AUBURN, Washington -- Most of the bands that have worked with master metal producer Ross Robinson (Slipknot, Korn, At the Drive-In) characterize the experience as life-changing. And for GeorgiaGeorgia metalcore band Norma Jean, it was no different.

"I'd wanted to record with him for 10 years," explained drummer Daniel Davison, who tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend three weeks ago -- a life-altering experience in itself. "His input and insight into the songs [that will appear on the band's fifth LP, Redeemer, due in stores August 15] was subtle -- small things that gave the record a little more character. He was just the most positive and encouraging person I have ever met, and he had this way of bringing a lot out of us, emotionally, and he got the most intense sounds out of us."

Norma Jean -- who, on Wednesday, were rehearsing for their summer appearance on Ozzfest's second stage -- are still reeling from the Robinson experience, which began back in January. The band, which had spent most of 2005 on the road in support of its rabid O God, the Aftermath, considered the entire undertaking therapeutic, said Davison.

"We would talk about each song for, like, two hours," he recalled. "We'd talk about the lyrics and what certain lines meant and what they meant to each of us, where certain lyrics came from, what inspired the songs. And that's going to stick with us forever. This record just blows away anything we've ever done, and Ross captured all of the raw intensity of the entire recording process."

Before Redeemer's release in August, of course, there's Ozzfest, which kicked off here Thursday. Norma Jean are nervous about playing before some of the biggest crowds they've ever seen, but just because "we've only practiced once since we returned from the studio" earlier this month; Davison was on his honeymoon for two weeks.

"But we did play the Sounds of the Underground last year, which was a neat way to be introduced to summer festival tours -- it was a good primer for Ozzfest," he noted. "I think we offer something a little different than the straight-up metal bands on the bill, so it should be awesome."

Norma Jean plan to spend the rest of the year promoting the album. This fall, they'll follow Ozzfest with a U.S. headlining trek, along with Between the Buried and Me, Fear Before the March of Flames and two other to-be-determined openers. The first single from the 11-track LP will be "A Grand Scene for a Color Film," but the band has no plans to shoot a video yet.

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