LUMINÆRIES | The Making Of Polar Similar

The Making Of Norma Jean's Polar Similar

[@Qeoa]

Goose “This means the most to me out of anything in my life” 2 months later, he leaves the band to join every time I die

[@DrummerEvan1]

I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure he left over political reasons. They’ve had a lot of member changes and usually those reasons are kept pretty quiet

[@johnsmith-so5do]

Doug Dougington Norma jeans lineup has changed so much over the years. It was a bummer because they are probably my two favorite hardcore/metal bands.

[@HTXREP]

That's a soft reason to leave a band because you disagree with someone's politics

[@DrummerEvan1]

@@HTXREP yea but it happens and kind of makes sense as to why so many members have moved on throughout the years

[@heartbeatsdrum]

Here at the end of 2023 saying I still love this album dudes.

[@AnchorFamilyChurchNC]

Pastor Jen and Clayton here. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. We grew up on you...well kinda. We have followed you since the early Cornerstone years! Man, your music helped me out in so many ways. I jammed your tunes throughout my Social Work career in Milwaukee WI, while working with Jeffrey Dahmer Victims and family. Now I am a Pastor and Law Enforcement in Prisons in NC......working with Lifers. Your music takes me to and from work! THANK YOU!!!

[@jonathanstubbs8158]

I’m from NC as well. Norma Jean saved my life.

[@the-real-max-power]

It's such a shame, that such a beautiful documentary only gets 30k views on youtube these days

[@imthedudemane]

Thinking the same....smh...truly grateful...

[@Allthewayaliveful]

the most beautiful band Documentary I've ever seen

[@shelbyman6372]

I LOVE when bands make documentaries like this! I've watched this twice now and it is amazing and really showcases the hard work behind all this. What a record man, I love it more every time I listen to it. Best part of this is when all the guys are sitting around headbanging to Reaction haha

[@mikeallan8605]

Shelbyman I love band docs like this. It's awesome. And very inspiring to get up and make new stuff and get the gears going in my head

[@pablo-wm2iu]

Album. of. the. year. Thanks for this record guys, I got like 500 plays on Last.fm of it and I still don't seem to get tired

[@dreaminginnoother]

it's weird to me how my favorite bands feel like closer than my closest friends. When i connect with music, there's a depth of connection that's hard to get otherwise. I feel like Corey is one of my best friends even though he doesn't know me.

[@MrClubpenguin11]

That’s the power of human expression with real instruments and voices. Rock on brother🤘🏼I feel the same way

[@coltonaallen]

I couldn't have said it better myself! You're my best friend, Cory!

[@satanicpunker182]

No wonder this record sounds so killer, look at all that amazing gear. Of course they're all great players as well. Loved this documentary.

[@DennisAlvey]

I love this. This is by far one of the best sounding metal records I've ever heard. I love this album. The producer deserves a Grammy.

[@sethmarmon]

The whole crew is dope

[@HTXREP]

This group of guys was personally my favorite lineup Norma Jean ever had. Sounds crazy I know

[@Sithman1776]

Polar Similar was the best album ever. I don’t think anything can ever top it. Every band has that one defining album....that’s Polar Similar for NJ.

[@LudwigvanRooyen]

One of THE best album documentaries I've ever watched! Well done!!

[@myklward4148]

watch the chariots farewell docu forget not

[@TheNightdiver]

I loved seeing how the pool tracks got recorded., Stellar documentary, stellar record. Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@DooDooDaddyTV]

Bought this album on vinyl recently and was pleasantly surprised by how nice the gatefold edition was. You can tell every fragment of this album was created with love and effort. Hands down your guy's best album

[@imthedudemane]

My new favorite for sure:)

[@williepoe9026]

@@imthedudemane ,it is a great album , but none of the original members . Of course it's gonna be different

[@iron_tyson]

I love watching bands jam their songs in the studio and tracking for a record. Not enough bands show this in their 'making of' documentaries, IMO. This doc has plenty, which is great.

[@jasonryper2840]

so much so much love from BC Canada , Been listening since I was a teen and now in my 30's and i'll never stop . keep it going guys

[@Zamk21]

It started with Wrongdoers for me, but also with Polar Similar, these albums have quite literally inspired me. I'm a bass player and there was a time i was getting bored, and from the very first time I heard Wrongdoers, there was a birthing in me of a desire to play and try new things, new ways to play. And Polar Similar is just that much more. Amazing stuff guys. Thank you for all your hard work

[@artemiitomassi7121]

That's awesome. Thanks a lot for this and for amassing "polar similar".

[@utahtanner]

"No matter what happens to me in my lifetime - good or bad... I'll always have Norma Jeans album catalog to listen to." - Oprah

[@ninjahinda]

I really agree with you guys at the 18min mark. The force of Norma Jean should not stop!

[@playitloud33]

Fantastic film. Amazing job at bringing out the spirit and the darkness of the album - The focus on the personalities of the band and the location is brilliant. Thank you for Polar Similar - it is a masterpiece!!

[@zksullivan]

Love it. Thanks for posting so us digital purchasers that missed it can watch!

[@rudibasabasi]

the cinematography. is GOLD

[@imthedudemane]

Bro...I kno

[@noahz6980]

Greatest band of all time

[@valeryt4977]

Thank you, NJ! You are future, present and past of global Music.

[@sonicgauge1]

Man you guys have always been soooo perfectly disgusting and beautiful at the same time. definitely the most at what you do , sonically and lyrically. your music has always inspired me and your lyrics have always challenged me... I would love an opportunity to shake hands with each of you and personally thank you for participating and what God has done in my life over the years... God bless Norma Jean!!!

[@imthedudemane]

The most impress songwriters.....this album is so great!

[@luiscarrera2827]

best album of 2016

[@RicosTinFoilSombrero]

Oh man...i almost hate to be this 'heart on the sleeve', but this LP came out when i was going through THE WORST chapter of my ENTIRE life!?!....BUT, I also came out of this darkness whilst wearing out PS....man!?!...THANK YOU GUYS!!! ill never likely find the words to express what you guys did for me!?!...and also...i met/bonded with Cory @ the OGTA 10yr tour....you were so kind and understanding!!! im sure im all over the place here, but i TRULY love you guys!!!! God Bless!!!!....Ricö

[@irotinmyskin]

Just found this doc. Polar Similar is such a massive record. When I thought they couldn't top Redeemer, then a couple of records later, Wrongdoers did it, when I thought that couldn't be topped: Polar Similar. And on top of that, All Hail and the new record are also amazing.

[@brockjacksonanythingcouldh4536]

Great film guys! Great music as always!

[@nicolas.s2489]

Keep going. We love you.

[@wallboi7]

Album after album you guys turn out incredible music, which is so tricky. Things change, people change, and in your case members change. I had no idea to what extent when I first started listening, but I guess even with all the same members you may change just as much. Your viewpoint is so refreshing too, that you're just a steward of the name, creating music that will survive you. So maybe one day you'll turn out an album I don't like, but it'll be right. I feel fortunate that your sound hasn't just resonated with me, but has moved me forward, and seeing how passionate you are about it inspires me to create for me, regardless of how much I change.

[@imthedudemane]

The tone is very empowering , hell dam right

[@DarkRulerHaDes666]

I've been a fan since The Anti Mother, and I have to say that Polar Similar is a fantastic album. It manages to shine through as a new/different thing, while also seeming like a return to form. Ironic, considering the album title.

[@Bryan-hx2cf]

Underrated band and underrated documentary.

[@WhopyStompy]

I've probably watched the documentary for Wrongdoers at least 15 times. perhaps it's because I'm a die hard fan, but I liked being able to see first hand some of the hard work you guys do. not that I doubt it, but I think it gave me an appreciation for the album when there was already so much to begin with. I fucking love Polar Similar. I like it's direction, it's message, the lyrics, the riffs, the eerie tracks, and the albums melody as an entirety. all this and i haven't seen this 45 minute slice of heaven. how much more admiration can this band acquire from one fan? I'm sure plenty more.

[@WhopyStompy]

Couldn't watch this earlier since I was at work. laid down an hour ago to go to bed and remembered about it. glad I watched. the pool room and Jeff's contributions and talent that shined in there, WOW! got to know the new guitarist Philly, which is awesome because I felt like I was the only one who noticed Chris Day wasnt around anymore. Sad to see him go, but from what I gathered in the video, it was for the best for both the band and him. Welcome to the legacy, Philly. Goose just pouring hard work on the drums and my spinal colum and Cory for screaming at me on my commutes to and from work. this is hands down my favorite band. Thank you for putting this out. for pushing yourselves to maintain your integrity and creating amazing music. John, the last two albums have made my life better. Wrongdoers got me through the suicide of a close friend and polar similar has helped me reflect on what kind of man I want to be for my daughter who joined us this month. So thanks for your contributions. saw you guys in Denver this past November, ran into Jeff on my way out and told him that I'm digging the "new" line up with the band and the work you're doing. keep it up and I'll keep buying your records, merch and praying to be home for shows! nothing but respect and love for this band, your work and you guys! God bless!

[@scottlauren3145]

Can you please provide a link for the Wrongdoers documentary? I own the CD, but I know it didn't come with anything other than the music disc. I would like to watch it. Thanks

[@IfSwineFlu]

I was just thinking that y'all needed to make a studio documentary for the album!

[@mikeallan8605]

The riff by the pool at 28:13 is so sick. Idk what song it's in cuz I haven't listened to the record all the way through. But if it's in a song I'd like to know which one. Cuz it's so haunting sounding. Plus I wanna learn how to play it

[@nicneff4111]

It’s the beginning of IV. The Nexus. I haven’t been able to figure it out and I can’t find tabs :/

[@zdesigns2802]

Mike Allan it sounds as if its almost the same frets as a tool song but slowed down a bit. I cant remember the song as this moment.

[@jbasti227]

@@zdesigns2802 To me it sounds a bit like the song Lateralus

[@VELKRO20]

How did I not know this existed until now!?

[@blakeparthenay3049]

You guys are fucking legends i swear. You are everything that is right in the metal scene.

[@kevinzalac8945]

Loved this record. Especially the western/ Cormac McCarthy vibe on many of the tracks

[@hauntsywauntsy]

Looks like Philly played a huge part in this. Almost like he's been in the band all along.

[@masjuhairimaskun4618]

Beast. Best.

[@Forbidden-po8ey]

I am so much more into Norma Jean after this! Fuckkkkk so stoked to go listen to this record now! Also, great fucking documentary. your film/editor(s) are killer!

[@hobbitrave]

Very inspiring. ❤

[@alinhopeless1367]

Norma Jean я вас люблю ♥ ♥ ♥

[@jhosmetal]

Polar similar el mejor album de esta gran banda

[@plukz10]

I love you guys

[@used019]

I spy a Jericho guitar.... Nice

[@arteriesband]

This is so fucking sick boys! Miss you guys

[@elijahbruce1518]

[@coinghost660]

NORMA JEAN IN HER FINAL FORM !!!!!

[@anthonyvazquez6916]

Saludos desde México. 🙌

[@jaharris3rd]

"Verb?"... "I'm so fucking lost right now" 😂

[@jeffd.3883]

12:35 - 14:27 If you're not feeling that, you're dead

[@sebastianviuf]

What is the song?

[@MetZelRio]

Actually, could you PLEASE make O God the aftermath part 2? Until you said you weren't trying to do that, I never thought that I actually wanted a part too. But yeah I do!

[@mickaflopalypse7081]

its weird there are no original members but its still a good band

[@RmfDiz]

Its what keeps them fresh, honestly, the constant member changes. Like they say in doc, its more of a collective.

[@anthonyvazquez6916]

Cory sufriendo con la impresora. 😂😂

[@ZJ-Hebimetasan]

32:17 "There a lot of fuck yeah going on right now". Exactly.

[@sethmarmon]

Shout out to "Bob" i still get lost in the quality of these sessions.

[@numetalforchrist]

pioneers of nu metalcore

[@TheseBitchesWantNikes]

Partially. Emmure also has that claim.

[@mullandglow]

Does anybody know where I can find the making of Wrongdoers documentary? It doesn't seem to be available through iTunes anymore and I wanted to study the sound of it and this record to improve my mixing skills.

[@ChristopherRoss.]

39715

[@ross5066]

66475

[@marijnjc]

106190

[@jeffd.3883]

Tabs?

[@ilovesecretagents]

@@jeffd.3883 the numbers station used in II. The people

[@jeffd.3883]

@@ilovesecretagents lol I know

[@dreaminginnoother]

Josh Scogin is my favorite hardcore singer of all time, but if anyone could take over NJ, it's Corey. Fuckin' Jorma Jean is just as incredible as the chariot. I'd say at this point, Corey's making better music than Josh even.

[@jonathanstubbs8158]

True.

[@adamphillips6208]

The guitar being played at 15:34...... does anybody know what it is, it looks amazing

[@garrettpacker5923]

Pretty sure it's a Jericho Fusion. It's got the logo and the same look.

[@victorgomes2714]

13:00 = insane

[@LeeHC33]

Too bad Jeff and Phillip are no longer with NJ. Wish they would be able to retain band members.

[@pablovanych507]

Похоже что в группе нет постоянных участников.

[@raammaharsh3029]

That is awesome guys! Well done!

[@dzzzzza]

Guys what is the the brand of the guitar that looks like tele and has the F or T logo? Corey is playing it at the very beginning.

[@adamstockman8845]

It’s a Jericho.

[@maxialegre6363]

Quien puede subtitularlo al español?

[@VELKRO20]

what was that pedal that was the shit?

[@Apazia]

Fuck I enjoyed the whole documentary.

[@backtoemocovers]

why would i leave a band after recording an album like that?

[@imthedudemane]

Cancer

[@DeadlyRythmnStudio]

Slick the Skeet really? That sucks, bassist?

[@Utomneian]

okay, so i had a long time to listen and think about this album, and while it's good, i have some mixed feelings. first of all, i think it's too bold to say this album was a major departure from Wrongdoers, it really wasn't that different, so i don't think you should advertise it as such. i think it definitely stands out from Wrongdoers, and improved on a lot of things, and added more elements that were not quite there as much, like hardcore breakdowns and more melody in the vocal progression, but overall i wasn't like surprised or super blown away by Polar Similar. i guess i just have a particular measuring stick for what actually constitutes as a musical departure, like how Ulver went from black metal to techno rock, or how Skrillex went from brostep to soul-less pop music, or how The Flashbulb shifts his music from like classical piano music to IDM and so on. Wrongdoers to Polar Similar was like "hey, a metalcore album with not so much for breakdowns, to a metalcore album with more breakdowns and some more singing" and i'm not saying it's a bad album, i like Wrongdoers and Polar Similar about the same at this point, but i feel like the shift is like from Orange-Yellow to Yellow-Green, but you're making it seem like you shifted from Green to Red, lol... anyways, that's just a minor gripe, don't take it to heart, but i'll get onto the more important things i wanted to say now. so i think for a band that doesn't have any original members, you have definitely stayed true to the core of Norma Jean, even if this is quite a bit away from Bless the Martyr at this point. speaking of Josh Scogin though, you were talking about song names, and i can't help but to notice a coincidence between The Chariot's Long Live album's titles, and the titles for Polar Similar. now this probably was completely a coincidence, these albums were produced over 5 years apart, but i just thought it was kind of amusing, it's like Josh Scogin's spirit is still with you, even if it's unintentional

[@xmodusoperandix]

imagine putting this much effort in to some thing that literally not one person gave a fuck to read

[@willwilson8964]

@@xmodusoperandix to be fair, I read it...but I'm worse off for doing so lol

[@jackcravford8744]

DUDE, wrongdoers and PS are completely different records. Wrongdoers sounds like a throwback to the oldschool punk/hardcore music. Delay in the vocals, unkempt cymbals, odd kick, dusty snare, lot of distortion all the way through, lot of guitar feedbacks and odd buzz from guitars, really long one take vocals, fast and short punk songs. Goose also recorded ALL drum patterns separately. Polar Similar has much more post-metal edge, longer songs, much more cold atmosphere, less feedbacks and vocals are much more melodic. It sounds like modern sludge/post-metal record on steroids. Even intro songs are completely different, that same goes to the closer songs. Drums are recorded different now with much more use of other percussions.

[@Utomneian]

@@jackcravford8744 you do realize Hive Minds and Sun Dies are on Wrongdoers, correct? if i never knew this band's music and their albums, i would assume a 50/50 chance of guessing which album these songs are from. Dragonforce has a larger stylistic gap between Valley of the Damned and Sonic Firestorm, than Wrongdoers and Polar Similar.

[@jackcravford8744]

@@Utomneian Yes, i know, but i am trying to say that Hive Minds is completely different realm than Planet. Hive Minds (Wrongdoers intro) is about pride and how it can be dangerous and how it can shift. The song structure is shifting upwards like the vines, within the context of the topic and lyrics. Planet (Polar intro) is completely different intro, short, faster and on point and more cold - when Hive Minds is long, noisy and loud. - Hive Minds is using two drum sets, than one. Keyboard is also present based on booklet and based on what we can hear. Sun Dies (outro of Wrongdoers) is using lot of live instruments - pianos, strings, cello, violin, keyboards, organ, bow cymbal and LOT OF distortion. Nexus (outro of Polar) has much more post-metal edge, with long ambient schemes and again, feels much more cold. I think this is really different and i can hear it perfectly. Even covers of the records and booklets are COMPLETELY different, both records are mixed and produced by lot of different ways :) Wrongdoers is much more punky and chaotic record, cause the band members were new and they were searching for the key, how to work together. Polar was recorded below degree, in nice, shiny studio and the band was perfectly synced, so it sounds much more controlled. Wrongdoers is like oldschool hardcore punk, with demo production, demo vocals and demo mixing - Polar has modern sounding veil, with much more huge use of ambience. Drums on Polar Similar used the ambience room more than Wrongdoers drums, that were recorded SEPARATELY. + On Polar Similar, we can actually hear three guitars, sometimes more - one in left headphone, one in right headphone, one in the middle. Wrongdoers has two only. So i think there is enough difference between both records.

[@jbasti227]

13:03 fuck that is so dirty. So sludgy

[@CamxCam.]

14:38 Yes... Yes we do. We most certainly fucking do!!

[@williepoe9026]

Illuminati symbols

[@ryanrobertson7218]

Is Norma Jean a cover band covering Norma Jean at this point?

[@brownmoney27]

This band is like the pop group girls allowed. No original members, keeping the original name to ride off the back of their former members success. They even do a medley of covers from the first NJ album. Music sounds completely irrelevant

[@SLAYINGBYTHEMOMENT]

Much respect, but nothing beats Bless The Martyr, Kiss The Child...THAT Norma Jean is Norma Jean.

[@bennjmin]

BS

[@zekeescra5791]

Yeah you gotta be fucked to think Martyr is even remotely better than anything they did afterwards.

[@Slevinlobell]

you cant say "much respect" then just totally shit on em after,doesnt work that way,lol

[@4leEsc]

YOU ARE AWESOME thank you for the music! when i get out of work and play the disc in the car at max volume..that's liberating! hope you'll make a similar video for "All Hail"