A lot of conservative ears readily dismiss metalcore — the melding of heavy metal and hardcore punk — as a cacophony of aggressive, screamed vocals over strangely syncopated rhythms and riffs.

The members of the Altanta-based metalcore band Norma Jean throw an extra variable into the equation: They're Christian.

In a genre that includes acts with monikers like Hatebreed and Agnostic Front — acts that thrive in wild, thrashing venues like Ozzfest — Norma Jean's music fits right in. In fact, the band played Ozzfest in 2006, and their videos have been featured on MTV2's "Headbangers Ball."

Covering the distance between what appears to be opposing musical and philosophical poles isn't so tough, according to lead singer Cory Brandan. He says it's as simple as faith.

"As far as music goes, we're a heavy band. We love heavy music," Brandan said in a telephone interview from the road. "The kind of music we play is metal/punk/hardcore … and we are all Christians. It's really that simple. … It is our personality, and some of our content is based on that."

Norma Jean and four other bands of their ilk, including fellow Christian metalcore acts The Chariot and locals Ace Augustine, will put on a show Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Chameleon in downtown Lancaster.

Formed in 1997, Norma Jean is Brandan, guitarists Chris Day and Scottie Henry, bassist Jake Schultz and drummer Chris Raines. They're in the midst of a frenetic four-week, 24-show tour of the U.S. and Canada, playing material from their four studio albums.

The success of Norma Jean's first two albums, "Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child" (2002, Solid State) and "O God, the Aftermath" (2005, Solid State) attracted noted metalman Ross Robinson (Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot), who produced "Redeemer" (2006, Century Media Records) and "Norma Jean Vs. the Anti Mother," which was released in August 2008 on EMI's Christian Music Group label.

The band will look elsewhere for production assistance for its next album, due out mid-2010, but getting Robinson's input was a real coup.

"He's amazing," Brandan said. "Working with him was kind of a dream in the first place because he's done so many of our favorite records.

"After doing it, we looked back and thought, 'Wow, this is the guy we wanted to work with when were in high school.' And here we are doing it."

Norma Jean, with supporting acts Horse the Band, The Chariot, Arsonists Get All the Girls and Ace Augustine, will perform Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Chameleon Club, 223 N. Water St., in downtown Lancaster. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 299-9684.