Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 13, 2002 | |||
Recorded | April 15 – May 5, 2002, at Zing Studio, Westfield, Massachusetts | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 58:25 | |||
Label | Solid State | |||
Producer |
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Norma Jean chronology | ||||
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Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean, released on August 13, 2002 [6] by Solid State Records. It is the band's only album to feature bassist Joshua Doolittle and vocalist Josh Scogin, the latter of whom later became the lead vocalist of The Chariot. [4]
The band previously released a studio album, Throwing Myself , under the name of Luti-Kriss. [7] The band changed their name due to keyboardist Mick Bailey and bassist Josh Swafford leaving and also wanted to go in a different musical direction (the band played a nu metal/metalcore hybrid [8] ). According to drummer Daniel Davison, the band got the name Norma Jean from actress Marilyn Monroe, whose real name is Norma Jeane Baker. After settling on the new name, the band members read a book that claimed "Norma" means "pattern", and "Jean" means "God's grace and mercy", with Norma Jean combined meaning "Patterns of grace and mercy". [9]
Older recordings of the songs "I Used to Hate Cellphones, But Now I Hate Car Accidents" and "The Shotgun Message" were released on a split album with mewithoutYou. [10]
The entire album was recorded live with very few overdubs. The booklet insert claims that the CD was produced entirely without the use of computers.
On the Limited Edition, the song "Pretty Soon, I Don't Know What, but Something Is Going to Happen" features a sample from the 1998 film π , directed by Darren Aronofsky. [11] The song "Face:Face" draws inspiration from Proverbs 30. [12]
The album was released on August 13, 2002 through Solid State Records. Music videos were released for the songs "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" and "Face:Face". In the music video for "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" it featured touring vocalist Brad Norris and new bassist Jake Schultz instead of Scogin and Doolittle, who had already left the band. Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou appears on the track "Memphis Will be Laid to Waste" courtesy of Tooth & Nail Records. "Memphis..." had a music video featuring a curious story concept featuring subtitles. It aired on Uranium and Headbangers Ball upon its release.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
Cross Rhythms | link |
Exclaim! | Highly favorable link |
Jesusfreakhideout | link |
MusicOMH | Highly favorable link |
The Phantom Tollbooth | link |
Punknews.org | link |
Today's Christian Music | B link |
Since its release, Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child has received critical acclaim and is often regarded a landmark in the metalcore genre, often being regarded as one of the best album's released in the genre. [13] [14]
Jason D. Taylor of Allmusic awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars. Taylor praised the band's "blast of macabre hardcore/metal" and the production by Adam Dutkiewicz. [3] Mike Rimmer of Cross Rhythms gave the album 9 out of 10, saying it was "an hour of unrelenting guitar noise". [15] Greg Pratt of Exclaim! compared Norma Jean to the likes of Zao and Living Sacrifice, while praising the progressive metalcore sound of the album and said the album is a must for anyone who is a fan of heavy music. [1] Jesusfreakhideout's Andy Kelly said the album signaled "the hardcore revolution" with a "technically and musically astounding offering". Kelly concluded his review by stating "hardcore just does not get much better than this." [12]
All lyrics are written by Josh Scogin; all music is composed by Norma Jean
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Entire World Is Counting on Me, and They Don't Even Know It" | 3:10 |
2. | "Face:Face" | 3:31 |
3. | "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" (feat. Aaron Weiss) | 4:56 |
4. | "Creating Something Out of Nothing, Only to Destroy It" | 6:22 |
5. | "Pretty Soon, I Don't Know What, But Something Is Going to Happen" | 15:49 |
6. | "The Shotgun Message" | 1:37 |
7. | "Sometimes It's Our Mistakes That Make for the Greatest Ideas" | 3:15 |
8. | "I Used to Hate Cell Phones, But Now I Hate Car Accidents" | 5:02 |
9. | "It Was As If the Dead Man Stood Upon the Air" | 1:30 |
10. | "The Human Face, Divine" | 5:41 |
11. | "Organized Beyond Recognition" | 7:28 |
Total length: | 58:25 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Entire World Is Counting On Me, and They Don't Even Know It" | 3:15 |
2. | "Face:Face" | 3:35 |
3. | "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste" (feat. Aaron Weiss) | 5:00 |
4. | "Creating Something Out of Nothing, Only to Destroy It" | 6:42 |
5. | "Pretty Soon, I Don't Know What, But Something Is Going to Happen" (Contains soundbite from the film Pi ) | 15:53 |
6. | "The Shotgun Message" | 1:50 |
7. | "Sometimes It's Our Mistakes That Make for the Greatest Ideas" | 3:19 |
8. | "I Used to Hate Cell Phones, But Now I Hate Car Accidents" | 5:15 |
9. | "Untitled" (instrumental) | 2:07 |
10. | "It Was As If the Dead Man Stood Upon the Air" | 1:38 |
11. | "The Human Face, Divine" | 5:49 |
12. | "Organized Beyond Recognition" | 7:32 |
The Chariot was an American hardcore punk band from Douglasville, Georgia, that existed from 2003 to 2013. The last lineup consisted of drummer David Kennedy, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band experienced frequent lineup changes since its inception, with Scogin being the only original member. The band played an abrasive style of metalcore that did not adhere to typical stylings popular among their contemporaries such as melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonic vocals. They built a reputation around their powerful live performances, with Scogin's lyrics covering topics like materialism, personal struggle, current events, politics, and Christian themes.
O' God, the Aftermath is the second studio album 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. This is the first album with vocalist Cory Brandan.
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding is the debut studio album by American hardcore punk band The Chariot. It was recorded completely live and overdub-free, giving the album a very raw sound.
Throwing Myself is the only studio album by Luti-Kriss. It was released in 2001 on Solid State Records. After the release of this album, the band changed their name to Norma Jean.
Thrill Seeker is the debut studio album by American metalcore band August Burns Red. It was released on November 8, 2005, through Solid State Records and was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz. A music video was released for the opening track "Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins".
Norma Jean is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Since their inception in 1997, numerous lineup changes have left the band with no original members. To date, Norma Jean has released nine 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.
Josh Scogin is an American musician, and is currently the vocalist and guitarist for '68. He is also known for being the vocalist for The Chariot, and former vocalist of Norma Jean and Luti-Kriss. Scogin has recorded solo material as A Rose, By Any Other Name, releasing an album in 2010.
The Fiancée is the second full-length album from the band The Chariot released on April 3, 2007. It was the final release by the band to feature drummer Jake Ryan; it was also the only release until Long Live to feature guitarist Jon Terrey, and the first and only release with guitarist Dan Eaton.
The Anti Mother is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. It is the first release to feature new drummer Chris Raines, making Chris Day and Scottie Henry the only members of the band to have appeared on all albums released by Norma Jean up to that point.
Daniel Travis Davison is an American musician, songwriter, artist, and filmmaker. He is also a co-founder and former drummer of the band Norma Jean and a former drummer of Underoath and Every Time I Die.
The March is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Unearth. The album was released on October 14, 2008, through Metal Blade Records. The album is a concept album and has a theme of "symbolizing both the evil and hopeful sides of humanity". This is also their sole album to feature drummer Derek Kerswill, who parted ways with the band in 2010.
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. After recording their two previous studio albums, The Anti Mother and Redeemer, with producer Ross Robinson, Norma Jean selected Jeremy Griffith to produce Meridional in order to expand their sound. It is the last album to feature guitarist Scottie Henry, bassist Jake Schultz and drummer Chris Raines. The first single off the album, "Leaderless and Self Enlisted," was released on May 6, 2010.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is the third release by American metalcore band A Plea for Purging. It was engineered and produced by Joey Sturgis and mixed and mastered by Brian Hood. This was the last album with guitarist Tyler Wilson.
Wrongdoers is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on August 6, 2013, and is the band's second release through Razor & Tie. It is the first album to feature guitarist Jeff Hickey, bassist John Finnegan and drummer Clayton Holyoak. Wrongdoers garnered critical acclamation by music critics at such publications as Alternative Press, Decibel, Exclaim! and Revolver Magazine, and sold 8,340 copies in its first week.
'68 is an American noise rock duo from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2013 by guitarist and vocalist Josh Scogin—formerly of the hardcore punk band the Chariot—and drummer Michael McClellan, the band currently comprises Scogin and drummer Nikko Yamada.
What We Do In Secret is an American Christian hardcore band from Memphis, Tennessee. They have toured with bands such as War of Ages, Phinehas, Silent Planet, Sleepwave, We Came As Romans, '68, For Today and Norma Jean. They have released two EPs.
Polar Similar is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on September 9, 2016 through Solid State Records, the band's first release on the label since 2008's The Anti Mother. This is Norma Jean's only release with guitarist Phillip Farris and the last with bassist John Finnegan and drummer Clayton Holyoak.
All Hail is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. The album was released on October 25, 2019 through Solid State Records, the band's sixth overall release on the label. It is the last album to feature guitarist Jeff Hickey, as well as the first to feature guitarist Grayson Stewart and drummer Matt Marquez.