Norma Jean (formerly known as Luti-Kriss) 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.
Norma Jean formed in 1997 under the name Luti-Kriss with Josh Scogin on vocals, guitarists Scottie Henry and Chris Day, Josh Swofford on bass, Mick Bailey on turntables, and Daniel Davison on drums. The band recorded a split EP with Travail that was released in 1999 through Pluto Records. Luti-Kriss's songs from the split would later be released on 5ep, which was released on July 25, 2000, through Pluto Records.[2] The sound of theses EPs differed greatly from future releases, featuring an aggressive nu metal and rap metal style.[3] Shortly after the release of 5ep, Swofford would leave the band and be replaced by Josh Doolittle. The band then would start working on the debut album Throwing Myself, with Bailey leaving during the album's production.
Evolving from Luti-Kriss, the original Norma Jean lineup consisted of the final Luti-Kriss lineup, utilizing additional percussion on recordings instead of turntables. Drummer Daniel Davison, 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 "were looking at a book" which apparently claimed that "Norma" means "pattern", and "Jean" means "God's grace and mercy", combined into "Patterns of grace and mercy".[4] In 2002 the band released Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child on Solid State Records.[5] 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.[6] Scogin left the band and later went on to start the Chariot; he was replaced by Brad Norris for about a year and nine months.
Early releases (2005–2009)
Brad Norris was later replaced by Cory Brandan, formerly of the bands Eso-Charis, Living Sacrifice and Uses Fire. In March 2005 they released their second album, titled O God, the Aftermath.[7] 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 Asterisk studios in Seattle, Washington.
Redeemer, their third album, was recorded with producer Ross Robinson. 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.
On December 17, 2007, Norma Jean announced that they would start writing for their new album, The Anti Mother,[8] 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.
Norma Jean performing at the Tivoli in the Netherlands in 2007.
On August 5, 2008, Norma Jean released 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.
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 was said to be a return "back to [their] roots."[9]
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 (2009–2015)
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.[10]
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.[11] The video was released in early March.
Fans could download the first track, titled "Leaderless and Self Enlisted" from "Meridional" by signing up for the band's email list via the band's website.[12]
Norma Jean released their Jeremy Griffith produced album, Meridional, on July 13, 2010.[13]
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.[14] In 2016, Raines addressed leaving the band in an interview with Trav Turner (formerly of Aletheian, UnTeachers, Solamors) that it was mainly family issues.[15] 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 CD compilation contains the band's first three studio albums (Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, Redeemer and O God, the Aftermath).[16] In January 2011, founding guitarist Scottie Henry decided to take a temporary break from Norma Jean. He would later be replaced by Jeff Hickey, formerly of the Handshake Murders, for 2011 tour dates.[17]
On October 30, 2012, the band announced that they would be going into the studio from December 2012 to January 2013, with Joshua Barber as the chosen producer.[18] It is the first album by the band to feature new members Jeff Hickey on guitar, John Finnegan on bass, and Clayton Holyoak (formerly of Fear Before) on drums. Wrongdoers was released in the US on August 6, 2013, by Razor & Tie, with UK/EU to follow on September 9.
Re-signing with Solid State (2015–present)
In May 2015, they revealed work has begun for their seventh full-length album.[citation needed]
On July 9, 2015, Norma Jean announced the 10th anniversary of O God, The Aftermath North American Tour. They would perform the album in its entirety.[19] The band later announced Sleepwave, '68, and the Ongoing Concept would join them.[19]
On September 15, 2015, they announced they re-signed with Solid State Records, who will release their next album in 2016.[20][21]
In June 2016, the band announced they had released the first single, "1,000,000 Watts", off the new album, Polar Similar.[22] They released "Synthetic Sun" later that month. On August 11, 2016, Norma Jean released their third single off of Polar Similar, which is titled "Forever Hurtling Towards Andromeda", which features Sean Ingram of Coalesce.[23] Before the release of the album, Putman did an interview with HM Magazine, in which they mentioned their newest member, Rhythm Guitarist Phillip Farris, who replaced Chris Day, the last remaining original member, though no statement was made of his departure.[24] On September 28, 2017, Clayton Holyoak announced that he would be leaving to drum for Every Time I Die. John Finnegan has announced parting ways with Norma Jean.[25]
On January 12, 2019, the band released the single "Children of the Dead" for streaming, with the song being a b-side from the Polar Similar sessions that originally appeared on the deluxe vinyl edition of the album.[26][27] A music video for the song was released on January 15 via Solid State's official YouTube channel.[28] On May 25, 2019, Norma Jean announced that they had parted ways with longtime guitarist Jeff Hickey.[29]
Norma Jean released their eighth album, All Hail on October 25, 2019.[30]
On June 6, 2022, Norma Jean announced their ninth album, Deathrattle Sing for Me, to be released August 12, 2022. The album's first single, "Call for the Blood", was released as a music video on June 16.[31] Mixed by Jeremy SH Griffith and Mastered by Jonathan Berlin at The Loft Studio LA.
Cory Brandan, Michael Palmquist, and Matt Marquez helped write, produce and perform on Project 86's 2023 album OMNI, with Marquez on drums and Palmquist on guitar for the album and Brandan featured on the song "Skinjob".[32][33]
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 3–26) while Oh, Sleeper filled in throughout the rest of the tour (October 28 – November 15).[34]
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.
From the September 30, 2010, Norma Jean supported Architects on their UK headline tour. Further support came from UK metallers Devil Sold His Soul.[35] In December 2010 Norma Jean supported Alexisonfire, with drummer Matt Marquez filling in.
On December 12, 2016, Periphery announced that Norma Jean, the Contortionist and Infinity Shred would join them on the "Sonic Unrest Tour II" from March 31 to April 22, 2017.[38]
During the spring of 2018, they did an anniversary tour of the Redeemer album. The 24 show tour featured Gideon, Toothgrinder, and Greyhaven.
In early 2023, Norma Jean embarked on a US headline tour with Fire from the Gods, and Greyhaven.
Many have taken Norma Jean to be a Christian band due to Cory Brandan's faith and brief membership in the Christian metal band Living Sacrifice and their history of touring with bands such as Spoken and Demon Hunter. In an interview in 2015, Brandan said, "I can't say that we're a full-on Christian band. I'm a Christian. I can speak for myself, but that's all I can speak for. I will say that I personally prefer not to play Christian festivals, but at the end of the day, it's a choice between playing a show and having a day off. I'd prefer to play a show, no matter where it is. We don't care if we play Christian festivals, but we don't want to alienate any of our fans. We don't want to play a show that would make our non-Christian fans uncomfortable enough to not come along, because we care about them too. I mean, they buy our records and merch just like the religious ones do. Probably even more so! I'd even take this one step further and suggest that the label of 'Christian music' is stupid - music can't have a belief. If I clap my hand, you can't listen to clap and say 'that clap is Christian, or Hindu, or Atheist.' or whatever. It's a freaking sound. The music itself can't have a theological belief. We're musicians first. The content is secondary to that. We write stuff that anyone can relate to. We don't write anything that will alienate anybody. Well, intentionally, anyway."[48]
Members
Vocalist Cory Brandan live in 2007
Norma Jean at Lifefest in 2009
Former bassist Jake Shultz in 2006
Current
Cory Brandan – lead vocals, additional guitars (2004–present), bass (2017–2019)
Matt Marquez – drums (2010–2012, 2013, 2019–present)[14]
Demon Hunter is an American Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark in 2000. Ryan is the band's only remaining original member, as Don left in 2009. As of the 2010s, the band has sold over 600,000 albums.
Living Sacrifice is an American Christian metal band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989. The band has released eight 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 oriented band. The band evolved into a groove metal and metalcore style beginning with Reborn (1997) under Solid State Records with the original guitarist Bruce Fitzhugh on vocals. In 2003, the group disbanded due to other projects and later their label, Solid State, released their best-of album, In Memoriam (2005). In 2008, Living Sacrifice reformed and released a two-song digital only single called Death Machine. They then began working on The Infinite Order which was released on January 26, 2010. Lance Garvin and Bruce Fitzhugh are the two remaining original members.
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.
William Caldwell "Rocky" Gray is an American drummer and guitarist. He played drums for the rock band Evanescence from 2003–2007 and was the lead guitarist for Solus Deus. He is the lead guitarist for Living Sacrifice and the drummer for Soul Embraced, Mourningside, Machina, and We Are the Fallen. Gray also released a solo album titled Accursed (2015).
Travail was an American, Christian nu metal/metalcore band based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. Fronted by Matt Leslie, it had an intense following at Club 412, a local church-sponsored lounge and music venue located in southwest Fort Worth.
Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean, released on August 13, 2002 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.
Spitfire is an American metalcore band from Virginia Beach, Virginia. They first formed in the late 1990s and were previously signed to Goodfellow Records.
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.
Pluto Records is a record label started in 1999 by Eric Shirey and Brian Cobbel. Since 2002, it has been owned and operated by Brian Cobbel and based near Dallas, TX. It is primarily known for punk, metal and hardcore releases, although not exclusively. The label has been home and launching pad to such bands as Grammy-nominated metal act As I Lay Dying, HORSE the band, Luti-Kriss, Society's Finest and more. Pluto Records is currently a member of the Warner Music Group division of East West Records.
Redeemer is the third studio album by American metalcore band Norma Jean. 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. For this album they filmed videos for "Blueprints for Future Homes", and "Songs Sound Much Sadder". Shannon Crawford, the singer of Cellophane and Monster in the Machine, painted the album artwork. Musician Poppy Jean Crawford is the girl in the painting.
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.
Cory Brandan Putman is an American singer who has been the lead vocalist for the metalcore band Norma Jean since 2004.
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.
Beloved is an American post-hardcore band from Kernersville, North Carolina, United States.
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.
'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.
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.
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