STYLE: Hip-Hop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 23395-12548 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £12.00
Reviewed by Steve Hayes
Chariots Of Fire comprise Akari Murray aka Angel MC, Jason Strachan (jah-son) and Solomon (Solo). Together with producer Lavard 'Manifest' Parks, they deliver a mainly bouncy, crunk-filled album. We start out with "Manifest Speaks" with a stuttering tabla riff reminiscent of the one in Missy Elliot, "Get Your Freak On". Chariots Of Fire appear on their album cover with camouflage jackets and this reflects the album. This is very Christo-centric music with an underlying vibe of being soldiers for Christ Jesus, "you can't be a soldier if you don't wanna fight" ("Don't Mess With Me"). Rhythm-wise, Chariots have a good steady flow. Lyrically they point to Jesus, although the vocals could do with being lifted more in the mix on several occasions. Standouts include "Bounce Back" with a pulsating bassline on the hook. "Only Your Love" features a nice vocal hook, rolling bass kick and rhymes pointing to their love of God and Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. "Conquerors" points to being more than conquerors through Christ Jesus, over a sweet female vocal lick. "Spread Love" features some nice R&B soulful singing. Towards the end of the album we take a down-tempo turn with more soulful vocals in the challenge to "Give Your Life To Christ". A solid album if you like your crunk hip-hop. Though whether they are "the new number 1 cats on the block" as claimed in their publicity remains to be seen.
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