Nora's members began playing together in 1996, and their first release was the Kill You For A Dollar EP followed soon after by a split CDEP with the Dillinger Escape Plan on Ferret Records.
Following this EP, Mike Olender and John Kohler left to pursue Burnt By The Sun and Ex Number Five, and the band moved forward with Matt "Portland" Hay and Matt "Frenchie" Haick filling the guitar spots.
Following the departure of Matt Haick, who left to pursue his other project Merciana, and original bassist Spliedt during 2002, the lineup of Severson, Hay (guitar), Ross (drums) welcomed new bassist Tim Cuccolo (ex-Ex Number Five) and Chris Byrnes (guitar) and released Dreamers & Deadmen in 2003.
The following year, Byrnes exited to go join Every Time I Die, and former Nora guitarist/Burnt by the Sun vocalist Mike Olender came back in his place.
[4] Carl Severson and Mike Olender attended high school with Trustkill owner and president Josh Grabelle.