Reviewed by Tom Whitman

This full-length album from Southern hardcore act The Chariots is short and sharp, lyrically cutting and cryptic, packed full of violent imagery and quite simply hard. In fact hard is not enough to describe the searing screams that resonate from Josh Scogin's tortured larynx as he tackles materialism, death and the Nashville Christian music industry. And the razor sharp guitar sounds signal their own scream with great intent. One rock magazine's review suggested that the only clear reference to Jesus in this, their second release, are the two appearances of gospel singers. The gospel singers the reviewer referred to are the Sacred Harp Singers, modern exponents of the ancient shape-note singing of the American south. As it turns out, the Chariot's references to Jesus, while he is not explicitly mentioned by name, are still pretty blatant. "And Shot Each Other" includes 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." Paramore singer Hayley Williams guests on "Then Came To Kill", providing hauntingly soaring vocals with Scogin's gritty and passionate delivery in the foreground. The only departure from pure and unadulterated hardcore is the final track "The Trumpet", which solely features the Sacred Harp singers. My only fear is that The Chariots are cementing their Southern tradition rather than working on a musically viable collaboration with the acapella group. However, this is not merely hardcore for hardcore's sake. Punk sensibilities are apparent in the lyrics, and the concurrent theme of the song titles displays a thoughtful approach to lyric writing.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.