The Chariot
Encyclopedia
The Chariot is an American mathcore
band from Douglasville, Georgia
, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin
, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent lineup changes since its inception, with Scogin being the only original member. The band plays an abrasive style of hardcore that does not adhere to typical stylings such melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonic vocals. They have built a reputation around their powerful live performances, with Scogin's lyrics covering topics like materialism
, personal struggle, current events, politics, and Christian themes. Their music has been critically acclaimed as something "that will melt your face and leave you wanting more."
The band was formed by Scogin shortly after he left his position of vocalist in Norma Jean
. In 2004, a record deal was signed with Solid State Records
and a debut album was released, entitled Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
. The band has toured constantly since then. The Chariot released the Unsung EP
in 2005, which was then followed by three successful studio albums: The Fiancée in 2007, Wars and Rumors of Wars
in 2009, and Long Live
in 2010.
group based in Douglasville, Georgia
. He recorded one critically acclaimed album with them entitled Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
in 2002. Later that year, following Norma Jean's set at Furnace Fest, Scogin shocked the audience and his unaware bandmates by announcing his departure. "I wish I had some great story about a big fight or aliens or something," he later explained, "but really it was just something that I felt led to do." When asked if his leaving was the result of internal conflict, Scogin replied "Not at all. My leaving them was completely a peaceful event. It was all something personal for me and had nothing really to do with the band at all." The event generated a public outcry from fans in hardcore
circles. Scogin returned to Douglasville in 2003 and started the Chariot with other musicians in the area; the first lineup included guitarists Keller Harbin and Tony "Taco" Medina, bassist Joshua Beiser, and drummer Jeff Carter. The band's name was inspired by the Biblical story of Elijah and the chariot of fire.
In 2004, a record contract was signed with Solid State Records
, a metal
subdivision of Tooth & Nail Records
and their first recorded song entitled "It Is Usually the Boys Who Cry Wolf That Grow up to Be the Men Who Cry Sanctuary" was released on the compilation "This Is Solid State, Volume 5". This song was later re-recorded as Yellow Dress Locked Knees on their debut. The band traveled to Atlanta, Georgia
and worked on their debut album with Matt Goldman. The entire album was recorded live. "It is more comfortable for everyone," said Scogin," [We] wanted to record it all natural and leave many of our screw ups and many of our flaws. [...People] see perfect shows and they hear perfect recordings. We really wanted everyone to hear something that was authentically us and not a computer." The album was released in November and titled Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
, which was a parody of albums that featured morbid names: "[Death], or killing, or bleeding," Scogin explained, "[We] just sort of thought it would be a breath of fresh air to name our CD the exact opposite of all that." The album debuted at #23 on Top Heatseekers
, and received favorable reviews from critics. Touring followed with As Cities Burn
, He Is Legend
, and Showbread
on the Young Bloods Tour in Winter.
, Every Time I Die
, and The Red Chord
. An EP, entitled Unsung
, was released at the beginning of December. It featured two new tracks and four re-recordings from their debut and was well received among critics. The band played shows with labelmates As Cities Burn, mewithoutYou
, and Underoath
later that month. Touring continued through 2006 as the band shared a national tour with P.O.D.
in spring and garnered a spot in the Sounds of the Underground Tour with As I Lay Dying
that summer. In June 2006, Beiser and Harbin stepped down and were replaced by bassist Dan Eaton and guitarist Jon Terry respectively. The two men had been longtime friends of the band.
The Chariot embarked on the Youngbloods II Tour in fall with Solid State
labelmates August Burns Red
, Destroy The Runner
,and Inhale Exhale
. In January 2007, the band toured through Europe with Becoming the Archetype
, and Shaped by Fate
. By this time, yet another bass player had been recruited—Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler. In April of the same year, after delays relating to lineup changes, their second album, The Fiancée, was released. The record was produced by Matt Goldman. The writing and recording process had been driven by time constraints. "It was actually a very easy record to write," said Scogin, "It came more naturally to us." However, Scogin waited until the music was written before writing lyrics, an exercise he vowed never to attempt again. Hayley Williams
of Paramore
made a guest performance on the track "Then Came To Kill" as did Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou when he played the harmonica on "Forgive Me Nashville"; Scogin had been friends with both artists for many years. The Fiancée broke the Billboard 200
—it debuted at #169, selling 6,800 copies— and was well received in the Christian and secular markets. The group played a release tour with Misery Signals
, I Am Ghost
, and I Hate Sally
, and then made a short run on the Warped Tour
in summer. Another leg of The Fiancée Tour extended into spring 2008 with LoveHateHero
, Alesana
, Our Last Night
, and Sky Eats Airplane
. The lineup underwent another drastic change in mid 2008, as Jake Ryan, Dan Eaton and Jon Terry all decided to step down. Ryan and Eaton went on to form the indie pop
band Queens Club and were signed to Tooth & Nail Records
.
, was released in May 2009. The lineup changed once again, leaving Scogin as the only member to appear on their first two releases .The album title was inspired by Matthew
24:6, which contains the passage "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars..." Scogin explained that the album title referred to internal conflict that people experience, not literal war. The band hand-made the artwork and liner notes for the first 25,000 copies of the album. Wars and Rumors of War debuted at #112 on the Billboard 200, their highest to date. Critical reception was very positive about the release. The Chariot performed on the Scream the Prayer Tour with Haste the Day
, Sleeping Giant
, Oh, Sleeper
, and Project 86
that summer. Beginning late November, The Chariot and a group of hand picked artists, including Horse the Band
, and Arsonists Get All The Girls
supported Norma Jean who headlined the nationwide Explosions 2009 Tour.
through Good Fight
on November 22, 2010. The album was produced with Matt Goldman. They began touring with Haste the Day
in February 2011 for Haste the Day's Farewell Tour, along with A Plea for Purging
and MyChildren MyBride
.
, and the screaming vocal style
of band leader Josh Scogin
. Journalists have frequently referred to the music as "chaotic"; Allmusic writer Alex Henderson described it as a "dense, clobbering sledgehammer", while Brian Shultz of Alternative Press called it "manically pounding, distortion-soaked exercises of catharsis". The Chariot has often been labeled a metalcore
band. However, the music generally defies genre standards like melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonizing vocals; it wouldn't leave room for the "nonstop firestorm of exploding drums, heaving guitars, and visceral shrieking," as Allmusic writer Corey Apar put it. The band utilizes time changes and start-stop shifts, and typically write very short songs. Some journalists believe the music is challenging and an acquired taste.
Live performances are very important to the band. "We love playing live," said Scogin, "That's what this band are all about: playing live shows." This mentality leaked into their recording process: the band's first album was recorded entirely live in one take. Their next two efforts followed more traditional recording sensibilities: "We may go in and [fix] this one part," explained Scogin, "but [...] there's lots of stuff we probably should have tightened up. [Laughs.] But that [keeps] it feeling like a real record." Despite their attentiveness to the recording process, Scogin has maintained that their focal point is live performances, "...recording records, that's all circled around hopefully bringing more kids to the live show so we can perform for them." The band's shows have built up a reputation; MTV
called them "the thing of metalcore legend". When tasked to describe their set on the Scream the Prayer Tour in HM Magazine, Corey Erb wrote:
Artists who possessed strong showmanship
skills have largely influenced Scogin; some of these artists include James Brown
, Frank Sinatra
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, and Elvis Presley
. He is also fond of Arcade Fire, The Beatles
, Björk
, Interpol
, and The Killers. In an interview, Scogin expressed a desire to have seen At The Drive-In
and Nirvana
before they disbanded.
Scogin's introspective lyrics have covered topics like materialism
, death
, and the Nashville
Christian music industry
. The lyrics for Wars and Rumors of Wars
were formed after a family loss: "...only a year ago my father passed away. And I hate to say this, because it sounds like such a band-dude thing to say, but the lyrics are a lot darker than any other record just because of how personal they are for me." Scogin usually refers to his lyrics as poems and has maintained that "a song is never finished but abandoned." "...as an artist you can forever be changing a song or making a song 'better' or whatever but the moment that you stop recording and send it off to be mastered you have not 'finished' the song…you have only abandoned the song and that is how it will stay forever." His lyrics sometimes espouse Christian themes and beliefs, albeit subtly. For example, the track "Yellow Dress: Locked Knees" from Everything...
contains the Spanish
lyrics "Jesus, yo quiero que este mundo te conozca."; when translated, it says "Jesus, I want this world to know You." The song "And Shot Each Other" from The Fiancée fades out into a Sacred Harp
choir singing the song 'Child of Grace', which features the lyrics "How happy is a child of grace, who feels his sins forgiven / This world, he cries, is not my place / I seek a place in Heaven."
The Chariot is frequently called a Christian band
, which Scogin agreed with in a 2005 interview: "We are Christians in a band therefore we are a Christian band. We are not ashamed of our beliefs but we don’t force feed people what we believe either." In 2006, he reaffirmed his previous statements and further opined, "When I was growing up, if I liked [a band], I listened to it — and I went to the shows. If I didn't, I didn't. It wasn't like, 'Oh, they don't believe the same thing I do,' [...] People care too much about the fashion of it all. To me, a band's either good or they ain't, and that's the only thing that should matter."
Past members
EPs
B-Sides
Compilations
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
band from Douglasville, Georgia
Douglasville, Georgia
The city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 30,961...
, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin
Josh Scogin
Josh Scogin is an American musician, best known as being the vocalist for the American metalcore band, The Chariot. He originally gained recognition as the vocalist and founding member of the band Norma Jean, after recording two full length albums, a split release, and an EP. Scogin left Norma Jean...
, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent lineup changes since its inception, with Scogin being the only original member. The band plays an abrasive style of hardcore that does not adhere to typical stylings such melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonic vocals. They have built a reputation around their powerful live performances, with Scogin's lyrics covering topics like materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
, personal struggle, current events, politics, and Christian themes. Their music has been critically acclaimed as something "that will melt your face and leave you wanting more."
The band was formed by Scogin shortly after he left his position of vocalist in Norma Jean
Norma Jean (band)
Norma Jean is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Since their inception in 1997 and replacement of members throughout the years, the band's only original member is the guitarist, Chris Day...
. In 2004, a record deal was signed with Solid State Records
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
and a debut album was released, entitled Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding is the debut album by Douglasville, GA's The Chariot...
. The band has toured constantly since then. The Chariot released the Unsung EP
Unsung
Unsung is an EP released on December 6, 2005 by Christian metalcore group The Chariot. It contains two new songs and four re-worked versions of songs from their debut album Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding.-Track listing:# "Yanni Depp" - 2:41#...
in 2005, which was then followed by three successful studio albums: The Fiancée in 2007, Wars and Rumors of Wars
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Wars and Rumors of Wars is the third full-length album from the band The Chariot. The album is unique in that, the first 25,000 CD cases were hand stamped, signed and numbered by the band, every member stamping 5,000 each. Similarly, the first 300 were stamped in red ink for a special pre-order...
in 2009, and Long Live
Long Live
Long Live is the fourth studio album by the American mathcore band The Chariot. The album was released on November 23, 2010.-Writing and recording:...
in 2010.
2003–2004: Formation and debut album
The Chariot was formed by Josh Scogin almost immediately after leaving his previous band Norma Jean, a metalcoreMetalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
group based in Douglasville, Georgia
Douglasville, Georgia
The city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 30,961...
. He recorded one critically acclaimed album with them entitled Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child
- Personnel :* Josh Scogin – Vocals* Christopher Day – Guitar* Scottie Henry – Guitar* Joshua Doolittle – Bass* Daniel Davison – Drums* Produced by Adam Dutkiewicz and Norma Jean* Mastered by Alan Douches...
in 2002. Later that year, following Norma Jean's set at Furnace Fest, Scogin shocked the audience and his unaware bandmates by announcing his departure. "I wish I had some great story about a big fight or aliens or something," he later explained, "but really it was just something that I felt led to do." When asked if his leaving was the result of internal conflict, Scogin replied "Not at all. My leaving them was completely a peaceful event. It was all something personal for me and had nothing really to do with the band at all." The event generated a public outcry from fans in hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
circles. Scogin returned to Douglasville in 2003 and started the Chariot with other musicians in the area; the first lineup included guitarists Keller Harbin and Tony "Taco" Medina, bassist Joshua Beiser, and drummer Jeff Carter. The band's name was inspired by the Biblical story of Elijah and the chariot of fire.
In 2004, a record contract was signed with Solid State Records
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
, a metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
subdivision of Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
and their first recorded song entitled "It Is Usually the Boys Who Cry Wolf That Grow up to Be the Men Who Cry Sanctuary" was released on the compilation "This Is Solid State, Volume 5". This song was later re-recorded as Yellow Dress Locked Knees on their debut. The band traveled to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and worked on their debut album with Matt Goldman. The entire album was recorded live. "It is more comfortable for everyone," said Scogin," [We] wanted to record it all natural and leave many of our screw ups and many of our flaws. [...People] see perfect shows and they hear perfect recordings. We really wanted everyone to hear something that was authentically us and not a computer." The album was released in November and titled Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding is the debut album by Douglasville, GA's The Chariot...
, which was a parody of albums that featured morbid names: "[Death], or killing, or bleeding," Scogin explained, "[We] just sort of thought it would be a breath of fresh air to name our CD the exact opposite of all that." The album debuted at #23 on Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
, and received favorable reviews from critics. Touring followed with As Cities Burn
As Cities Burn
As Cities Burn was an indie/post hardcore band from Mandeville, Louisiana that formed in 2002 and broke up in 2009.-Early beginnings and Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest :...
, He Is Legend
He Is Legend
He Is Legend is a hard rock band formed in Wilmington, North Carolina who signed to Tragic Hero Records in 2009. The band consists of vocalist front man Schuylar Croom, guitarist Adam Tanbouz, drummer Steven Bache, bassist Matt Williams....
, and Showbread
Showbread (band)
Showbread is an American Christian rock band originating in Guyton, Georgia. More specifically, the band lives in a small community within Guyton called Marlow. They formed in 1997. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since its formation but maintains its two founding members, Josh...
on the Young Bloods Tour in Winter.
2005–2008: The Fiancée
Medina and Carter left the band soon-after; they were replaced by Brian Khounvichit and Mark Nicks respectively. Nicks was later replaced by drummer Jake Ryan. In September 2005, The Chariot began a 27-city tour at Poughkeepsie, New York with High On FireHigh on Fire
High on Fire is a stoner metal band from Oakland, California, that was formed in 1998. Matt Pike, the band's frontman and founder, previously played guitar for the influential stoner doom band Sleep.-History:...
, Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...
, and The Red Chord
The Red Chord
The Red Chord is an American grindcore band from Revere, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band is made up of vocalist Guy Kozowyk, guitarist Mike "Gunface" McKenzie, and bassist Greg Weeks. The band gained a fanbase with its 2002 debut album Fused Together in Revolving Doors. The second album,...
. An EP, entitled Unsung
Unsung
Unsung is an EP released on December 6, 2005 by Christian metalcore group The Chariot. It contains two new songs and four re-worked versions of songs from their debut album Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding.-Track listing:# "Yanni Depp" - 2:41#...
, was released at the beginning of December. It featured two new tracks and four re-recordings from their debut and was well received among critics. The band played shows with labelmates As Cities Burn, mewithoutYou
MewithoutYou
Me Without You, stylized as mewithoutYou and abbreviated as mwY, is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consists of vocalist Aaron Weiss, guitarist Michael Weiss, bassist Greg Jehanian and drummer Rickie Mazzotta. MewithoutYou's music is generally dominated by...
, and Underoath
Underoath
Underoath is an American Christian metalcore band from Tampa, Florida. Founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida, subsequently its additional members were from Tampa, Florida...
later that month. Touring continued through 2006 as the band shared a national tour with P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
in spring and garnered a spot in the Sounds of the Underground Tour with As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying (band)
As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
that summer. In June 2006, Beiser and Harbin stepped down and were replaced by bassist Dan Eaton and guitarist Jon Terry respectively. The two men had been longtime friends of the band.
The Chariot embarked on the Youngbloods II Tour in fall with Solid State
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
labelmates August Burns Red
August Burns Red
August Burns Red is an American metal band, from Manheim, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2003, the group began their first performances while a majority of the members were attending their senior year of high school, and soon began playing shows around Lancaster, before being signed to CI Records, and...
, Destroy The Runner
Destroy the Runner
Destroy the Runner was an American metalcore band from San Diego, California, United States. Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying managed them for their album Saints, and did so again with Jason Rudolph for their second album I, Lucifer....
,and Inhale Exhale
Inhale Exhale
Inhale Exhale is a Christian metalcore band from Cleveland, Ohio.-Formation/The Lost. The Sick. The Sacred.:The band was formed in 2005 by Guitarist John LaRussa and bassist Brian Pittman...
. In January 2007, the band toured through Europe with Becoming the Archetype
Becoming the Archetype
Becoming the Archetype is a Christian progressive death metal band signed to Solid State Records and Century Media Records formed in 1999 in Dacula, Georgia. They have released four albums on Solid State Records. Dichotomy, released in November 2008, sold around 2,300 copies in the United States...
, and Shaped by Fate
Shaped by Fate
Shaped By Fate are a 5 piece metalcore band from South Wales , formed in late 2001 and lauded as "the future of British Metalcore" by Kerrang! magazine which described the band's music as "some of the tastiest, heaviest, most shredding metal this island's seen in a long time".-History:Shaped By...
. By this time, yet another bass player had been recruited—Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler. In April of the same year, after delays relating to lineup changes, their second album, The Fiancée, was released. The record was produced by Matt Goldman. The writing and recording process had been driven by time constraints. "It was actually a very easy record to write," said Scogin, "It came more naturally to us." However, Scogin waited until the music was written before writing lyrics, an exercise he vowed never to attempt again. Hayley Williams
Hayley Williams
Hayley Nichole Williams is an American singer, songwriter, and the lead vocalist of the band Paramore.- Life and career :...
of Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
made a guest performance on the track "Then Came To Kill" as did Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou when he played the harmonica on "Forgive Me Nashville"; Scogin had been friends with both artists for many years. The Fiancée broke the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
—it debuted at #169, selling 6,800 copies— and was well received in the Christian and secular markets. The group played a release tour with Misery Signals
Misery Signals
Misery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
, I Am Ghost
I Am Ghost
I Am Ghost was an American band from Long Beach, California, conceived of and founded by Steven Juliano in 2004. They were signed to Epitaph Records from 2005 to 2010, before splitting up in July 2010.- History :...
, and I Hate Sally
I Hate Sally
I Hate Sally was a four-piece metal/post-hardcore band from Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 2000 in Kingston, Ontario by Marc Garniss, Ben Thomas and Kelly Payne.-Biography:...
, and then made a short run on the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
in summer. Another leg of The Fiancée Tour extended into spring 2008 with LoveHateHero
LoveHateHero
LoveHateHero is a post-hardcore band from Burbank, California. They are signed to Ferret Records and have released three albums, Just Breathe in May 2005, White Lies in February 2007 and America Underwater in November 2009....
, Alesana
Alesana
Alesana is an American rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2004, the group is currently signed to Epitaph Records and have released one EP and four full-length studio albums...
, Our Last Night
Our Last Night
Our Last Night is a Post-Hardcore band, formed in 2004 by five members, consisting ofTrevor Wentworth , Matthew Wentworth , Alex "Woody" Woodrow , Colin Perry , Tim Molloy , who were "fed up with merely jamming and playing cover songs".-Early years :After a few lineup changes, the group was...
, and Sky Eats Airplane
Sky Eats Airplane
Sky Eats Airplane was an American electronic post-hardcore band, formed in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2005. The band was signed to indie label Equal Vision Records and most recently released their self-titled full-length album through the label in July 2008....
. The lineup underwent another drastic change in mid 2008, as Jake Ryan, Dan Eaton and Jon Terry all decided to step down. Ryan and Eaton went on to form the indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band Queens Club and were signed to Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
.
2009–2010: Wars and Rumors of Wars
The group's third album, entitled Wars and Rumors of WarsWars and Rumors of Wars
Wars and Rumors of Wars is the third full-length album from the band The Chariot. The album is unique in that, the first 25,000 CD cases were hand stamped, signed and numbered by the band, every member stamping 5,000 each. Similarly, the first 300 were stamped in red ink for a special pre-order...
, was released in May 2009. The lineup changed once again, leaving Scogin as the only member to appear on their first two releases .The album title was inspired by Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
24:6, which contains the passage "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars..." Scogin explained that the album title referred to internal conflict that people experience, not literal war. The band hand-made the artwork and liner notes for the first 25,000 copies of the album. Wars and Rumors of War debuted at #112 on the Billboard 200, their highest to date. Critical reception was very positive about the release. The Chariot performed on the Scream the Prayer Tour with Haste the Day
Haste the Day
Haste the Day was an American Christian metalcore band signed with Solid State Records that was formed in Carmel, Indiana 2001. Their band is named after a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The band released their debut release, an extended play titled That They May Know You, in 2002,...
, Sleeping Giant
Sleeping Giant
Sleeping Giant may refer to:In geology:* Sleeping Giant , a traprock mountain ridge in Hamden, Connecticut, U.S.* Sleeping Giant , a mountain ridge on the island of Kauai near Kapaa, Hawaii, U.S....
, Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper
Oh, Sleeper is an American metalcore band from Fort Worth, Texas and is signed to Solid State Records. They have recorded three full-length albums to date, the most recent being their third album Children of Fire, released on September 6, 2011....
, and Project 86
Project 86
Project 86 is an American Christian rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The line-up consists of bassist Steven Dail, vocalist and songwriter Andrew Schwab, and guitarist Randy Torres. The band has released seven studio albums, which have collectively sold over 500,000 units...
that summer. Beginning late November, The Chariot and a group of hand picked artists, including Horse the Band
HORSE the band
Horse the Band is a band from Lake Forest, California who are best known for their 8-bit Nintendo-influenced sound combined with metalcore. Frontman Nathan Winneke once described their sound as "Nintendocore".-Biography:...
, and Arsonists Get All The Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls
Arsonists Get All the Girls is an American deathcore band from Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 2005, they are currently signed to Century Media Records and have recorded and released four full-length studio albums, Hits from the Bow, The Game of Life, Portals and Motherland.-Biography:Arsonists...
supported Norma Jean who headlined the nationwide Explosions 2009 Tour.
2010: Long Live
The Chariot released their fourth studio album Long LiveLong Live
Long Live is the fourth studio album by the American mathcore band The Chariot. The album was released on November 23, 2010.-Writing and recording:...
through Good Fight
Good Fight Entertainment
Good Fight Entertainment is a business conglomerate that was founded in 2010. The company consists of a record label, band management, sports management, a clothing line and an art studio...
on November 22, 2010. The album was produced with Matt Goldman. They began touring with Haste the Day
Haste the Day
Haste the Day was an American Christian metalcore band signed with Solid State Records that was formed in Carmel, Indiana 2001. Their band is named after a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The band released their debut release, an extended play titled That They May Know You, in 2002,...
in February 2011 for Haste the Day's Farewell Tour, along with A Plea for Purging
A Plea for Purging
A Plea for Purging is a metalcore band based out of Nashville, TN.-Biography:After forming in 2005, A Plea for Purging quickly gained a reputation for hard work, with a heavy touring schedule that included over 200 live shows in their first year together. They released the "A Plea for Purging EP"...
and MyChildren MyBride
Mychildren Mybride
MyChildren MyBride is an American Christian metalcore band originating from Madison, Alabama. They are signed to Solid State Records after being noticed by extensive constant touring, including various dates in European countries.-History:...
.
Musical style and influences
The band's music is characterized by a metal soundHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, and the screaming vocal style
Screaming (music)
Screaming is a vocal technique that is most popular in subgenres of heavy metal, punk and hard rock, including metalcore, deathcore, post-hardcore, groove metal, black metal, and grindcore...
of band leader Josh Scogin
Josh Scogin
Josh Scogin is an American musician, best known as being the vocalist for the American metalcore band, The Chariot. He originally gained recognition as the vocalist and founding member of the band Norma Jean, after recording two full length albums, a split release, and an EP. Scogin left Norma Jean...
. Journalists have frequently referred to the music as "chaotic"; Allmusic writer Alex Henderson described it as a "dense, clobbering sledgehammer", while Brian Shultz of Alternative Press called it "manically pounding, distortion-soaked exercises of catharsis". The Chariot has often been labeled a metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band. However, the music generally defies genre standards like melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonizing vocals; it wouldn't leave room for the "nonstop firestorm of exploding drums, heaving guitars, and visceral shrieking," as Allmusic writer Corey Apar put it. The band utilizes time changes and start-stop shifts, and typically write very short songs. Some journalists believe the music is challenging and an acquired taste.
Live performances are very important to the band. "We love playing live," said Scogin, "That's what this band are all about: playing live shows." This mentality leaked into their recording process: the band's first album was recorded entirely live in one take. Their next two efforts followed more traditional recording sensibilities: "We may go in and [fix] this one part," explained Scogin, "but [...] there's lots of stuff we probably should have tightened up. [Laughs.] But that [keeps] it feeling like a real record." Despite their attentiveness to the recording process, Scogin has maintained that their focal point is live performances, "...recording records, that's all circled around hopefully bringing more kids to the live show so we can perform for them." The band's shows have built up a reputation; MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
called them "the thing of metalcore legend". When tasked to describe their set on the Scream the Prayer Tour in HM Magazine, Corey Erb wrote:
Artists who possessed strong showmanship
Showmanship (performing)
Showmanship, concerning artistic performing such as in Theatre, is the skill of performing in such a manner that will appeal to an audience or aid in conveying the performance's essential theme or message....
skills have largely influenced Scogin; some of these artists include James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. He is also fond of Arcade Fire, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Interpol
Interpol (band)
Interpol is an American indie rock and post-punk revival band from New York City. Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks , Daniel Kessler , Carlos Dengler and Greg Drudy . Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino...
, and The Killers. In an interview, Scogin expressed a desire to have seen At The Drive-In
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, considered part of the post-hardcore genre and active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s hardcore scene...
and Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
before they disbanded.
Scogin's introspective lyrics have covered topics like materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
, death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
, and the Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
Christian music industry
Christian music industry
The Christian music industry is a small part of the larger music industry, that focuses on traditional Gospel music, Southern Gospel music, Contemporary Christian music, and alternative Christian music. It is sometimes called the gospel music industry, although this designation is not a limitation...
. The lyrics for Wars and Rumors of Wars
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Wars and Rumors of Wars is the third full-length album from the band The Chariot. The album is unique in that, the first 25,000 CD cases were hand stamped, signed and numbered by the band, every member stamping 5,000 each. Similarly, the first 300 were stamped in red ink for a special pre-order...
were formed after a family loss: "...only a year ago my father passed away. And I hate to say this, because it sounds like such a band-dude thing to say, but the lyrics are a lot darker than any other record just because of how personal they are for me." Scogin usually refers to his lyrics as poems and has maintained that "a song is never finished but abandoned." "...as an artist you can forever be changing a song or making a song 'better' or whatever but the moment that you stop recording and send it off to be mastered you have not 'finished' the song…you have only abandoned the song and that is how it will stay forever." His lyrics sometimes espouse Christian themes and beliefs, albeit subtly. For example, the track "Yellow Dress: Locked Knees" from Everything...
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding
Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding is the debut album by Douglasville, GA's The Chariot...
contains the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
lyrics "Jesus, yo quiero que este mundo te conozca."; when translated, it says "Jesus, I want this world to know You." The song "And Shot Each Other" from The Fiancée fades out into a Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
choir singing the song 'Child of Grace', which features the lyrics "How happy is a child of grace, who feels his sins forgiven / This world, he cries, is not my place / I seek a place in Heaven."
The Chariot is frequently called a Christian band
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
, which Scogin agreed with in a 2005 interview: "We are Christians in a band therefore we are a Christian band. We are not ashamed of our beliefs but we don’t force feed people what we believe either." In 2006, he reaffirmed his previous statements and further opined, "When I was growing up, if I liked [a band], I listened to it — and I went to the shows. If I didn't, I didn't. It wasn't like, 'Oh, they don't believe the same thing I do,' [...] People care too much about the fashion of it all. To me, a band's either good or they ain't, and that's the only thing that should matter."
Members
Present members| Name | Instrument | Years | Other Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Scogin | Lead Vocals | 2003–Present | A Rose By Any Other Name, Norma Jean Norma Jean (band) Norma Jean is an American metalcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Since their inception in 1997 and replacement of members throughout the years, the band's only original member is the guitarist, Chris Day... |
| Stephen "Stevis" Harrison | Guitar, Backup Vocals | 2009–Present | Written in Red |
| Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler | Bass, Backup Vocals | 2006–Present | Asleep for Dreaming |
| David Kennedy | Drums | 2008–Present | The Rein |
| Brandon Henderson | Guitar, Backup Vocals | 2011–Present | Written in Red, I Am Terrified I Am Terrified I Am Terrified was an American Christian metal band originating from Birmingham, Alabama. The band was signed to Gotee Records and toured to promote their self-titled debut EP... |
Past members
| Name | Instrument | Years | Other Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jon Terrey | Guitar, Backup Vocals | 2006–2008, 2010 | The James Dean Trio |
| Bryan Russell Taylor | Guitar | 2008–2010 | Slowriter, The Rein |
| Dan Vokey | Guitar, Backup Vocals | 2008–2009 | I Hate Sally I Hate Sally I Hate Sally was a four-piece metal/post-hardcore band from Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 2000 in Kingston, Ontario by Marc Garniss, Ben Thomas and Kelly Payne.-Biography:... , I Accept Defeat |
| Mark McGee | Drums (Fill In) | 2008 | I Hate Sally I Hate Sally I Hate Sally was a four-piece metal/post-hardcore band from Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 2000 in Kingston, Ontario by Marc Garniss, Ben Thomas and Kelly Payne.-Biography:... , I Accept Defeat |
| Dan Eaton | Bass, Guitar, Backup Vocals | 2006–2008 | Flattery Leads to Ruins, Brunette, Queens Club Queens Club (band) Queens Club is an alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri currently signed to Tooth and Nail Records. Queens Club formed in 2007 with former members of The Chariot, Dan Eaton , and Jake Ryan , as well as Andy Nichols and Tyler Bottles... |
| Jake Ryan | Drums | 2005–2008 | Flattery Leads to Ruins, Golden Reach, Queens Club Queens Club (band) Queens Club is an alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri currently signed to Tooth and Nail Records. Queens Club formed in 2007 with former members of The Chariot, Dan Eaton , and Jake Ryan , as well as Andy Nichols and Tyler Bottles... |
| Joshua Beiser | Bass | 2003–2006 | The Glass Ocean The Glass Ocean The Glass Ocean was an Indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia.-Biography:The Glass Ocean began after founding members Keller Harbin and Josh Beiser left The Chariot in May 2006 after releases Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding and the Unsung EP... , USS Shreveport |
| Keller Harbin | Guitar, Vocals | 2003–2006 | The Glass Ocean, Every Time I Die Every Time I Die Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had... , USS Shreveport |
| Mark Nicks | Drums (Fill In) | 2005 | Cool Hand Luke Cool Hand Luke (band) Cool Hand Luke is a Nashville-based Christian band variously classified as alternative rock, progressive pop, indie, and emo and signed to Lujo Records on March 16, 2008.-History:... |
| Jeff Carter | Drums | 2004–2005 | Deus Invictus |
| Tony Medina | Guitar | 2003–2005 | Juliette, USS Shreveport |
Discography
Studio albums- 2004: Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is BleedingEverything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is BleedingEverything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead, and Nothing Is Bleeding is the debut album by Douglasville, GA's The Chariot...
- 2007: The Fiancée
- 2009: Wars and Rumors of WarsWars and Rumors of WarsWars and Rumors of Wars is the third full-length album from the band The Chariot. The album is unique in that, the first 25,000 CD cases were hand stamped, signed and numbered by the band, every member stamping 5,000 each. Similarly, the first 300 were stamped in red ink for a special pre-order...
- 2010: Long LiveLong LiveLong Live is the fourth studio album by the American mathcore band The Chariot. The album was released on November 23, 2010.-Writing and recording:...
EPs
- 2005: Unsung EP
B-Sides
- 2011: Music of a Grateful Heart (Long Live B-Sides, Vinyl Only)
Compilations
- 2006" SCREAM FOR HELP: Punk & Hardcore Bands 4 Gulf Coast Animals (Dialogue With A Question Mark)