Norma Jean fifth album Meridional which will be released July 13th on Razor & Tie. Meridional revisits the abrasive and chaotic roots of classic Norma Jean while offering fans a dark experimental side - the band stretching out on moody, slow-burn jams. It is an album that finds the band comfortable in its legacy but progressive and bold in its creativity.Meridional was recorded in February 2010 at Glow in the Dark Studios in Atlanta with producer Jeremy Griffith. The band recorded eleven official tracks for the record as well as a few extra bonus tracks and B-sides.
Vocalist Cory Brandan described Meridional, "It's a heavy record, multifaceted with epic sounding, experimental songs, some fast, chaotic songs, and some melodic, commanding interludes. Any track we didn't think had reached its utmost sonic prowess was given a second look, revised to be as powerful as possible."
The album's release coincides with the start of the Mayhem Festival where Norma Jean will be playing on the Mayhem Festival Stage with Atreyu, In This Moment, and 3 Inches Of Blood. Mayhem Festival headliners include Korn, Rob Zombie, Lamb Of God, and Five Finger Death Punch. Norma Jean will also be embarking on a two week tour with Every Time I Die starting May 11th. The band will perform new material on the limited club tour to give fans a taste of the upcoming album release. Cory Brandan commented, "If we had to choose any band to be stuck with on tour, it would be Every Time I Die. They're one of our favorite bands, full of musicians that we respect. We only wish it was longer or could be liquefied so I could mainline it."
May 11 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall *
May 12 - Jermyn, PA - Eleanor Rigby's *
May 14 - Lexington, KY - Buster's *
May 15 - Birmingham, AL - Zydeco *
May 16 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel *
May 17 - Nashville, TN - Rocketown *
May 18 - Columbia, MO - Mojos *
May 19 - Springfield, MO - Remington's Downtown *
May 21 - Little Rock, AR - The Village *
May 22 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues *
May 23 - Jacksonville, FL - Freebird Live *
May 24 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm *
May 25 - Wilmington, NC - Soapbox *
*With Every Time I Die and Cancer Bats
July 10 - San Bernardino, CA - San Manual Amphitheater **
July 11 - View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater **
July 13 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheater **
July 14 - Nampa, ID - Idaho Center Amphitheater **
July 16 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Wireless Pavilion **
July 17 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion **
July 18 - Englewood, CO - Comfort Dental Amphitheater **
July 20 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater **
July 21 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center **
July 23 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center **
July 24 - Hartford, CT - The Comcast Theatre **
July 25 - Montreal, Quebec - Parc Jean Drapeau **
July 27 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center **
July 28 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center **
July 30 - Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheater **
July 31 - Noblesville, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center **
Aug 1 - Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheater **
Aug 3 - Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Pavilion @ Walnut Creek **
Aug 4 - Virginia Beach, VA - Virginia Beach Amphitheater **
Aug 6 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre **
Aug 7 - Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion **
Aug 8 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live **
Aug 10 - Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre **
Aug 11 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheater **
Aug 13 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Center **
Aug 14 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre **
**Mayhem Festival