Norma Jean Announce Summer Tour Dates

Norma Jean’s summer tour dates, including a U.S. run with This or The Apocalypse and Ice Nine Kills and a European run that includes a Russian show are below.

NORMA JEAN
USA SUMMER 2012
w/ THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE & ICE NINE KILLS

7/5 Nashville, TN @ Rocketown – TICKETS
7/7 Bushnell, IL @ Cornerstone Festival – TICKETS
7/8 Dayton, OH @ The Attic – TICKETS
7/10 Joliet, IL @ Mojoes – TICKETS
7/11 Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theatre – TICKETS
7/12 Oshkosh, WI @ Lifest – TICKETS
7/13 Evansville, IN @ Fuel – TICKETS
7/14 Little Rock, AR @ Juanita’s
7/16 Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge – TICKETS

NORMA JEAN
EUROPEAN SUMMER 2012

04.08.12 UK Port Lympne Wild Animal Park @ Hevy Fest
05.08.12 Greece Athens @ Seven Sins
07.08.12 Ukraine Kiev @ Bingo
08.08.12 Russia Moscow @ Plan B
10.08.12 Belgium Ieper @ Ieper Fest
11.08.12 Czech Rep Jaromer @ Brutal Assault
12.08.12 Germany Wiesbaden @ Schlachthof
13.08.12 France Paris @ Batofar w/ Darkest Hour
14.08.12 France Nantes @ Le Ferrailleur w/ Darkest Hour
15.08.12 Switzerland Basel @ Sommercasino w/ Darkest Hour
16.08.12 Germany Dinkelsbühl @ Summer Breeze
17.08.12 Holland Bussloo @ Xnoizz Flevo Festival
18.08.12 Germany Krögis/Dresden @ Manifest Fest
19.08.12 Germany Lüdinghausen @ Area 4

Norma Jean to enter the studio in the Winter

A message from the band is below:

Back in August of 2011 we announced that we were beginning to write a new record. We had originally planned to record in January 2012, but as Jan grew closer we decided to push the recording back to July 2012. We had way more ideas than we expected and wanted to make sure we did everything we wanted. To put it simply.

After that, we moved recording to July. When March rolled around we started to get Summer offers for shows and tours, and of course we choose playing over anything. Including playing this years final Cornerstone Festival, and Lifest. So we decided to push back our recording again.

We set our sights for recording in Sept. but since recording that late in the year would bring an early 2013 at the earliest, we have decided to take a tour in Sept/Oct (To be announced) and record THIS FALL/WINTER. Yes. We are definitely recording this Winter. Stop asking us to play shows, because we have a hard time saying no.

Other than that, we are VERY excited for this record. It will not disappoint and we have some interesting collaborations coming with it. It WILL be heavy and it will be something new.

In the meantime. Listen to MERIDIONAL. Did you know it has two B-sides? (Distance to Planets & Kill More Presidents) ALSO, did you know that if you stack Occidental, Oriental and Septentrional that is actually one song? Just line up the clicks at the beginning in Garageband or something. Have fun.

We are also working on a DVD. The DVD will tell the story of Norma Jean and have lots of behind the scenes footage and interviews. Past and present members.

Check out our shows coming up in the USA and Europe/Russia and come hang at a show. You may hear a new song…

Review: To Speak of Wolves - Find Your Worth, Come Home

To Speak of Wolves - Find Your Worth, Come Home
Record Label: Solid State Records
Release Date: May 22nd, 2012

I first heard of Greensboro, NC natives To Speak of Wolves when I saw them open for Underoath and Emery back in 2009. Releasing “Myself<Letting Go” to rave reviews in 2010, the band lost original vocalist, Rick Jacobs and picked up Oh, Sleeper’s merch guy Gage Speas for vocal duty. After seeing the band three times (once with Rick Jacob and twice with Gage Speas, I can honestly say they’ve found their sound with the new vocalist. “Find Your Worth, Come Home" contains two guest vocals from Micah Kinard of Oh, Sleeper on “Stand Alone Complex”, and Levi the Poet on “Rearview Memories” which gives the album variation. To Speak of Wolves waste no time shifting into high gear with the ferocious opener, "Hivemind" which smashes through the wall and grabs you by the throat. It’s quite obvious the band are influenced by The Chariot and Norma Jean (back when they had Josh Scogin in the band) which is evident in guitarists Corey Doran and Aaron Kisling’s chaotic playing even more so in Gage’s raw vocals. Thankfully, their guitar playing stands out among hundreds of other bands who prefer chugging and breakdowns over innovative riffs. Phil Chamberlain’s drumming really shines through on this record, especially on the songs, "Je Suis Fini", "Broken Birds", and Hivemind. It’s safe to say that To Speak of Wolves have secured their place as one of Solid State’s next big bands.

8.5/10

Exploding Horse - The Great Mechanical Pig (2012)

Exploding Horse is not for the weak of heart, for the simple-minded, or for anybody who does not want to totally fuck their neck up, and it does not matter the reasons behind their recent name change. Do not be thrown off by some of the titles they have given their songs – Blonde Mustache, Turbo Tommy, The Great Mechanical Pig – for these names do not dive into the music deeply enough. You have to listen to each of them and feel all the passion, rage, and disturbing similarities to ourselves to truly know where these guys come from. The Carolina’s metal scene is for sure alive and well, and the music I had lost touch with for so many years has come back into my life with the exact sound that Exploding Horse brings to my mind when thinking of where the aura of death metal had gone.

Country : USA
Genre : Heavy/Grind/Death/Progressive
Quality : 320 kbps [Cd-Rip]

Download

Note: This album was made available for FREE by the band. Related tags are bands they’ve played with.

EXCLUSIVE: Norma Jean reveal headline tour dates with Oh, Sleeper

Norma Jean announce PIZZA RIOT 2011 tour dates with Oh Sleeper, Close Your Eyes, Stray from the Path, and Lower Than Atlantis.

Tuesday, November 29th 2011 Savannah, GA at City Church Savannah

Wednesday, November 30th 2011 Montgomery, AL at Iceberg Lounge

Friday, December 2nd 2011 Austin, TX at Emo’s East

Saturday, December 3rd 2011 Corpus Christi, TX at House of Rock

Sunday, December 4th 2011 Odessa, TX at Dos Amigos

Monday, December 5th 2011 El Paso, TX at Open Gate Church

Tuesday, December 6th 2011 Tempe, AZ at Clubhouse

Wednesday, December 7th 2011 Lancaster, CA at Industry Theatre

Thursday, December 8th 2011 Anaheim, CA at Chain Reaction

Friday, December 9th 2011 Fresno, CA at Club Retro

Saturday, December 10th 2011 Bakersfield, CA at Jerry’s

Sunday, December 11th 2011 West Hollywood, CA at Key Club

Tuesday, December 13th 2011 Oklahoma City, OK at The Conservatory

Wednesday, December 14th 2011 Memphis, TN at TBA (Check back)

Thursday, December 15th 2011 Chattanooga, TN at The Warehouse

Friday, December 16th 2011 Asheville, NC at The Orange Peel

Saturday, December 17th 2011 Columbia, SC at New Brookland Tavern

Sunday, December 18th 2011 Atlanta, GA at The Masquerade

Norma Jean announce US winter headline tour

Norma Jean, Oh, Sleeper, Stray From The Path and Lower Than Atlantis are reportedly planning a December run of shows together. Close Your Eyes and Memphis May Fire will also appear on select dates. The following shows have been revealed thus far:

12/2 Austin, TX @ Emo’s East
12/3 Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock w/ Close Your Eyes
12/5 El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls w/ Close Your Eyes
12/6 Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse Music Venue w/ Close Your Eyes
12/9 Fresno, CA @ Club Retro / Memphis May Fire
12/11 West Hollywood, CA @ Key Club w/ Memphis May Fire
12/13 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory w/ Memphis May Fire

Interview: Stray From The Path

Thomas, the guitarist of Stray From The Path (one of the best hardcore bands on the scene) talked with Kill The Music to discuss their new music video, his view on the current music scene, and his thoughts on Warped Tour.

You guys just filmed a music video; any hints as to what song it is? Is it one of the three songs with guest vocalists?

Tom: It is one of the 3 songs on the record that has a guest appearance, and yes they will be in the video. That’s all I’ll say!

What is your opinion on the current state of the music scene?

That’s a difficult question. I usually judge it by “am I mad all the time or stoked?” lately I’m stoked. This week alone lots of great records coming out, lots of great tour packages together and I didn’t re-new my alternative press subscription, so I’m not as angry. A lot of people have bought our new record, more than we expected, so I’m stoked on music and the people.

Growing up, how was the scene back home in Long Island?

Growing Up? Phenomenal. Local bands would sell out shows, and the bands were so good. Any tours that came into town were in small clubs….I saw Norma Jean, Bleeding Through and Every Time I Die in a fucking garage. I saw American Nightmare and Poison the Well in a cafe! Shit ruled…but it is coming back, for awhile long island was AWFUL, but now it’s really great.

Would you guys play Warped Tour if you got offered a spot even though you’d be out of your element surrounded by bands like the ones in iMember?

We are trying very hard to get Warped Tour. The kids that like these bands, like them because the scene that they know are the Warped Tour bands. We want to infiltrate and show kids that there is more out there than characters, gimmicks and Black Veil Brides. Our element is where the people are, we want to tour with everything, from underoath to terror, we have no restrictions, just as long as we feel we have a purpose on the stage.

Who are a few bands that you feel everyone should be listening and/or not listening to right now? Like say, the bands you call out in iMember…

Should be? Structures new record is amazing, Counterparts new record is amazing, Backtrack, Close your Eyes, Sights and Sounds, The Contortionist.

Shouldn’t? Do I have enough space? Haha..no there is a fine line between calling out and shit talking…and shit talking is juvenile….so I’ll leave it at that. You know the bands that suck, fake, weak, full of gimmicks, characters…it’s endless. But one thing we want to avoid is judging the people that actually enjoy that music. We aren’t elitists, and it would make us dick suckers to make fun of someone because of what they listen too. We just want to open their eyes and ears and show them our opinion that they are being deceived, lied to, and in a sense…stolen from. A lot of our fans listen to Asking Alexandria or Attack Attack just as much as Deftones or terror….last thing we want is to make them feel like we are making fun of them. 

Is iMember aimed at any bands on your record label? (Sumerian)

The song was not aimed at anybody specific…not even Attack Attack. We used that clip because it is evidence that these people in these bands don’t have a single clue of what this scene is about. The bands are everywhere .

I think this would make a great tour: The Chariot, Stray From The Path, The Ghost Inside, Cancer Bats, and Your Demise. What do you think of it?
We have toured with all those bands except YD. Would be a fantastic time for sure. 

Speaking of which; I read somewhere that you’re doing a US Tour with Norma Jean, Lower Than Atlantis, and Close Your Eyes. Can you confirm or deny this and give us a timeline of when this tour takes place if it’s actually happening.
Yep and Oh Sleeper; this winter. 

What’s the top five most well received songs generally when playing a show?
Damien, Negative and Violent, Fraudulent, Rising Sun, Mad Girl. 

In your opinion, which is the best run venues from a production and band point of view?
Great question; there is The 7 Venue in Douglasville, GA….great venue, great staff…not the best sound, but it’s coming around for sure. The Loft in Poughkeepsiee, NY, and Kingdom (formerly Alley Katz) in Richmond, VA. Those come off the top of my head. 

Last question; pick two songs; one from your catalog, that you want new fans to check out after reading this interview. And one song from any band/genre.

I would say…. Damien or Bring It Back To The Streets. Those are my personal two favorites off Make Your Own History and Rising Sun, and from any band; Be Quiet and Drive from the Deftones. Put on a good pair of headphones and turn the song up as loud as it can go, and enjoy. One of my favorite musical experiences.

Norma Jean announce European tour dates

Norma Jean have announced their European and Russian tour with The Chariot, Stray From The Path, and Admiral’s Arms.

24.02.12 Germany Stuttgart @ Röhre
25.02.12 Belgium Antwerp @ Trix
26.02.12 UK Cardiff @ CF10, University
27.02.12 UK Birmingham @ O2 Academy2
28.02.12 UK Glasgow @ O2 ABC2
29.02.12 Ireland Dublin @ The Button Factory
01.03.12 North Ireland Belfast @ Limelight
02.03.12 UK Sheffield @ Corporation
03.03.12 UK London @ Underworld
05.03.12 France Paris @ Divan Du monde
06.03.12 Switzerland @ Aarau Kiff
07.03.12 Italy Mezzago (MB) @ Bloom
08.03.12 Austria Wien @ Arena
09.03.12 Hungary Budapest @ Dürer Kert
10.03.12 Germany München @ Feierwerk
11.03.12 Germany Berlin @ Lido
12.03.12 Germany Aschaffenburg @ Colos Saal
13.03.12 Germany Hamburg @ Hafenklang
14.03.12 Sweden Gothenburg @ Fängelset
15.03.12 Norway Oslo @ Sub Scene
16.03.12 Sweden Stockholm @ Klubben
18.03.12 Finland Helsinki @ Nosturi
20.03.12 Denmark Copenhagen @ The Rock
21.03.12 Holland Eindhoven @ Dynamo
22.03.12 Germany Saarbrücken @ Garage
23.03.12 Germany Dresden @ Scheune
24.03.12 Germany Köln @ Essigfabrik
26.03.12 Russia St Petersburg @ Zal Ojidaniya
27.03.12 Russia Moscow @ Plan B

My interview with Thom Green of Sleeping Giant!