Everything is alive, everything is breathing, nothing is dead and nothing is bleeding is quite a mouthful for this Georgia band's debut album. Josh Scogin, former frontman of Norma Jean, along with his new fellow band members already have had a buzz floating through hardcore scene since The Chariot's formation. For any of those familiar with Luti-Kriss and mainly Norma Jean, this CD is a must have.
As a loyal and at times fanatic Norma Jean fan, I ran out to Provident Bookstore and purchased Everything is alive, everything is breathing, nothing is dead and nothing is bleeding a few days after its release date. After ripping through the ever-difficult shrink wrap I popped the disc it into the CD player and listened with anticipation to the first few songs of the album all during my drive home. Why does this sound so unpolished? I kept asking myself as I continued to listen to song after song. Normally I don't have second thoughts about the CDs I purchase, but for the first time in a long time I considered trading Everything is alive, everything is breathing, nothing is dead and nothing is bleeding in for something else at a local record shop. Well to make a long story short I am glad that I didn't. I decided to keep the CD and listen to it later, that my opinion of The Chariot was being determined by the side effects of my last Bright Eyes binge. This past week I've listened to Everything is alive, everything is breathing, nothing is dead and nothing is bleeding. And when I say listened, I mean I really listened. I sat down in my room and listened to it in all of its entirety twice. The result was an appreciation for Scogin's new band. As for the unpolished sound of Everything is alive, everything is breathing, nothing is dead and nothing is bleeding The Chariot gives a well written explanation for the raw sound of their debut album within their CD booklet:
"This album was recorded live in a studio setting and no computers were used in the manipulating of our music. Everything that you hear was played by human beings and was not copy/pasted by computers. That is why it may sound a little raw and unconventional. Technology is a convenience and it is okay to be used in moderation, but for the sake of the authentic sound of rock and roll, we've decided to go the route of our forefathers and get it all in one take as best as we could. We believe that sweat and practice should persevere over the convenience of a computer. We believe that although this album may not be one hundred percent tight and perfect in every way (like you are used to) it will be authentic and therefore understood. At least that is our hope. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your support. We hope this album brings joy to your heart"- The Chariot
Okay, so that's why it's not as similar to Norma Jean's Bless the Martyr, Kiss the Child as I assumed it would be, which is a good thing. The Chariot is distinctively different lyrically and musically in comparison to Scogin's previous band. Everything is alive, everything is breathing, nothing is dead and nothing is bleeding is without a doubt a top-notch debut album, lengthy song titles and all. It's so hardcore, to the point that even I was taken aback by its intensity. It is indeed what they intended it to be, authentic. And yes, it brings joy to my heart as well as to many other Norma Jean and now The Chariot fans.
Source: http://www.christopherdock.org/dockunet/student/potts_chariot.html
