Rob caught up with The Chariot before their show suppoting Norma Jean in Bimingham to talk about their current tour, plans for their new album and much more.

Can you give us a brief history of how you came together and came up with the name The Chariot?
2004, I started the band, it was as simple as gathering some friends of mine, and started playing. The name The Chariot has always been stuck in my head, it refers to this old biblical story that comes down and picks someone up, I wasn't raised Christian or anything but it was always an interesting concept to me of not going though the death process and the imagery of a single word. The band has been through a few line up changes, its always been on good terms, mainly down to big life stuff, like getting married or getting a really good job.

Who would you say your main musical influences are?
In the beginning, what started me wanting to do all this was really performances based artists like James brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, they were the ones that made me think, I wanna do this some day , hearing stories, seeing DVDs and documentaries, its dangerous but in a good way. Musically, I was I was in to stuff like unsane, Will Haven, bunch of bands from the 90s, all that stuff comes together to make me

You released your last album ‘Long Live’ back in November 2010, are you happy with the general response you have had for the album from your fans and the press?
Yeah, its kinda weird for us as we had a good reaction from our fans but also a good reaction from the press, that's never been the case for use, we write for us and hope people like it too, critics are hit and miss, so we never take too much stock in what they say, it was reviewed well, and seemed to stretch across the boundaries of the industry.

What is your favourite song from ‘Long Live’ and why?
I wouldn't say I have a favourite track, but to play live It would have to be, a song called the city, there's a big ending that requires band participation, when we write songs we try to make them so that the crowd can get involved.

Have you started work on a new studio album or do you have plans to in the near future?
Yup. Were going to Russia for two weeks, then once we get home were gonna be hitting the studio, we got some weird stuff but its in a good way, I'm looking forward to hearing it when its done.

What inspires you when it comes to writing new music?
All over, especially when it comes to writing lyrics, just life touring, good and bad stuff, I have journal that I write stuff in, musically its all over the place, were always writing, when it comes to setting a time to write I pick 3 albums or bands, that sound nothing like us and just listen to their stuff, not to gain inspiration but to open the door to say there's more than heavy music and to broaden my horizons.

You are currently touring across the UK and Europe with Norma Jean, how did the tour come about?
We were on tour with them last summer, we've both played in Europe a bunch of times, we said we need to do this together, we have a ling standing friendship, we've toured together in the states, its a blast, so It was a case of lets take it to Europe.

Tonight is the 4th night from the tour, how have you found the tour show far?
Its been awesome, I know all the people on this tour, its been a pleasure, the music has been good, the shows have been good, its just good times all around really.

The tour runs until the 24th March, are you looking forward to certain shows more than others?
Im looking forward to Scotland and London, there always fun to do, but the UK in general has been good to us, Paris is another one we look forward too, were doing two shows in Ireland where we haven't played before, those shows may be awesome, Sweden and Norway, I love those countries. But I do like just all of it.

What do you have planned once the tour comes to an end?
We have two weeks in Russia to play there, then we go home to record, then we come back to play heavyfest and more festivals, then its waiting on the album to come out then touring on it.

If you met someone who has never heard of The Chariot what one song would you recommend them to listen to to understand what the band is all about?
Not so much a song but a video, the video for the city, its online which is composed of just live shots, I'd show them that, good or bad that's who we are.

What’s your opinion on the whole anti piracy laws going on at the moment and how it will affect the music industry?
I don't know, honestly I see both worlds, I like the level of support when someone buys the CD, it helps us stay alive, I don't want that world gone, but I'm positive on that if people want to test us out, they will download our stuff for free, but hopefully come to one of our shows and buy some merch too if there into us, I'm indifferent, I wouldn't want a world without the free stuff, because I doubt we we would be where were at now without it, its all in the air, I feel that overseas where doing really well but label wise, we haven't had the chance to be in stores overseas, if you asked me if the choice was to not listen to us or download our album for free, I'd go with the latter, if you asked me if you should support bands, I'd say yes you should. I still buy CDs as I know it helps, I don't know if we'd come over much if the option of the free stuff wasn't available, but I'm just one guy, I'm not sure of everyone else's opinion on this matter, but I think that both are a good thing.

Where do you hope to see The Chariot in a year’s time?
I don't know, I'm happy where were at, as long as we can keep paying bills and keep touring.

One last random question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra or Giraffe which one would you be and why?
Giraffe, I've always wanted to be really tall, im not short or anything but I've always wanted to be really tall, there's a guy on this tour who's 6 foot 5, I want to be that tall.

Thanks for your time is there a message for your fans reading this?
Thanks for the support, thanks for hanging out and coming to shows and just a big huge thanks.

Interview by Robert Lawrence