 | Tracklist:
1. Evan Perks
2. The Audience
3. Calvin Makenzie
4. The City
5. Andy Sundwall
6. The Earth
7. David de la Hoz
8. The Heavens
9. Robert Rios
10. The King
| Ranking: #124 for 2010 | |
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On 83 Lists
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| Summary: It is always great to see potential finally being realized, especially after so many had given up all hope. |
17 of 17 thought this review was well written
Josh Scogin will always be known, for better or worse, as that guy who left Norma Jean. He will never escape it. The question “why?” follows him around like a relentless hobo asking for change. Never mind that he has spent most of the past decade in The Chariot, he is haunted by his former band. It doesn’t help that up until this point The Chariot has done absolutely nothing to differentiate themselves from the rest of the Christian Metalcore pack. It also doesn’t help that The Chariot sounds almost identical to Norma Jean. The Chariot’s debut showed promise, but was followed up by two full-lengths that were average at absolute best, stale and regurgitated at worst. When this album was announced, a collective “who cares” was uttered by the masses, and what does Scogin and Company do? They tighten up the songwriting and release a breakneck album that is raw and powerful.
Long Live was recorded live using magnetic analog tape, instead of separately recording the instruments and then mixing them together. This works so well in The Chariot’s favor, as the band sounds their best at their most raw, which is definitely achieved here. Josh Scogin breathes complete fire throughout the album, delivering his best vocal performance to date, dripping vehemence and desperation. There is a certain amount of renewed freedom offered The Chariot’s songwriting on this album, allowing them to be at their craziest, possibly due to their jump from Solid State. Weird quirks show up throughout the album as well, such as the oddly perfect spoken word on “David De La Hoz” (half of the tracks are named after fans that won a contest) or a sample of “Atlanta, My Hometown” by Terry Lee Jenkins thrown into the middle of the chaos.
The Instrumentation is top-notch. Drummer David Kennedy is the ringleader on the chaos, his timings and fills creating a strong backbone for the madness. Jon Terrey and Stephen Harrison, the guitarists, have such chemistry, throwing distorted riff after dissonant chord off one another, going off in opposite directions at times and reining it in perfectly. The entire album feels like it could fall apart at any moment, like a runaway train nearing a sharp curve. However, almost every song is at or below three minutes, so there isn’t a single song that overstays its welcome. The gem of the album here though is the album’s closer, “The King.” The band puts together a perfect jam of chaos, build-ups (complete with horns), and a foreboding atmosphere.
Scogin and his cohorts have released the album we knew they could make, but never actually thought they could pull off. The talent and songwriting was there in pieces, but could never be reined in for a whole album. They would toy with great ideas, but envelop them in mediocrity until now. Any and all fat has been trimmed. The potential we have seen is finally yielding full results. Long Live has crushed and thrown out any previous expectations for The Chariot, showing that their previous albums might have just been signs of a slumbering beast. It makes you wonder how they could have let the bar get so low, but maybe that was their plan all along.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4
This came out today and shit on everything else in their discography
Digging: Goo Goo Dolls - A Boy Named Goo | | | Album Rating: 4
If this is really this good I'll be happy. Pos'd.
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wow really? definitely will get.
agreed with first paragraph. great review.
Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead Digging: Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead
| | | Album Rating: 4
This is better than anything Norma Jean has put out in eight years and better than anything The Chariot has EVER come out with.
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Picking this up ASAP, band is best live, so if this is more like their live shows it will be amazing
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I remember seeing a homemade video of one of the songs made from the band themselves, actually did get my attention. Gonna check this out when I can.
Digging: Neurosis - Times of Grace Digging: Neurosis - Times of Grace
| | | Album Rating: 4
I love the cover for some reason
| | | Album Rating: 4
Just started listening. Love the more raw feel.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
well i deff dont agree with you about their their back catalog(i admit my ratings are very high)... so if this indeed their best work so far im prolly going to blow a load before the first two songs are over...
however i refuse to listen to this until i can get a good rip of it...
| | | Album Rating: 4
Just buy it. The CD's are usually cheap. It's good.
Digging: The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence | | | Album Rating: 4
i need to hear this, i really dug some of the songs off of wars.
Digging: Plebeian Grandstand - How Hate is Hard to Define Digging: Plebeian Grandstand - How Hate is Hard to Define | | |
listening to this drunk and sounds groovy.
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i'll fo sho check this out later today
Digging: The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station Digging: The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
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great review, i also kinda disagree w. you on their other shit : - (
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never rly got into these dudes or norma jean. this sounds ok tho might check it
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
shits on their whole past discog, which was getting worse and more and more boring with every release.
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shits on their whole past discog, which was getting worse and more and more boring with every release.
Yeah their whole discography is shit. How does this compare to the most recent Norma Jean?
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
wow, I'm interested. I actually like some of the songs on The Fiancee; I never really gave Wars much time.
I thought the newest Norma Jean was pretty good too
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Sounds interesting, I'll check it out. Nice review too.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
new nj was good but too bloated. this is the best thing the chariot/scogin has put out to date, and i reallllly like it.
which is saying something cause like i said, everything else was so bad from them.
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