The Chariot

The Chariot's fourth full-length album (and first for new label Good Fight) is their most cohesive and pummelling yet. "Chaotic," "frenzied" and "ball-busting" are perfectly apt descriptions for the Georgian quintet's past releases; Long Live doesn't stray from those, it simply brings greater cohesion, perfectly balancing the mayhem with direction. Lead singer Josh Scogin could never be accused of being reserved, but his vocals come through with greater confidence than on previous releases. On "The City," he spends three minutes fighting through crashing cymbals and jarring guitar riffs before the tempo falls, allowing him to finally declare, "This is a revolution!" Although four songs into the album, it's a statement that's at the forefront when listening to the full ten-song disc later. Of course, this wouldn't be a true Chariot album without a few head scratching "surprises." "David De La Hoz" shows off Scogin's best Aaron Weiss (Mewithoutyou) impersonation and "Calvin McKenzie" is interrupted twice with samples of an oldies radio jingle, dropped in without warning. But nothing comes across as out of place. The Chariot sew together each song with a thread of poise ― from the vocals to drums, everything sounds larger and more upfront than before. Long Live showcases the Chariot finding their equilibrium.