma" means "pattern", and "Jean" means "God's grace and mercy", combined saying "Patterns of grace and mercy". In 2002 the band released Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
- Personnel :* Josh Scogin – Vocals* Christopher Day – Guitar* Scottie Henry – Guitar* Joshua Doolittle – Bass* Daniel Davison – Drums* Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and Norma Jean* Mastered by Alan Douches...
on Solid State Records
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
. Their original vocalist Josh Scogin
Josh Scogin
Josh Scogin is an American musician, best known as being the vocalist for the American metalcore band, The Chariot. He originally gained recognition as the vocalist and founding member of the band Norma Jean, after recording two full length albums, a split release, and an EP. Scogin left Norma Jean...
left the band shortly after the release of Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, stating that "it was just something that I felt led to do." Scogin has been known to join in with Norma Jean during live performances to sing "Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste" since his departure. Original bassist Joshua Doolittle also left the band around the same time as Scogin. Doolittle was replaced by Jake Schultz. Scogin left the band and later went on to start The Chariot
The Chariot (band)
The Chariot is an American mathcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent...
; he was replaced by Brad Norris for about a year and a half.
O God, The Aftermath (2005)
Brad Norris was later replaced by Cory Brandan, formerly of the bands Eso-CharisEso-Charis
Eso-Charis was a Christian Mathcore band formed in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Founding members Cory Brandan Putman, Matthew Putman, and Arthur Green eventually went on to join the band Living Sacrifice. Eso-Charis was originally called "Elliot". After about two years of playing shows, the band changed...
, Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice is a Christian heavy metal band that formed in September 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. The band has released seven studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren Johnson as a more thrash metal and death metal...
, and Uses Fire. In March 2005 they released their second album, titled O God, the Aftermath
O God, the Aftermath
O' God, The Aftermath is the second album released by American metalcore band Norma Jean and was released on March 1, 2005. Like their previous album Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, O God, the Aftermath was released on Solid State Records...
. The album took on a mathcore
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
direction, heavily influenced by the bands Botch
Botch (band)
Botch was a four-piece mathcore band from Tacoma, Washington, United States, that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2002.-History:The band released two full-length albums and a handful of smaller releases including several singles and an EP. Its members went on an indefinite hiatus to form Roy,...
and Isis
Isis (band)
Isis was a Los Angeles, California-based post-metal band, founded in Boston, Massachusetts, with a career spanning from 1997 to 2010...
. It was also Cory Brandan's first album performance for Norma Jean. The artwork for the band's second album, O God, the Aftermath was nominated for Best Recording Package at the Grammy Awards of 2006
Grammy Awards of 2006
The 48th Annual Grammy Awards took place on February 8, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Irish rock band U2 were the big winners, winning five awards including Album of the Year. Mariah Carey, John Legend, and Kanye West each were nominated for eight awards and won three,...
. The artwork was designed by Ryan Clark
Ryan Clark (musician)
Ryan Clark is an American graphic designer and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Demon Hunter, which he co-founded with his brother, guitarist Don Clark.-Early life and career:...
Redeemer (2006—2007)
Redeemer, their third album, was recorded with producer Ross RobinsonRoss Robinson
Ross Robinson, son of Byron Katie, is an American multi-platinum music producer, who has discovered successful acts such as Korn, At the Drive-In, Glassjaw, Repeater, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit. Robinson has also worked with Machine Head, Vanilla Ice, The Cure, Sepultura and many others...
. On September 21, 2007, original drummer Daniel Davison
Daniel Davison
Daniel Davison is an American drummer and musician. He is best known for being a co-founder and former drummer of the band Norma Jean, the current drummer of the Florida-based metalcore band Underoath, and an artist and filmmaker...
announced that he would be leaving the band after their current tour ended, via the band's official website. His last show was on November 7, 2007 at Irving Plaza in New York, NY.
The Anti Mother (2008—2009)
On December 17, 2007, Norma Jean announced that they would start writing for their new album, The Anti MotherThe Anti Mother
- Personnel :Norma Jean*Cory Brandan – lead vocals, guitars*Scottie Henry – guitars*Jake Schultz – bass*Chris Day – guitars*Chris Raines – drums, percussionGuest personnel*Chino Moreno – writing, guitars, vocals...
, in January, record in April, and will be playing the entire 2008 Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. Writing was officially announced on January 24. On February 13, Norma Jean announced in a Myspace bulletin that they were "about 6 songs deep." They wrote a song with Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton
Page Hamilton is a guitarist, singer and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet...
of Helmet
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
, and collaborated with Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
' frontman Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
. The band described the two songs they wrote with Moreno as diverse and anti-traditional. In early to mid February, they announced that their replacement drummer would be Chris Raines, who is also the drummer for the band Spitfire
Spitfire (US band)
Spitfire is a metalcore band from Virginia Beach, Virginia. They first formed in the late 1990s and are currently signed to Goodfellow Records.-History:...
.
On August 5, 2008, Norma Jean released their latest full length album, entitled The Anti Mother
The Anti Mother
- Personnel :Norma Jean*Cory Brandan – lead vocals, guitars*Scottie Henry – guitars*Jake Schultz – bass*Chris Day – guitars*Chris Raines – drums, percussionGuest personnel*Chino Moreno – writing, guitars, vocals...
. Prior to leaving for their headlining tour, Norma Jean shot a music video for "Robots 3 Humans 0", with music video director Daniel Chesnut. The album continued in the same musical direction that they had headed with their two previous albums, but with less of a botch-influenced mathcore approach; rather, the album saw the band incorporating a more atmospheric sound heavily influenced by sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
and post-metal
Post-metal
Post-metal is a music genre, a mixture between the genres of post-rock and heavy metal.Hydra Head Records owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner originally termed the genre "thinking man's metal", demonstrating that his band was trying to move away from common metal conventions...
bands such as Isis and Neurosis.
On January 3, 2009, Norma Jean announced on their official website that they would be writing songs for their next album. The band's upcoming fifth studio album is said to be a return "back to [their] roots."
On April 5, 2009, Norma Jean announced on their website that they had dropped off their current tour due to a myriad of reasons.
Signing to Razor & Tie and Meridional (2009—present)
Norma Jean announced that a title for one of their new songs will be "Kill More Presidents" and have encouraged fans to film the live performance of this song. The video was released in early March.
Fans can download the first track, titled "Leaderless and Self Enlisted" from "Meridional" by signing up for the bands email list via the band's website.
Norma Jean released their Jeremy Griffith produced album, Meridional
Meridional (album)
Meridional is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on July 12, 2010, and is also the band's first release through Razor & Tie since leaving Solid State Records in 2009...
, on July 13, 2010.
In an interview with Exclaim! Magazine that was published the day of the Meridional album release, drummer Chris Raines spoke of how the sound of Meridional came to be and what influenced it." The last few records have been doing different things; this one truthfully mixed a lot of those records with what we wanted to do this time. I think we took all the good that we liked from the past records and added the new touch that we wanted to put on it, which was a heavier and darker theme."
Drummer Chris Raines was replaced by Matt Marquez in late 2010 with no formal announcement made for this exchange or if Raines would ever return.
On November 23, 2010, Norma Jean's former record label Solid State Records released a retrospective box set collection titled Birds and Microscopes and Bottles of Elixirs and Raw Steak and a Bunch of Songs. The three-disc compilation contains the band's first three studio albums (Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, Redeemer and O God, the Aftermath) on CD format. In January 2011, founding guitarist Scottie Henry decided to take a temporary break from Norma Jean. He will be replaced by Jeff Hickey, formerly of The Handshake Murders, for upcoming 2011 tour dates. The band later announced that Henry would return for the next studio album.
Touring
They played at 2006's OzzfestOzzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
with Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
, Hatebreed
Hatebreed
- History :Hatebreed was formed in 1994 in Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. They began by recording a three song demo and selling it to locals. Those three songs would eventually be released on a split seven inch with New York's Neglect in 1995...
, DragonForce
DragonForce
DragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
, System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
, Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Formed in 1994, the group has had two name changes since being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal and was inspired by the combination of gothic imagery and music...
, Black Label Society
Black Label Society
Black Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
, Atreyu
Atreyu (band)
Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller...
, Unearth
Unearth
Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released five studio albums. Their fourth record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many...
, Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1999, the band blends influences stemming from modern hardcore punk, symphonic black metal, and melodic death metal...
, A Life Once Lost
A Life Once Lost
A Life Once Lost is an American metalcore band formed in 1999 in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After releases on Robotic Empire and Deathwish Inc., A Life Once Lost released their successful album, Hunter on Ferret Music in 2005...
, The Red Chord
The Red Chord
The Red Chord is an American grindcore band from Revere, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band is made up of vocalist Guy Kozowyk, guitarist Mike "Gunface" McKenzie, and bassist Greg Weeks. The band gained a fanbase with its 2002 debut album Fused Together in Revolving Doors. The second album,...
, Walls of Jericho, Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad
Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing...
, All That Remains
All That Remains (band)
All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
, Full Blown Chaos
Full Blown Chaos
Full Blown Chaos is a metalcore band from Floral Park, Queens, New York. According to the band, their whole direction "is to keep a wide range of music, not to necessarily pigeonhole ourselves into metal or hardcore"...
, Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD...
and Bad Acid Trip
Bad Acid Trip
Bad Acid Trip is an American metal band, currently signed to System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian's record label, Serjical Strike Records. Their 2004 album, Lynch the Weirdo, was produced by Daron Malakian, another System of a Down member. In 2006 they performed on the second stage at the...
.
In late 2006, they headlined the Radio Rebellion Tour with support from Between the Buried and Me, Fear Before
Fear Before
Fear Before is an experimental rock band that resides in Aurora, Colorado. As stated on their Alternative Press podcast, their name originates from a Denver Post newspaper headline of local forest fires titled "The Fear Before The March of Flames." They released their debut album Odd How People...
, Misery Signals
Misery Signals
Misery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
and The Fully Down
The Fully Down
The Fully Down was a Canadian rock band that was formed in suburban Ottawa in 1999, with the current lineup coming together in 2003. The band debuted in June 2004 on Pop Culture Records with No Fate...But What We Make for Ourselves. The album garnered favorable reviews, and they went on three weeks...
. They played the entire Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in the summer of 2008.
On October 3, 2008, Norma Jean embarked on a U.S. headlining tour called "The Anti-Mother Tour". The tour lasted until November 15, 2008 and featured several other bands on Solid State / Tooth & Nail Records including Haste the Day
Haste the Day
Haste the Day was an American Christian metalcore band signed with Solid State Records that was formed in Carmel, Indiana 2001. Their band is named after a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The band released their debut release, an extended play titled That They May Know You, in 2002,...
, The Showdown
The Showdown (band)
The Showdown is a southern metal/metalcore band based in Elizabethton, Tennessee. While the members of the band are Christian and the band is signed to a Christian record label, the band does not consider itself a Christian act, according to guitarist Josh Childers...
, MyChildren MyBride
Mychildren Mybride
MyChildren MyBride is an American Christian metalcore band originating from Madison, Alabama. They are signed to Solid State Records after being noticed by extensive constant touring, including various dates in European countries.-History:...
, Children 18:3
Children 18:3
Children 18:3 is a punk band from Morris, Minnesota. The band is composed of homeschooled siblings David, Lee Marie and Seth. The lead vocals are shared by David and Lee Marie with their brother Seth on the drums.-Formation and debut album:...
, and Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper is an American metalcore band from Fort Worth, Texas and is signed to Solid State Records. They have recorded three full-length albums to date, the most recent being their third album Children of Fire, released on September 6, 2011....
. Children 18:3 only appeared on half of the tour dates (October 3 – October 26) while Oh, Sleeper filled in throughout the rest of the tour (October 28 – November 15).
On December 28, 2008, Norma Jean performed at the Unsilent Night 2 Festival in Plano, Texas. A total of 30 bands performed at the festival including Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Scary Kids Scaring Kids
Scary Kids Scaring Kids was an American post-hardcore band formed in Gilbert, Arizona in 2002. The band's name comes from the Cap'n Jazz song of the same name...
, Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper is an American metalcore band from Fort Worth, Texas and is signed to Solid State Records. They have recorded three full-length albums to date, the most recent being their third album Children of Fire, released on September 6, 2011....
, The Secret Handshake
The Secret Handshake
The Secret Handshake is the electronica/soul musical project of self-taught musician Luis Dubuc. Dubuc sings and plays all instruments on the band's studio albums, including guitar, synthesizer, piano, percussion, and sound effects which he creates on his computer.He has a new musical project, a...
, and Sky Eats Airplane
Sky Eats Airplane
Sky Eats Airplane was an American electronic post-hardcore band, formed in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2005. The band was signed to indie label Equal Vision Records and most recently released their self-titled full-length album through the label in July 2008....
.
On Sunday, July 12, 2009, Norma Jean performed at "LifeFest" in Oshkosh Wisconsin at 11:15 PM central time.
On Friday, July 17, 2009, Norma Jean performed at Sonshine Festival In Willmar, Minnesota.
On Thursday, September 17, 2009, Norma Jean announced they would enter a headlining tour spanning over November and December with Horse the Band
HORSE the band
Horse the Band is a band from Lake Forest, California who are best known for their 8-bit Nintendo-influenced sound combined with metalcore. Frontman Nathan Winneke once described their sound as "Nintendocore".-Biography:...
, The Chariot
The Chariot
The Chariot is an American mathcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent...
, and Arsonists Get All the Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls is an American deathcore band from Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 2005, they are currently signed to Century Media Records and have recorded and released four full-length studio albums, Hits from the Bow, The Game of Life, Portals and Motherland.-Biography:Arsonists...
. They also announced that in select cities, they would exclusively play their first album, Bless the Martyr & Kiss the Child, in its entirety. During the tour, the band played a song titled "Kill More Presidents", a B-side from their 2010 release, Meridional
Meridional (album)
Meridional is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on July 12, 2010, and is also the band's first release through Razor & Tie since leaving Solid State Records in 2009...
.
Norma Jean was on the 2010 Mayhem Festival on the Mayhem Festival side-stage along with Atreyu
Atreyu (band)
Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller...
, In This Moment
In This Moment
In This Moment is an American metalcore band from North Hollywood , California. Formed in 2005, the group has released three albums to date, all through Century Media Records.-Founding:...
, and 3 Inches of Blood
3 Inches of Blood
3 Inches of Blood is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in 2000 in Vancouver, British Columbia, currently consisting of Cam Pipes, Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, and Ash Pearson...
. Other festival participants include: Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
, Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
, Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 2005, the group's name is derived from classic oriental martial arts cinema. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory, guitarist Caleb Bingham, bassist Matt Snell,...
, Hatebreed
Hatebreed
- History :Hatebreed was formed in 1994 in Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Haven. They began by recording a three song demo and selling it to locals. Those three songs would eventually be released on a split seven inch with New York's Neglect in 1995...
, Chimaira
Chimaira
Chimaira is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1998, the group is a notable member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal scene. The band's name is derived from the word Chimera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology...
, Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
, and Winds of Plague
Winds of Plague
Winds of Plague is an American deathcore band from Upland, California, formed in 2002. They are best known as one of the only deathcore bands to incorporate symphonic elements into their music....
.
From the 30th September 2010 Norma Jean supported Architects
Architects (British band)
Architects are an English Metalcore band from Brighton, England, formed in 2004. The band went through several name changes before they decided upon Architects. Their first name was Inharmonic, which was swiftly changed to Counting the Days...
on their UK headline tour. Further support came from UK metallers Devil Sold His Soul
Devil Sold His Soul
Devil Sold His Soul are an ambient influenced progressive metal/post-hardcore band from the South of England signed to Century Media. Three of the band joined from Mahumodo, thought to be a pioneer of the British hardcore scene...
.
In December 2010 Norma Jean supported Alexisonfire, with drummer Matt Marquez filling in.
In February/March 2011, Norma Jean headlined the "Explosions II Tour" with After the Burial
After the Burial
After the Burial is an American heavy metal band from Twin Cities, Minnesota. The group is currently signed to Sumerian Records and have released two of their three full-length albums through the label...
, For the Fallen Dreams
For the Fallen Dreams
For the Fallen Dreams is a metalcore band from Saginaw, Michigan, formed in 2003. They are currently signed to Rise Records. They have released a demo, a self-titled EP, and three full-length albums, Changes, Relentless, and Back Burner. Relentless charted at number 29 on the Billboard Top...
, Motionless In White
Motionless in White
Motionless in White is an American metalcore band from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2005, the group is known for its dark horror-themed lyrics and physical appearances, that of which heavily correspond to gothic imagery. Motionless in White is currently signed to Fearless Records and have...
and Stray From the Path
Stray from the Path
Stray from the Path is a band that was formed in 2001 in Long Island, New York by guitarist Thomas Williams. They have released six full-length albums: People Over Profit in 2002, Audio Prozac in 2003, Our Oceania in 2004, Villains in 2008, Make Your Own History in 2009, and Rising Sun in 2011...
.
Members
- Chris Day – guitars (1997–present)
- Cory Brandan PutmanCory Brandan PutmanCory Brandan is the current lead vocalist for the metalcore band Norma Jean. Despite near constant touring with the band, he still manages to maintain his role as both a dedicated father to his two children, 11 and 16, and an affectionate boyfriend to his longtime girlfriend and fellow artist,...
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, guitars (2004–present) - Jake Schultz – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2002–present)
Former
- Daniel DavisonDaniel DavisonDaniel Davison is an American drummer and musician. He is best known for being a co-founder and former drummer of the band Norma Jean, the current drummer of the Florida-based metalcore band Underoath, and an artist and filmmaker...
– drums, percussion (1997–2007) - Josh Doolittle – bass guitar (1997–2002)
- Scottie Henry – guitars (1997–2011)
- Chris Raines – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(2007–2010) - Josh ScoginJosh ScoginJosh Scogin is an American musician, best known as being the vocalist for the American metalcore band, The Chariot. He originally gained recognition as the vocalist and founding member of the band Norma Jean, after recording two full length albums, a split release, and an EP. Scogin left Norma Jean...
– lead vocals (1997–2002)
Touring
- Jeff Hickey – guitars (2011)
- Matt Marquez – drums (2010–present)
- Brad Norris – lead vocals (2002–2004)
Discography
Studio albums| Year | Album | Label | Chart peaks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Top Christian Albums | |||
| 2002 | Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child - Personnel :* Josh Scogin – Vocals* Christopher Day – Guitar* Scottie Henry – Guitar* Joshua Doolittle – Bass* Daniel Davison – Drums* Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and Norma Jean* Mastered by Alan Douches... |
Solid State Records Solid State Records Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,... |
— | — |
| 2005 | O God, the Aftermath O God, the Aftermath O' God, The Aftermath is the second album released by American metalcore band Norma Jean and was released on March 1, 2005. Like their previous album Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, O God, the Aftermath was released on Solid State Records... |
62 | 1 | |
| 2006 | Redeemer Redeemer (Norma Jean album) Redeemer is Norma Jean's third studio album. It was released on September 12, 2006 in the United States, and on October 3, 2006 in Canada. The album sold more than 21,000 records in its first week. It is the last album to feature drummer Daniel Davison... |
38 | 1 | |
| 2008 | The Anti Mother The Anti Mother - Personnel :Norma Jean*Cory Brandan – lead vocals, guitars*Scottie Henry – guitars*Jake Schultz – bass*Chris Day – guitars*Chris Raines – drums, percussionGuest personnel*Chino Moreno – writing, guitars, vocals... |
29 | 2 | |
| 2010 | Meridional Meridional (album) Meridional is the fifth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on July 12, 2010, and is also the band's first release through Razor & Tie since leaving Solid State Records in 2009... |
Razor & Tie Records | 45 | 2 |
EPs
- 2002: Norma Jean / mewithoutYouNorma Jean / mewithoutYouThis is a split 7" record that contains songs from the albums Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child by Norma Jean and [A→B] Life by mewithoutYou. The songs performed by mewithoutYou are rough recordings, while the Norma Jean tracks differ immensely....
Compilations
- 2008: The Almighty Norma Jean Vinyl Boxset
- 2010: Birds and Microscopes and Bottles of Elixirs and Raw Steak and a Bunch of Songs
Awards
Grammy Awards and nominations- O God, the AftermathO God, the AftermathO' God, The Aftermath is the second album released by American metalcore band Norma Jean and was released on March 1, 2005. Like their previous album Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, O God, the Aftermath was released on Solid State Records...
– Best Recording PackageGrammy Award for Best Recording PackageThe Grammy Award for Best Recording Package is one of a series of Grammy Awards presented for the visual look of an album. It is presented to the art director of the winning album, not to the performer, except if the performer is also the art director....
, 2006 (nomination)