LOVE THOSE CHRISTIANS
Yeah, okay–this band is kinda cheesy now, or at least a little less than awesome, but I will forever be a fan of Norma Jean‘s first album, 2002’s Bless The Martyr, Kiss The Child. This record strikes a superb blend of metallic, distorted mathy-screamo/hardcore, all the while incorporating a stripped-down teaspoon of melody and a healthy tablespoon of dissonance.
Norma Jean then was kind of like a younger, more accessible distant cousin of Converge (who we’ll talk about soon enough), but soon after the aforementioned N.J. album dropped, the band replaced their lead singer and bass player and the next couple recordings went downhill from there. O God The Aftermath (2005), helmed by ISIS and Mastodon producer Matt Bayles, throws down pretty fuckin heavily, but the band’s next record, produced by Ross Robinson, of Korn and Limp Bizkit fame, well….you know. The most recent material has somehow swung the Georgia band into the hard rawkin’ teeny-bopper arena, and solidified their status in the “screamo” world. But remember, even Jesus approves of a teenaged female fan base, or at least the pppperks of one.
Having always technically been a “Christian Metal” band (or at least a band of Christians who play metal), the recent departure of Norma Jean’s drummer, Daniel Davison, for seemingly religious reasons, is not too much of a surprise, but still chuckle-worthy to those of us who unabashedly live in sin, sin, sin.
Daniel himself explains further:
“As many of you know, Norma Jean is considered a “Christian band”, and it is in fact made up of 5 guys who are all Christians. This is something that is a huge part of my life, and something that I take very seriously. Recently I have come to the point in my life where I no longer see Norma Jean as a ministry, and for me to continue in the band, saying that it is, would in my opinion, be wrong. I am not leaving the band on bad terms with any of the guys, bu
t there are differences between us, both personal and spiritual, that I felt were too great for me continue on with, or ignore any longer.”
**Love those kwazee Kwistianz!!**
-KW
Norma Jean – “Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste”
Norma Jean – “Sometimes It’s Our Mistakes That Make The Greatest Ideas”
Norma Jean – “Organized Beyond Recognition”
all from Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child (2002)
