The Chariot

Atlanta-based post-hardcore and alternative metal outfit the Chariot revolves around vocalist Josh Scogin. Previously the frontman of Norma Jean—originally called Luti-Kriss until Dirty South rapper Ludacris overshadowed their modest profile—these popular Christian nu-metallers saw Scogin depart in 2003 after their second album for reasons he kept private. Almost right away he assembled the Chariot from players in other local metal and CCM outfits, steering the project toward a punk-inflected metalcore sound that shed the rap-rock and nu-metal elements of his prior group.

Scogin, singer-guitarist Keller Harbin, guitarist Tony Medina, bassist Joshua Beiser, and drummer Jeff Carter made up the original roster. The band inked a deal with Solid State Records in 2004 and issued its debut, Everything Is Alive, Everything Is Breathing, Nothing Is Dead and Nothing Is Bleeding, later that year. After a subsequent live DVD titled Ladies and Gentlemen, the Chariot appeared, Medina and Carter exited; Mark Nicks played on the 2005 EP Unsung before Jake Ryan took over ahead of work on the second album, The Fiancee. Once that record was tracked, Beiser and Harbin departed—the latter joining Every Time I Die—and Jon Terry plus Dan Eaton stepped in for a lengthy North American tour alongside fellow Solid State acts.

Lineup flux postponed its arrival, so The Fiancee finally emerged in early April 2007 featuring new bassist Jon “KC Wolf” Kindler. Terry and Eaton’s tenures proved brief; Bryan Russell Taylor and Stephen Harrison replaced them ahead of the 2010 release Long Live. Taylor soon left as well, with Brandon Henderson arriving in 2011. Additional shifts saw Kindler exit to pursue college studies, leaving Henderson and Harrison to handle bass on record. Produced by longtime engineer Matt Gordon, the band’s fifth album, One Wing, appeared in 2012.