The Fiancee CD

The second full length release from The Chariot is a behemoth of modern metal, utilizing shrill guitar chops and shifty rhythms as well as (former Norma Jean frontman) Josh Scogin's dynamic singing/screaming. Includes "Forgive Me Nashville," "The Trumpet," "Back to Back," and more.

There was a buzz and then a bit of a letdown surrounding The Chariot's debut release back in 2004. Josh Scogin was the original lead singer of Norma Jean, and the bar was set high for his new band. After line-up changes and an EP, The Chariot is back with The Fiancee, a brilliant sophomore effort that lives up to the hype surrounding Josh and the band's energetic live shows.

This year's Chariot model is a complete redesign and a much better ride with guitarists Jon Terry and Dan Eaton, drummer Jake Ryan and bass player Jon Kindler. Josh's trademark vocal screams are intact on every track and just what you would expect, but the songwriting has more traction with better riffs, structure and melody. There are some almost prog rock-like riffs alongside some very interesting chord changes and intricacies in songs such as "Back to Back" and "They Faced Each Other" that you won't find on many hardcore releases. What makes this sound like a totally new band though is the production, primarily handled this time around by Matt Goldman (Copeland, Underoath).

Sometimes the song titles and lyrics on albums this intense take a back seat to the music, and that's a shame. If you read the song titles on The Fiancee in order, they tell a story that is actually from an old poem many a mother has recited to her child-very clever. Lyrically, Josh actually equals the emotional impact of the music. In the song "Forgive Me Nashville," he sings, "You found out everyone preaching God had turned off all their lights/For they have buried their teeth inside a contradicting life."

The album's packaging also deserves noting. In a world of downloads, you don't hear a whole lot about album art any more; but this one could win a GRAMMY(r) for "Best Packaging of the Year." Fans will definitely want to buy the actual CD instead of downloading this one.

This is not your father's Chariot. This is an all-out audio assault on your senses, and both the "hard" and the "core" are turned up to 11. The new sound is heavy and good, and it just may be a prototype for what comes next.

CCMMagazine.com

Average Rating:

3 of 3 Reviews Showing:

Reviewed by Ray (Missouri), September 03, 2008

Great CD the only drawback is that it is only 30 minutes long but they are a great 30 minutes.

Reviewed by John Putnam (Texas), May 01, 2007

Solid State Records has done it again, proving to be the best metal/hardcore and one of the best Christian record labels of all time. The Fiancee can be described by 1 word, that being chaos. Matt Goldman and The Chariot's very own Josh Scogin did a nice production job, and although this cd has been compared to many other acts (including Josh Scogin's former band, the amazing Norma Jean,) The Chariot does something that few bands can do, be that chaotic and still sound amazing. Pick this cd up.

Reviewed by Aaron O'Connor (Lyndonville, NY), April 24, 2007

This cd is amazing!!!

Write a review of The Fiancee CD

Availability: Only 2 in stock - order soon! Additional quantities may be backordered.

• Genre >> Metal
• Music >> General
• Start A New Christianbook.com Search

I'm the author/artist and I want to review The Fiancee CD.