For this release, Project 86 knew they had to do something brand new, while still managing to capture their classic, unique sound. So, the band traveled to Vancouver, B.C. to team up with Gggarth Richardson (Rage Against the Machine, Chevelle, Atreyu) the producer who was at the helm for Project 86's most successful release to date, Drawing Black Lines. In addition, the band decided to make a film about the recording process, and has now released this film on their first DVD, "Subject To Change: The Making Of ...And The Rest Will Follow." The DVD is an entertaining compliment to the record, allowing fans to get closer to the band than ever before.
"We were forced to be more vulnerable than we had ever been in making this album," Schwab explains. "We pushed ourselves to go further musically, to find something new deeper down. This is definitely our most diverse release, with as much focus on melody as there is on destruction. I tried to show the tension and victory of the process in the lyrics as much as possible. Every single song was a challenge to overcome the fears that I was holding onto...fears of failure and loss. True hope is found when you are forced to confront your weaknesses."
On the opening track "Sincerely, Ichabod," Schwab addresses the band's past in the very first line, making it clear that Project 86 has no interest in anything else but looking forward: "We once drew some lines in black, and right now it's about time we took them back." These sentiments continue later in the song as a multitude of voices scream, "Off with your head. We'll take it all back and then some...never again."
Though the opening track is perhaps the heaviest song the band has ever written, the record as a whole is refreshingly versatile. Several of the more "radio-friendly" tracks shine without sounding as if the band planned it that way. Memorable harmonies sneak up on you at every turn. The production quality is dirty and raw, with drum sounds big enough to make you reference Metallica's Black album. The songwriting of Bassist Steven Dail and Guitarist Randy Torres is subtle and effective, maintaining a less-is-more approach that features substance over flash. Drummer Alex Albert guides the pace with his signature heavy beats and occasional china smashes, accentuating tastefully employed breakdowns. Schwab's vocals range from whispers to shouts to wails to melodies, as this album contains, decidedly, his best performance to date.
This is the record that they had to deliver. Simply put, there is a life to it that is missing on a majority of heavy albums today. You can sense that this band has boiled everything down to what matters: great songwriting with heart and purpose. Citing a broad array of influences from Queens Of The Stone Age to Hatebreed to The Faint, it is hard to pinpoint what category to place the new incarnation of Project 86 into. And they wouldn't have it any other way.
Schwab states, "I don't see us fitting into scene-core land. That's just fine by us. The bands that last are the ones that pave their own paths. I guess we have evolved into a heavy rock band that just wants to play music that we love. We have had to fight to be in the place we are now, and we are very, very thankful for every single supporter, every single kid who connects with what we are doing. Everything that has happened in the last nine years has led us to this point. We know who we are and where we are headed."
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my favorite hardcore| Posted August 28, 2009
Project 86 is a masterpiece. I loved this album. My favorite song is something we can't be. I also like all of me, and my will be a deadman. It's between them and disciple for my favorite hardcore band. This is my favorite of theirs out of all of theirs.
This is my definate favorite| Posted February 22, 2008
I love this album so much. It starts out great with Sincerely Ichabod to the Hand the Furnace.
its genius! i love it a lot!
Something new every time| Posted October 27, 2007
Okay, these guys exemplify diversity. They manage to come out with something fresh each and every time. Have I been in awe over every album? No. But, they certainly do keep you on your toes and everything sounds good to date. I think this is the best they have to offer. It's a hard pick with Rival Factions to compete with. This certainly is one of their CDs that I was completely amazed with though. They ALWAYS catch me off guard... It's mind-boggling how they can produce so many entirely different sounds. Unfortunately, these guys suffer from the same issue as I have with Emery. They simply don't put God out there as often as I like. If you can decipher their oftentimes cryptic lyrics, you can find God in the newer stuff. But, they don't seem to let their belief in God hang out like they used to. That's just my own objective view though, certainly not to take away from their obvious faith in Jesus Christ.
It's sweet!| Posted September 18, 2007
It has a great mixture of stuff, hardcore, its got some softer stuff, and a hardcore worship song! its like the best CD ever!
Great CD| Posted August 22, 2007
Ya, this CD is pretty much awesome!! My favorit songs of this one are Sincerely, Ichabod, From December, and Cavity King.
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