Drew Beringer
04/23/09, 07:51 AM
The Chariot – Wars and Rumors of Wars
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Record Label: Solid State
The Chariot never claimed they were going to reinvent the wheel. In fact, the Josh Scogin-led project has just always wanted to play chaotic music that consistently bashes your skull in. And all their releases have done just that. So you shouldn’t be expecting anything different from the band’s third full length, Wars and Rumors of Wars. Really, why would you want them to be any different?
Wars and Rumors of Wars is a roided up version of 2007’s The Fiancee. A lot of Wars flows in the same vein as its predecessor, but it features better structure, more complexities, and improved instrumentation. The band doesn’t sound like a bunch of cavemen on their instruments anymore. Wars is also beefed up by Scogin’s always reliable maniacal growl. First blood is drawn on “Teach:,” as guitar chords rise and fall while Scogin reveals, “Victory is such a lonely word!” The first track sets the example that Wars won’t sound like one long song.
The Chariot cooks up a little punk riot with “Need:,” while the weight of “Impress.” will straight up crush you. “Never I” bounces between sped-up chords and drums and pulverizing breakdowns, including one of the heaviest outros the band has ever done. “Giveth” sludges along with Scogin screaming his guts out, and “Daggers” provides some fire (“War is only skin deep!”). The transition from a lonely guitar strum into huge theatrics is a Chariot-staple, and it doesn’t disappoint here. Closer “Mrs. Montgomery Alabama” begins with a campy piano chord and breaks into menacing guitar parts from Bryan Taylor and Dan Vokey. Scogin spits another one-liner (“Love is easier made than kept.”) that will be a popular Facebook status in a few weeks. This track features a few different tempos and fades out with some guitar feedback and sporadic drum beats.
Wars and Rumors of Wars is the essential Chariot album as it doesn’t sound like 100% noise all the time. The improved musicianship is a huge plus, as it gives a lot of these tracks a sense of direction and purpose. While their debut album will still hold the number one spot in some fans hearts (due to nostalgic reasons), Wars is the finest Chariot album to date. There are a few snags, such as the bland “Evolve:.” Also, the fact that this album doesn’t reach any new heights for the band can be seen as a negative, but it’s an enjoyable negative. This War isn’t going to set the metalcore world on fire, but it’s chaotic, unpredictable, and overall a blast to listen to.
Track Listing:
1. Teach:
2. Evolve:
3. Need:
4. Impress.
5. Never I
6. Giveth
7. Abandon:
8. Daggers
9. Oversea
10. Mrs. Montgomery Alabama iii
The Chariot is:
Josh Scogin – vocals
Bryan Taylor – guitar
Don Vokey – guitar
Jon Kindler – bass
David Kennedy – drums
Official Website (http://www.thechariot.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/thechariot); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thechariot)
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Record Label: Solid State
The Chariot never claimed they were going to reinvent the wheel. In fact, the Josh Scogin-led project has just always wanted to play chaotic music that consistently bashes your skull in. And all their releases have done just that. So you shouldn’t be expecting anything different from the band’s third full length, Wars and Rumors of Wars. Really, why would you want them to be any different?
Wars and Rumors of Wars is a roided up version of 2007’s The Fiancee. A lot of Wars flows in the same vein as its predecessor, but it features better structure, more complexities, and improved instrumentation. The band doesn’t sound like a bunch of cavemen on their instruments anymore. Wars is also beefed up by Scogin’s always reliable maniacal growl. First blood is drawn on “Teach:,” as guitar chords rise and fall while Scogin reveals, “Victory is such a lonely word!” The first track sets the example that Wars won’t sound like one long song.
The Chariot cooks up a little punk riot with “Need:,” while the weight of “Impress.” will straight up crush you. “Never I” bounces between sped-up chords and drums and pulverizing breakdowns, including one of the heaviest outros the band has ever done. “Giveth” sludges along with Scogin screaming his guts out, and “Daggers” provides some fire (“War is only skin deep!”). The transition from a lonely guitar strum into huge theatrics is a Chariot-staple, and it doesn’t disappoint here. Closer “Mrs. Montgomery Alabama” begins with a campy piano chord and breaks into menacing guitar parts from Bryan Taylor and Dan Vokey. Scogin spits another one-liner (“Love is easier made than kept.”) that will be a popular Facebook status in a few weeks. This track features a few different tempos and fades out with some guitar feedback and sporadic drum beats.
Wars and Rumors of Wars is the essential Chariot album as it doesn’t sound like 100% noise all the time. The improved musicianship is a huge plus, as it gives a lot of these tracks a sense of direction and purpose. While their debut album will still hold the number one spot in some fans hearts (due to nostalgic reasons), Wars is the finest Chariot album to date. There are a few snags, such as the bland “Evolve:.” Also, the fact that this album doesn’t reach any new heights for the band can be seen as a negative, but it’s an enjoyable negative. This War isn’t going to set the metalcore world on fire, but it’s chaotic, unpredictable, and overall a blast to listen to.
Track Listing:
1. Teach:
2. Evolve:
3. Need:
4. Impress.
5. Never I
6. Giveth
7. Abandon:
8. Daggers
9. Oversea
10. Mrs. Montgomery Alabama iii
The Chariot is:
Josh Scogin – vocals
Bryan Taylor – guitar
Don Vokey – guitar
Jon Kindler – bass
David Kennedy – drums
Official Website (http://www.thechariot.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/thechariot); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thechariot)