Spring Break
Godfest to Ozzfest
Feana Kotter
Issue date: 7/5/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
|
"A sound can't be Christian or not Christian," said Brandan, the lead singer of the metal band Norma Jean.
Hailing from Atlanta, Ga., Norma Jean has been making music for seven years and has performed at Cornerstone six times. Last year, the band also headlined the heavy metal lover's paradise, Ozzfest.
What separates Norma Jean from a good portion of other bands at Cornerstone is its successful crossover into the heavy metal mainstream. The band is joining the Warped Tour roster following Cornerstone, and Brandan said very little changes even when the venue does.
"We don't do anything different," he said.
Unlike the sometimes violent and dark messages woven into the lyrics of other heavy metal bands, Brandan said the members of Norma Jean write their lyrics a little differently in effort to give their fans something almost tangible to relate to.
"Our songs are about our lives," he said. "I'm going to sing about my life and what I go through."
Although the constant motion of touring can be exhausting for a band, Brandan said Norma Jean does not take much time off from writing and creating new material even while on the road.
Inspiration for song lyrics comes from numerous sources, and Brandan refers to the lyrics themselves as an art form. While writing and recording "Redeemer," the band's latest album, Brandan recalled the studio was in a less-than-ideal part of town where drug use and abuse was visible. While some bands have fallen prey to substance abuse, Brandan said he had a different perspective.
"When are we going to go in and help these people?" he asked.
To the unsuspecting listener, the mention of weapons in some Norma Jean lyrics can mislead one to think the group is the same as any other metal band. Such critics should listen a little more closely, as Brandan said such references are used metaphorically to represent a different kind of struggle.
Though some music lovers may have a hard time envisioning a heavy metal band that has been labeled as Christian playing Ozzfest and Warped Tour, Brandan said the band has not been limited by the trademark.
The group's successful rise from unknown to unforgettable is proof.
Brandan said the members of the group also play an active role in the business aspects of being in a heavy metal band.
"Norma Jean is a business. It's our business we started from the ground up," he said. "No one else can write our songs for us and decide where we play. It's all up to us."
The band's success is visible evidence of the collaboration and talent of a heavy metal group, the music of which transcends whatever labels have been attached to it. From playing in a tent during Cornerstone 2004 to headlining Ozzfest in 2006, Norma Jean shows no signs of slowing down.
"All our fans are here (at Cornerstone)," Brandan said. "It's great."
Be the first to comment on this story