Project 86
Encyclopedia
Project 86 is an American Christian
rock
band from Orange County, California
, formed in 1996. The line-up consists of bassist Steven Dail, vocalist and songwriter Andrew Schwab
, and guitarist Randy Torres
. The band has released seven studio albums, which have collectively sold over 500,000 units worldwide, two EPs, two DVDs, and one live album. Their music is characterized by an aggressive hardcore style, which has incorporated folk music
, goth rock
, metal
, and hip-hop. Schwab's introspective lyrics have addressed topics like conformity
and emptiness
.
The band was formed by Schwab and former drummer Alex Albert as a way to inspire people to live their lives with hope. In 1998, BEC Recordings
released a self-titled debut
album that was well received by critics and consumers. Mainstream record labels soon approached the band with record negotiations; they signed a joint deal with Atlantic
and Tooth & Nail Records
, the parent company of BEC. The band's next two albums were released cooperatively. However, conflict arose when Project 86 was asked to give precedence to their mainstream audience. Eventually, the band was dropped from both labels. After releasing an independent album, the band re-negotiated a contract with Tooth & Nail and put out three more albums, the latest being Picket Fence Cartel
in summer 2009.
, California
. Schwab had been attending Southern California College
as a full time student, and was an active volunteer in his church as a youth minister
. Albert also attended college at the time. Both men shared a desire to positively influence people, particularly kids, and so created the band. Guitarist Randy Torres
, who was attending high school, was recruited shortly after formation. After going through two bassists, high school student Stephen Dail joined in August 1997.
The band was originally called "The Project"; the number 86 was added later. Commenting on its inclusion, Schwab said, "The generation before us kind of used that phrase to describe when they would kick something out, give it a boot, get rid of it...Project 86 is like the whole idea of being rejected, or separate, or not going along with the group." An image of a dragon was picked to represent the band simply because "it looked cool". The group did not travel much initially; they decided to hone their sound and live performances before embarking on tours. In 1997, Project 86 was voted one of the top independent acts of the year by HM magazine readers. At Tomfest
the same year, their performance was a big hit. BEC Recordings
, a Christian sublabel of Tooth & Nail Records
, became interested and subsequently signed them.
Bryan Carlstrom produced their self-titled debut
. He had overseen albums by multi-platinum
outfits The Offspring
and Alice in Chains
as well as labelmates Stavesacre
. The group stayed with a friend named Joby Harris in Burbank, California
while recording; he would later collaborate with Albert and Dail in a side band. Schwab drew on personal struggles he was experiencing at the time to write meaningful lyrics. Sonny Sandoval
, lead singer of alternative metal
group P.O.D.
, appeared as a guest performer and helped generate interest among metal fans. The album was released in June 1998 and was well received with nu-metal crowds. It sold well and gained mainstream exposure on MTV
shows Road Rules
and The Real World
.
The band was marketed as a rapcore
band, which drew favorable comparisons to P.O.D. and Tool
, but elicited protest from Schwab, "There is a little bit of rapping in the music, but it's not a hip-hop influence [...] you wouldn't call Beck a rapper, even though he raps." Characterized by lengthy tracks and Schwab's unique vocal delivery, Project 86 was observed by Allmusic to be the "most daring album at the time for its genre". The success of their debut made Project 86 a top seller for BEC.
and Atlantic
, listened to the band's debut and became interested. Project 86 signed an exclusive deal with the latter; Tooth & Nail would retain control of Christian market exposure and Atlantic would control the mainstream market. The group worked on their sophomore record with producer Garth "GGGarth" Richardson
. An emphasis was placed on melody and singing while keeping their sound aggressive. Schwab wrote lyrics about worldwide issues in contrast to his personal strife: "The new album deals a lot less with me, and more with the world around us. Issues out there, people, society, culture". A second guitarist named Corey Edelman was recruited for a short time but later departed for private reasons.
In March 2000, Project 86 released their second album Drawing Black Lines
. The record peaked at No. 37 on Heatseekers
, and was well received by critics. By this time, listeners in Christian and secular audiences had amassed a sizable fanbase. Despite heavy reliance on tour dates and word of mouth
to inform people of its release, the album experienced some commercial success when it eventually sold over 110,000 copies. Project 86 traveled nationwide with P.O.D., Hed PE, and Linkin Park
on the "Kings Of The Game" tour in October 2000. They also played a string of shows with Queensrÿche
. Afterward, the band took a break. Albert and Dail collaborated with Harris in an alternative rock
band called Crash Rickshaw
. Their demo tape
caught the ear of Tooth & Nail, who released a self-titled album
in summer 2001.
In 2002, Project 86 teamed with Slayer
producer Matt Hyde to record their next album. The record was envisioned as a critique of American society and the entertainment industry. Formatted as a concept album
, it told the story of a character attempting to find fulfillment in modern society. Project 86 conjured the basic premise first and then wrote songs around it. "Songs were written and assembled with a certain ebb and flow in mind," said Schwab, "We approached the album like writing chapters in a book." The group spent over 14 months recording demos for Atlantic, which invested $500,000 in the project. The label encouraged them to produce a radio friendly sound, but they resisted catering to a particular consumer base
. Schwab was particularly frustrated with the recording process. He hoped commercial success would remedy his feelings.
Truthless Heroes
was released in September 2002 and peaked at No. 146 on the Billboard 200
. Their first and only single, "Hollow Again", peaked at No. 35 on Mainstream Rock Tracks
. Atlantic refused to release the second single because they claimed the lyrics conflicted with the Iraq War effort. While lauded by critics for its pounding criticism of the media and entertainment industry, the album proved to be controversial, particularly the promotional website. Additionally, many Christians felt alienated by its dark material; one young fan deemed the album "too depressing". Fans also complained that the record was "overproduced" and lacked the raw energy present in Drawing Black Lines. In a later interview, Schwab expressed disappointment about the record, stating he had "different aspirations for [it] than what came out." The group performed with Taproot
on their self-titled tour in fall 2002.
During this time, Project 86 distanced themselves from the Christian market; according to Andree Farias of Christianity Today
, "their commitment with Atlantic required them to give precedence to their newfound mainstream audience." This led to conflict with Tooth & Nail and eventually Atlantic bought their share in the contract. Shortly after, Project 86 was dropped from the lineup. Various reasons subsequently arose to explain why this happened; Farias stated Project 86 failed to produce marketable singles, while Cross Rhythms
writer Tony Cummings suggested nu-metal was simply no longer popular, a genre the band had become associated with. Schwab personally explained it was a culmination of items which included "timing, corruption, politics, 9–11, [and] The Donnas
".
, was made available exclusively on their website in Fall 2003.
Brandon Ebel, founder and president of Tooth & Nail, heard the new record and became excited. Contract negotiations followed suit; and the following year, Project 86 re-signed with their old label. Songs to Burn Your Bridges By was re-released in June 2004. The album was remixed and remastered by Aaron Sprinkle
and J.R. McNeely, featured new artwork, and included three new songs. The release peaked at No. 36 on Heatseekers, and was met with positive reviews by critics. According to Schwab, the album was written to "tell people who were soured by Truthless Heroes why Truthless Heroes was the way it was." The group performed at Purple Door, a Christian music festival
, later that year. The playground was particularly muddy that season due to heavy rainfall. When Project 86 played their set, moshers
threw mud everywhere and covered the stage and musical equipment. Thousands of dollars worth of musical equipment was damaged.
In Spring 2005, Project 86 reunited with Drawing Black Lines producer Garth Richardson to record their fifth album, ...And the Rest Will Follow. After spending several days recording demos, the band flew to Vancouver
, British Columbia
, to record at The Farm Studios Compound. The band filmed the entire production and later released a DVD documentary entitled Subject to Change: The Making of ...And the Rest Will Follow. The album marked a spiritual change for the group who felt humbled by their past experiences. "The record is about growing up and becoming a man (or woman) and taking responsibility for your past mistakes," stated Schwab, "[We are] refocusing our goals back to what they were when we started, reaching kids and inspiring them to live lives with hope and purpose.”
To promote the album, Project 86 released a new song on PureVolume
every Monday until the release date. ...And the Rest Will Follow was released in September 2005 and debuted at No. 131 on the Billboard 200. Critics were positive about the release. The band began a fall release tour and traveled with Spoken
, Number One Gun
, The Fold
, and Mourning September. In January 2006, a live performance of the single "My Will Be A Dead Man" was broadcast on Attack of the Show!
. A collaboration with synth pop group The Echoing Green
resulted in a remix of the song "Something We Can't Be". The song appeared on MySpace
alongside a remix of "From December" later that year.
, to play drums on tour. Production of their sixth album, entitled Rival Factions, followed suit with Deftones
producer Ulrich Wild
. The album proved to be a large departure from their edgier material by sporting a distinct 1980s sound
influenced by goth rock.
The majority of writing took place while the band took a break; Dail got married in the Netherlands
, while Schwab and Torres worked in Southern California and Seattle
respectively. The men collaborated by emailing MP3
s they recorded. In the end, 40 songs were amassed for the new record, but only ten were used. According to Schwab, the album's title was chosen to represent "the tension that exists in everybody [...] the flesh and the spirit." It was also representative of their new musical direction, an attempt to polarize themselves from other heavy rock acts. Similarly to their last record, a documentary was filmed that detailed the recording process, entitled I Want Something You Have: Rival Factions The DVD.
Rival Factions was released in June 2007 and peaked at No. 124 on the Billboard 200
, the band's highest debut to date. The record sold 6,000 copies in the first week and was well received by critics, who made favorable comparisons to Duran Duran
, Billy Idol
, and the Killers. The band proceeded to tour with labelmates MXPX
, Showbread
, and Sullivan
on the summer Tooth & Nail Tour. A performance also took place at the annual Christmas Rock Night
event in Ennepetal, Germany
that December.
Several tracks were recorded and mixed that were not included on Rival Factions. These songs were compiled with their previous remixes to form an EP. A cover of "Lucretia, My Reflection" by the Sisters of Mercy
was also included. The Kane Mutiny EP
was released exclusively on iTunes
in November 2007. Shortly after its release, the band uploaded a cover of "This Time of the Year" by Brenda Lee
on iTunes. "Our version was a little bit more like A Nightmare Before Christmas
," declared Schwab. The single was well received and led Project 86 to build an entire album around the Christmas concept. This Time of Year EP
was released in November 2008. Unlike the previous EP, This Time of Year was made available in digital and physical formats. Jason Martin of indie rock
outfit Starflyer 59
helped produce both albums.
. Time was spent leisurely crafting the album; previous endeavors had been limited by deadlines. "This time around, we said, 'Look, let's not just put out another record,'" said Schwab, "'Let's make sure we get the record to a place that we're happy with it.'" The band focused on a heavy metal sound
. However, they did not entirely jettison their 1980s influences as synthesizers percolated several songs. Schwab's lyrics focused on his belief that power and corruption often "run hand-in-hand when it comes to human souls." "The world is teaching us that fame is to be sought after; that recognition will equal success, fortune and, ultimately, peace," he said, "But the search for and attainment of fame and wealth usually destroy us in the end."
The record was released in July 2009 and peaked at No. 137 on the Billboard 200. Critics praised the title for its barrage of heavy rock and spiritually minded lyrics. Later that summer, Project 86 traveled nationwide on the Scream The Prayer Tour with metalcore
outfits The Chariot
, Haste The Day
, and Gwen Stacy
. Torres did not accompany the entire tour because he was performing studio work in Seattle with producer Aaron Sprinkle
. His absence led to rumors that he had left the band, which Schwab promptly dismissed. Dail filled his position on guitar while a stand-in played bass. Coming mid-October, Project 86 started the Picket Fence Cartel Tour with Children 18:3
, Showbread
, The Wedding
, and Yearling, and added a second part in spring 2010 with Flatfoot 56
and Wavorly
. The band released their first live album, entitled 15.Live, in December 2010 to commemorate their 15th anniversary. The album's songs spanned every studio album with the exception of the first. In February 2011, Project 86 went on tour with Disciple
. In June 2011, Project 86 headlined the XV Tour with support from Children 18:3 and Write This Down.
, Korn
, Limp Bizkit
, Rage Against the Machine
, and Tool
. The moniker "intense" has frequently been used as a description. Rick Anderson of Allmusic called the music "dense and crunchy", while Albuquerque Journal
writer Ron Gonzales declared it a "blisteringly heavy sound." Commenting on their musical style, Schwab stated "Our goal as a band has been to never make the same record twice. The only rule is that there are no rules. If there is a rule, it’s that we try not to over-think things, that the music that comes out is honest and real, spontaneous and from our heart.”
When Project 86 released their self-titled record, they were generally acknowledged to be a rapcore
band. Schwab has maintained it was never intentional, "I think we got lumped in with that music because we [had] toured with P.O.D.
and Linkin Park
." According to writer Mark Allan Powell, the music featured "cryptic, down-tuned guitars" and "half-spoken, half-rapped" vocals. Drawing Black Lines saw their style adopt elements of traditional metal, groove metal
, and hard rock
. The band used their song "Pipedream" as a blueprint to build the album: "We knew that was one of the brightest spots on the album," said Schwab, "I just wanted to take what we did in 'Pipedream' and go further with it". Experimentation with noise occurred in track "Chapter 23", and would be revisited on their fourth album with "Circuitry".
Truthless Heroes and Songs To Burn Your Bridges By generally focused on a "dark and intense musical direction". The group strayed from the style for their fifth album ...And The Rest Will Follow, opting to flirt with melodies and harmonies. Rival Factions marked a great departure when they embraced 1980s music
and utilized keyboards. The band was inspired to write experimental songs after Dail penned "Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)". "[It] was way different than anything we’d done before," stated Torres, "everything after that [had] to be as different as possible from things we’d done prior." Their signature hardcore sound was reinstated for Picket Fence Cartel. "We have had a great time adding more melody along the way," insisted Schwab, "but in our hearts, we still really enjoy playing aggressive songs". Even so, some songs retained synthesizers while others boasted folk influences.
Project 86 is considered a Christian band and every member professes Christianity
. However, they have remained uncomfortable with the assertion. "We're not going to go in there and say 'Hey we're the Christian band.'" stated Schwab in a 2004 interview. "We're going to carry ourselves like a normal band. Hopefully people will like our music and investigate into the band [...] and they will learn our beliefs." In a 2007 interview, he further opined "We always tell people that the goal has been to just write music that we love, and write music hopefully that is challenging and inspiring to people and doesn't sound like everything else out there."
, Sepultura
, Sick of It All
, and Snapcase
. Torres expressed a particular affinity for The Beatles
and Led Zeppelin
: "I just love to listen to their albums over and over and pick apart stuff here and there that is amazing," he said, "It is a huge influence on me musically." Dail has revealed The Clash
, Fugazi, and Rocket from the Crypt
to be personally influential. At an early age, Schwab listened to Slayer
, S.O.D.
, and Metallica
. He later discovered East Coast hip hop
. During the recording of Rival Factions, the band took heavy influence from post-punk
groups like Depeche Mode
, Joy Division
, Psychedelic Furs
, and The Sisters of Mercy
. Some of their favorite bands are The Cure
, Portishead, Quicksand
, Shiner
, and Sunny Day Real Estate
.
Some musicians have cited Project 86 as an influence. Jessy Ribordy, lead singer and songwriter for alternative rock band Falling Up, has been affected by Schwab's writings. "Andrew’s lyrics have always been a source of inspiration to me,” he told CCM Magazine. “I’ve tried to use more imaginative metaphors and things that are more symbolic, so that the songs can mean more things and have a bigger impact.” 38th Parallel
, a short lived Christian rap rock
group, also acknowledged the band's influence.
and writers Chris Bachelder
, Don DeLillo
, Aldous Huxley
, George Orwell
, and T. S. Eliot
. He has written lyrics around a variety of topics that include alcohol abuse
("One-Armed Man"), conformity
("S.M.C."), emptiness
("Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)"), greed ("Cold and Calculated"), nightlife
("Molotov"), and spirituality
("Chapter 2"). Controversial issues like pornography
("P.S.") and child molestation
("Sioux Lane Spirits") have also been addressed.
According to John DiBase, president of Jesus Freak Hideout
, early lyrics reflected "anger, frustration, and often hopelessness." Some journalists interpreted it as cynicism; Sean Richardson writing for The Phoenix
called it "overbearing" and hoped "positive vibes" from P.O.D. and Blindside
would rub off, while Losey believed it to be a longtime "burden" being carried. "It is easy to give in to these types of [cynical] feelings when you have been wronged,” Schwab told CCM Magazine, "It’s a very selfish mentality that chokes you off from being proactive in your gifts and purpose." Critics have noted that Schwab's later material contains more optimistic perspectives.
Honesty is highly regarded by Schwab; he has stated "I don't want to be known or remembered as a positive band, but as a band that was sort of honest and had a quiet sense of hope." He has sometimes used humor to convey his feelings. "Salem's Suburbs" and "Your Heroes Are Dead" satirically examine how society blindly accepts opinions found on television and the internet. "Caveman Jams" was directed at critics who claimed their music was too aggressive. The song tells how a fan was inspired to leave a life of self-destruction. "That song was written to be funny,” stated Schwab, "[It] was definitely written as a response to some experiences we’ve had as a band over the years, but in such a way that we’re having fun with it. I tried to approach it comically.""
EPs
Live albums
Singles
Music videos
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, formed in 1996. The line-up consists of bassist Steven Dail, vocalist and songwriter Andrew Schwab
Andrew Schwab
Andrew "Macabre" Schwab is an American singer, songwriter, author, and journalist. He is the lead singer and lyricist for the rock group Project 86. With Project 86, he has released seven albums and 2 EPs to date. Through Relevant publishing he has released one autobiography "It's All Downhill...
, and guitarist Randy Torres
Randy Torres
Randy Torres is a guitarist, keyboardist and background vocalist who previously played for the bands Project 86 and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter and as keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist and background vocalist for Anberlin on a recent tour...
. The band has released seven studio albums, which have collectively sold over 500,000 units worldwide, two EPs, two DVDs, and one live album. Their music is characterized by an aggressive hardcore style, which has incorporated folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, goth rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, and hip-hop. Schwab's introspective lyrics have addressed topics like conformity
Conformity
Conformity is the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are influenced by other people.Conformity may also refer to:*Conformity: A Tale, a novel by Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna...
and emptiness
Emptiness
Emptiness as a human condition is a sense of generalized boredom, social alienation and apathy. Feelings of emptiness often accompany dysthymia, depression, loneliness, despair, or other mental/emotional disorders such as borderline personality disorder...
.
The band was formed by Schwab and former drummer Alex Albert as a way to inspire people to live their lives with hope. In 1998, BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
released a self-titled debut
Project 86 (album)
Project 86 is the debut album of the American band Project 86. It was released on June 16, 1998 on BEC Recordings, a the Christian imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. This album established Project 86 as one of the more promising hardcore/metal groups in the Christian music scene...
album that was well received by critics and consumers. Mainstream record labels soon approached the band with record negotiations; they signed a joint deal with Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
, the parent company of BEC. The band's next two albums were released cooperatively. However, conflict arose when Project 86 was asked to give precedence to their mainstream audience. Eventually, the band was dropped from both labels. After releasing an independent album, the band re-negotiated a contract with Tooth & Nail and put out three more albums, the latest being Picket Fence Cartel
Picket Fence Cartel
Picket Fence Cartel is the seventh studio album by Project 86. It was released on July 14, 2009 through Tooth & Nail Records. As the second full release after the departure of their previous drummer, Alex Albert, it is not yet known who plays drums on this album.The sound for the album has been...
in summer 2009.
1996–1999: Formation and self-titled debut
Project 86 was formed in June 1996 by vocalist Andrew Schwab and drummer Alex Albert in Orange CountyOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Schwab had been attending Southern California College
Vanguard University of Southern California
Vanguard University is located in Costa Mesa, California, USA. During the summer of 1920, Harold K. Needham, D. W. Kerr, and W. C. Pierce opened a school to prepare Christian workers for the various ministries of the church. The new institute, Southern California Bible School, moved from Los...
as a full time student, and was an active volunteer in his church as a youth minister
Youth ministry
Youth ministry, also commonly referred to as Youth group, is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organization involves and engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community...
. Albert also attended college at the time. Both men shared a desire to positively influence people, particularly kids, and so created the band. Guitarist Randy Torres
Randy Torres
Randy Torres is a guitarist, keyboardist and background vocalist who previously played for the bands Project 86 and Crash Rickshaw. He has filled in as rhythm guitarist for the band Demon Hunter and as keyboardist, guitarist, percussionist and background vocalist for Anberlin on a recent tour...
, who was attending high school, was recruited shortly after formation. After going through two bassists, high school student Stephen Dail joined in August 1997.
The band was originally called "The Project"; the number 86 was added later. Commenting on its inclusion, Schwab said, "The generation before us kind of used that phrase to describe when they would kick something out, give it a boot, get rid of it...Project 86 is like the whole idea of being rejected, or separate, or not going along with the group." An image of a dragon was picked to represent the band simply because "it looked cool". The group did not travel much initially; they decided to hone their sound and live performances before embarking on tours. In 1997, Project 86 was voted one of the top independent acts of the year by HM magazine readers. At Tomfest
Tomfest
TOMfest was an annual Christian music festival held in Camas, WA, USA.TOMfest was a Christian indie and alternative music festival founded in 1995. Showcasing established and up-and-coming Christian bands, TOMfest presented an alternative to secular music festivals and provided a venue for...
the same year, their performance was a big hit. BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
, a Christian sublabel of Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
, became interested and subsequently signed them.
Bryan Carlstrom produced their self-titled debut
Project 86 (album)
Project 86 is the debut album of the American band Project 86. It was released on June 16, 1998 on BEC Recordings, a the Christian imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. This album established Project 86 as one of the more promising hardcore/metal groups in the Christian music scene...
. He had overseen albums by multi-platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
outfits The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
and Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
as well as labelmates Stavesacre
Stavesacre
Stavesacre was an American rock band from Huntington Beach, California formed in 1995. The band was composed of vocalist Mark Salomon, guitarists Jeff Bellew and Ryan Dennee, bassist Dirk Lemmenes and drummer Sam West....
. The group stayed with a friend named Joby Harris in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
while recording; he would later collaborate with Albert and Dail in a side band. Schwab drew on personal struggles he was experiencing at the time to write meaningful lyrics. Sonny Sandoval
Sonny Sandoval
Paul Joshua "Sonny" Sandoval is an American singer and rapper. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band P.O.D..-Biography:...
, lead singer of alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
group P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
, appeared as a guest performer and helped generate interest among metal fans. The album was released in June 1998 and was well received with nu-metal crowds. It sold well and gained mainstream exposure on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
shows Road Rules
Road Rules
Road Rules was an MTV reality show that debuted on July 19, 1995. The series, which was MTV's second reality show after The Real World followed six strangers between the ages of 18 and 24 after stripping them of their money and putting them on an RV traveling from location to location only guided...
and The Real World
The Real World
The Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
.
The band was marketed as a rapcore
Rapcore
Rapcore is a subgenre of rap rock fusing vocal and sometimes instrumental elements of hip hop with punk rock .-History:...
band, which drew favorable comparisons to P.O.D. and Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, but elicited protest from Schwab, "There is a little bit of rapping in the music, but it's not a hip-hop influence [...] you wouldn't call Beck a rapper, even though he raps." Characterized by lengthy tracks and Schwab's unique vocal delivery, Project 86 was observed by Allmusic to be the "most daring album at the time for its genre". The success of their debut made Project 86 a top seller for BEC.
2000–2003: Drawing Black Lines and Truthless Heroes
Several mainstream record labels, including RoadrunnerRoadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
and Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, listened to the band's debut and became interested. Project 86 signed an exclusive deal with the latter; Tooth & Nail would retain control of Christian market exposure and Atlantic would control the mainstream market. The group worked on their sophomore record with producer Garth "GGGarth" Richardson
Garth Richardson
Garth "GGGarth" Richardson is a Canadian music producer and engineer. He is the son of renowned Canadian music producer Jack Richardson . Jack was a pioneer of the music recording industry in the 60's and 70's...
. An emphasis was placed on melody and singing while keeping their sound aggressive. Schwab wrote lyrics about worldwide issues in contrast to his personal strife: "The new album deals a lot less with me, and more with the world around us. Issues out there, people, society, culture". A second guitarist named Corey Edelman was recruited for a short time but later departed for private reasons.
In March 2000, Project 86 released their second album Drawing Black Lines
Drawing Black Lines
-Personnel:*Andrew Schwab – vocals*Randy Torres – guitar, vocals, piano*Stephen Dail – bass, guitar*Alex Albert – drums*GGGarth – producer, additional engineer*Brandon Ebel - executive producer*Andre Wahl - engineer, mixing...
. The record peaked at No. 37 on Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
, and was well received by critics. By this time, listeners in Christian and secular audiences had amassed a sizable fanbase. Despite heavy reliance on tour dates and word of mouth
Word of mouth
Word of mouth, or viva voce, is the passing of information from person to person by oral communication. Storytelling is the oldest form of word-of-mouth communication where one person tells others of something, whether a real event or something made up. Oral tradition is cultural material and...
to inform people of its release, the album experienced some commercial success when it eventually sold over 110,000 copies. Project 86 traveled nationwide with P.O.D., Hed PE, and Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
on the "Kings Of The Game" tour in October 2000. They also played a string of shows with Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
. Afterward, the band took a break. Albert and Dail collaborated with Harris in an alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band called Crash Rickshaw
Crash Rickshaw
Crash Rickshaw is a side project of the post-hardcore band Project 86. It was founded by Alex Albert, Stephen Dail and Joby Harris, with Randy Torres joining later. Crash Rickshaw released their self-titled album on August 16, 2001 on Tooth and Nail Records...
. Their demo tape
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
caught the ear of Tooth & Nail, who released a self-titled album
Crash Rickshaw (album)
- Track listing :# "Co-Dependent Idolatry" - 3:25# "Angry Sunset" - 2:55# "El Gato" - 2:58# "Time Alone" - 4:07# "A.N." - 4:00# "Imperfect Demanding Perfect" - 3:32# "Thank God I'm An Atheist" - 3:02# "Johnny Law" - 3:02# "Self Defeating Mind" - 4:32...
in summer 2001.
In 2002, Project 86 teamed with Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
producer Matt Hyde to record their next album. The record was envisioned as a critique of American society and the entertainment industry. Formatted as a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, it told the story of a character attempting to find fulfillment in modern society. Project 86 conjured the basic premise first and then wrote songs around it. "Songs were written and assembled with a certain ebb and flow in mind," said Schwab, "We approached the album like writing chapters in a book." The group spent over 14 months recording demos for Atlantic, which invested $500,000 in the project. The label encouraged them to produce a radio friendly sound, but they resisted catering to a particular consumer base
Customer base
The customer base is the group of customers and/or consumers that a business serves. In the most situations, a large part of this group is made up of repeat customers with a high ratio of purchase over time. These customers are the main source of consumer spending...
. Schwab was particularly frustrated with the recording process. He hoped commercial success would remedy his feelings.
Truthless Heroes
Truthless Heroes
Truthless Heroes is the third album released by the U.S. post-hardcore band Project 86. It was released on September 12, 2002 on Tooth & Nail Records and September 24, 2002 on Atlantic Records and debuted at number 146 on the Billboard Top 200, with over 7000 copies sold.Truthless Heroes is a...
was released in September 2002 and peaked at No. 146 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Their first and only single, "Hollow Again", peaked at No. 35 on Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
. Atlantic refused to release the second single because they claimed the lyrics conflicted with the Iraq War effort. While lauded by critics for its pounding criticism of the media and entertainment industry, the album proved to be controversial, particularly the promotional website. Additionally, many Christians felt alienated by its dark material; one young fan deemed the album "too depressing". Fans also complained that the record was "overproduced" and lacked the raw energy present in Drawing Black Lines. In a later interview, Schwab expressed disappointment about the record, stating he had "different aspirations for [it] than what came out." The group performed with Taproot
Taproot (band)
Taproot is a four-piece rock group from Ann Arbor, Michigan. They are most known for their hit single "Poem" , as well as a number of other singles from 2000 to the present.-Pre-formation:...
on their self-titled tour in fall 2002.
During this time, Project 86 distanced themselves from the Christian market; according to Andree Farias of Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
, "their commitment with Atlantic required them to give precedence to their newfound mainstream audience." This led to conflict with Tooth & Nail and eventually Atlantic bought their share in the contract. Shortly after, Project 86 was dropped from the lineup. Various reasons subsequently arose to explain why this happened; Farias stated Project 86 failed to produce marketable singles, while Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
writer Tony Cummings suggested nu-metal was simply no longer popular, a genre the band had become associated with. Schwab personally explained it was a culmination of items which included "timing, corruption, politics, 9–11, [and] The Donnas
The Donnas
The Donnas are an American all-female rock band from Palo Alto, California. They draw inspiration from The Ramones, The Runaways, AC/DC, Bachman–Turner Overdrive and Kiss. Rolling Stone has stated that "the Donnas offer a guileless take on adolescent alienation; they traffic in kicks, not...
".
2003–2006: Songs to Burn Your Bridges By and ...And the Rest Will Follow
The departure from Atlantic was a big disappointment for the band. "All of the hype about our future successes turned out to be just that – hype, " said Schwab in an interview, "We did not go platinum [...] the record fell short of expectations and did not come close to the impact of our previous effort." The band parted with their management company and did not tour for several months. Expectations were high that they would break up. Instead, Project 86 started an independent label called "Team Black Recordings". Work began on a new album after Hyde was convinced to produce again. Their fourth album, Songs to Burn Your Bridges BySongs to Burn Your Bridges By
Songs to Burn Your Bridges By is the fourth album by rock band Project 86. Originally released independently in November 2003 on the band's own label Team Black, the album was re-released on Tooth & Nail Records on June 1, 2004...
, was made available exclusively on their website in Fall 2003.
Brandon Ebel, founder and president of Tooth & Nail, heard the new record and became excited. Contract negotiations followed suit; and the following year, Project 86 re-signed with their old label. Songs to Burn Your Bridges By was re-released in June 2004. The album was remixed and remastered by Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
and J.R. McNeely, featured new artwork, and included three new songs. The release peaked at No. 36 on Heatseekers, and was met with positive reviews by critics. According to Schwab, the album was written to "tell people who were soured by Truthless Heroes why Truthless Heroes was the way it was." The group performed at Purple Door, a Christian music festival
Christian music festival
A Christian music festival is a music festival held by the Christian community, in support of performers of Christian music...
, later that year. The playground was particularly muddy that season due to heavy rainfall. When Project 86 played their set, moshers
Moshing
Moshing is a dance in which participants push or slam into each other. They also flail their limbs to breakdowns of hardcore punk and its sub-genres. It is most associated with aggressive music genres, such as hardcore punk and heavy metal...
threw mud everywhere and covered the stage and musical equipment. Thousands of dollars worth of musical equipment was damaged.
In Spring 2005, Project 86 reunited with Drawing Black Lines producer Garth Richardson to record their fifth album, ...And the Rest Will Follow. After spending several days recording demos, the band flew to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, to record at The Farm Studios Compound. The band filmed the entire production and later released a DVD documentary entitled Subject to Change: The Making of ...And the Rest Will Follow. The album marked a spiritual change for the group who felt humbled by their past experiences. "The record is about growing up and becoming a man (or woman) and taking responsibility for your past mistakes," stated Schwab, "[We are] refocusing our goals back to what they were when we started, reaching kids and inspiring them to live lives with hope and purpose.”
To promote the album, Project 86 released a new song on PureVolume
PureVolume
PureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
every Monday until the release date. ...And the Rest Will Follow was released in September 2005 and debuted at No. 131 on the Billboard 200. Critics were positive about the release. The band began a fall release tour and traveled with Spoken
Spoken (band)
-Beginnings:Starting in 1996, Spoken quickly became a mainstay in their local music scene due to a relentless work ethic and performance schedule. Shortly after forming, Spoken was signed to their first record deal with Metro 1 Music, on which they released 3 LPs and a greatest hits compilation...
, Number One Gun
Number One Gun
Number One Gun is a Christian rock band from Chico, California, that was most recently signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They self-released their debut EP Forever in 2002, before releasing their follow-up albums Celebrate Mistakes on Floodgate Records and Promises for the Imperfect on Tooth & Nail...
, The Fold
The Fold
The Fold is a high energy rock-pop band from Chicago, Illinois. They have released two full length albums and one EP on Tooth & Nail Records, and an independent album in 2009. Their single "Gravity" from the album This Too Shall Pass reached #1 on the CHR Rock charts.-History:Their debut album This...
, and Mourning September. In January 2006, a live performance of the single "My Will Be A Dead Man" was broadcast on Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
. A collaboration with synth pop group The Echoing Green
The Echoing Green (band)
The Echoing Green is an electronica/synthpop band. It began as a duo between Joey Belville and Aaron Bowman in 1992, and has since released eleven major albums....
resulted in a remix of the song "Something We Can't Be". The song appeared on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
alongside a remix of "From December" later that year.
2007–2008: Rival Factions, The Kane Mutiny EP, and This Time of Year EP
In March 2007, Project 86 announced that Alex Albert had parted with the band on friendly terms to pursue other interests. Instead of searching for a full-time replacement, the band recruited Jason Gerkin, formerly of ShinerShiner (band)
-History:The group formed in 1992, and quickly found wide exposure, releasing a vinyl EP in 1993 and touring with acts such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Chore, Jawbox, Season to Risk, The Jesus Lizard, and Girls Against Boys. The group released their first LP, Splay in 1996, and a second album, Lula...
, to play drums on tour. Production of their sixth album, entitled Rival Factions, followed suit with Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
producer Ulrich Wild
Ulrich Wild
Ulrich Wild is an American record producer, engineer and mixer specializing in the rock and metal genres. Born and raised in Switzerland, Ulrich is now a naturalized citizen living in Los Angeles...
. The album proved to be a large departure from their edgier material by sporting a distinct 1980s sound
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
influenced by goth rock.
The majority of writing took place while the band took a break; Dail got married in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, while Schwab and Torres worked in Southern California and Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
respectively. The men collaborated by emailing MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s they recorded. In the end, 40 songs were amassed for the new record, but only ten were used. According to Schwab, the album's title was chosen to represent "the tension that exists in everybody [...] the flesh and the spirit." It was also representative of their new musical direction, an attempt to polarize themselves from other heavy rock acts. Similarly to their last record, a documentary was filmed that detailed the recording process, entitled I Want Something You Have: Rival Factions The DVD.
Rival Factions was released in June 2007 and peaked at No. 124 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, the band's highest debut to date. The record sold 6,000 copies in the first week and was well received by critics, who made favorable comparisons to Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
, and the Killers. The band proceeded to tour with labelmates MXPX
MxPx
MxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....
, Showbread
Showbread (band)
Showbread is an American Christian rock band originating in Guyton, Georgia. More specifically, the band lives in a small community within Guyton called Marlow. They formed in 1997. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since its formation but maintains its two founding members, Josh...
, and Sullivan
Sullivan (band)
Sullivan was a rock band from Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.Sullivan was involved in To Write Love on Her Arms.-History:Sullivan came together as a trio in 2001. In 2002, they recorded and released "Count the Time in Quarter Tones'on Forsaken/Tribunal Records. The EP sold well and extensive...
on the summer Tooth & Nail Tour. A performance also took place at the annual Christmas Rock Night
Christmas Rock Night
Christmas Rock Night is a Christian music festival held annually during December in Ennepetal, Germany. The festival does not focus on particular styles of Christian music, but leans toward harder forms including metal and alternative.-Background:...
event in Ennepetal, Germany
Ennepetal
Ennepetal is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.The town was featured in the headlines when on April 12, 2005, a hostage taker snatched several school children from a school bus and took them as hostages, see Ennepetal hostage taking.- Division of the...
that December.
Several tracks were recorded and mixed that were not included on Rival Factions. These songs were compiled with their previous remixes to form an EP. A cover of "Lucretia, My Reflection" by the Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
was also included. The Kane Mutiny EP
The Kane Mutiny EP
The Kane Mutiny EP is an iTunes-exclusive digital EP that was released on November 27, 2007 by the post-hardcore band Project 86. Announced on August 23, 2007, the EP is composed of five tracks: two Rival Factions B-sides, a cover of The Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia, My Reflection," and remixes of...
was released exclusively on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in November 2007. Shortly after its release, the band uploaded a cover of "This Time of the Year" by Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
on iTunes. "Our version was a little bit more like A Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas, often promoted as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a 1993 stop motion musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to...
," declared Schwab. The single was well received and led Project 86 to build an entire album around the Christmas concept. This Time of Year EP
This Time of Year EP
This Time of Year EP is the second EP released by Orange County-based rock band Project 86. The release was first announced on September 23, 2008 through the band's official MySpace blog. Nine days later, the band released a further update naming the new release as This Time of Year, and specifying...
was released in November 2008. Unlike the previous EP, This Time of Year was made available in digital and physical formats. Jason Martin of indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
outfit Starflyer 59
Starflyer 59
Starflyer 59 is an alternative rock band from Riverside, California that was founded in 1993 by Jason Martin, brother of Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric. While Jason Martin has written nearly all of Starflyer 59's songs, the band has included a number of different musicians over the years, including...
helped produce both albums.
2009–present: Picket Fence Cartel and 15.Live
In early 2009, the band returned to the studio with Martin and Ulrich Wild to record their seventh album, Picket Fence CartelPicket Fence Cartel
Picket Fence Cartel is the seventh studio album by Project 86. It was released on July 14, 2009 through Tooth & Nail Records. As the second full release after the departure of their previous drummer, Alex Albert, it is not yet known who plays drums on this album.The sound for the album has been...
. Time was spent leisurely crafting the album; previous endeavors had been limited by deadlines. "This time around, we said, 'Look, let's not just put out another record,'" said Schwab, "'Let's make sure we get the record to a place that we're happy with it.'" The band focused on a heavy metal sound
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. However, they did not entirely jettison their 1980s influences as synthesizers percolated several songs. Schwab's lyrics focused on his belief that power and corruption often "run hand-in-hand when it comes to human souls." "The world is teaching us that fame is to be sought after; that recognition will equal success, fortune and, ultimately, peace," he said, "But the search for and attainment of fame and wealth usually destroy us in the end."
The record was released in July 2009 and peaked at No. 137 on the Billboard 200. Critics praised the title for its barrage of heavy rock and spiritually minded lyrics. Later that summer, Project 86 traveled nationwide on the Scream The Prayer Tour with metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
outfits The Chariot
The Chariot (band)
The Chariot is an American mathcore band from Douglasville, Georgia, formed in 2003. The current lineup consists of drummer David Kennedy, bassist Jon "KC Wolf" Kindler, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band has experienced frequent...
, Haste The Day
Haste the Day
Haste the Day was an American Christian metalcore band signed with Solid State Records that was formed in Carmel, Indiana 2001. Their band is named after a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The band released their debut release, an extended play titled That They May Know You, in 2002,...
, and Gwen Stacy
Gwen Stacy (band)
Gwen Stacy was an American metalcore band that was signed with Solid State Records. Their name came from the comic book character Gwen Stacy, who appeared in the comic book The Amazing Spider-Man as the girlfriend of Peter Parker...
. Torres did not accompany the entire tour because he was performing studio work in Seattle with producer Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
. His absence led to rumors that he had left the band, which Schwab promptly dismissed. Dail filled his position on guitar while a stand-in played bass. Coming mid-October, Project 86 started the Picket Fence Cartel Tour with Children 18:3
Children 18:3
Children 18:3 is a punk band from Morris, Minnesota. The band is composed of homeschooled siblings David, Lee Marie and Seth. The lead vocals are shared by David and Lee Marie with their brother Seth on the drums.-Formation and debut album:...
, Showbread
Showbread (band)
Showbread is an American Christian rock band originating in Guyton, Georgia. More specifically, the band lives in a small community within Guyton called Marlow. They formed in 1997. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since its formation but maintains its two founding members, Josh...
, The Wedding
The Wedding (band)
The Wedding is a Christian band from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Musically, The Wedding fuses elements of Christian punk, Christian rock, Alternative Contemporary Christian, pop punk, ska, piano rock, and post-hardcore with their pop rock base...
, and Yearling, and added a second part in spring 2010 with Flatfoot 56
Flatfoot 56
Flatfoot 56 is a Celtic punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The group's use of Scottish Highland bagpipes has led to their classification as a Celtic punk band, comparable to Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly.-History:...
and Wavorly
Wavorly
-History:Wavorly formed in 2001 under the name Freshmen 15, and independently released two albums under this name. The group changed its name after signing to Flicker Records because they "didn't want to be thirty years old and be like, 'I'm in "Freshmen 15". I have three kids.'" The name Wavorly...
. The band released their first live album, entitled 15.Live, in December 2010 to commemorate their 15th anniversary. The album's songs spanned every studio album with the exception of the first. In February 2011, Project 86 went on tour with Disciple
Disciple (band)
Disciple is a Christian metal / rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee, formed in 1992.-History:Disciple was formed in 1992 by high school friends Kevin Young, Brad Noah, and Tim Barrett. The band released their first CD, What Was I Thinking in 1995...
. In June 2011, Project 86 headlined the XV Tour with support from Children 18:3 and Write This Down.
Musical style
Project 86's music is characterized by heavy rock and Schwab's "loud, eerie, and atmospheric" vocal style. Their sound has been likened to rock groups HelmetHelmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
, Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
, Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, and Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
. The moniker "intense" has frequently been used as a description. Rick Anderson of Allmusic called the music "dense and crunchy", while Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Journal
-History:Its earliest predecessor, the Albuquerque Daily Journal, was first published on October 14, 1880. The newspaper is owned by the Journal Publishing Company, a family-owned business headed by president/publisher T.H. Lang; it is operated by the Albuquerque Publishing Company...
writer Ron Gonzales declared it a "blisteringly heavy sound." Commenting on their musical style, Schwab stated "Our goal as a band has been to never make the same record twice. The only rule is that there are no rules. If there is a rule, it’s that we try not to over-think things, that the music that comes out is honest and real, spontaneous and from our heart.”
When Project 86 released their self-titled record, they were generally acknowledged to be a rapcore
Rapcore
Rapcore is a subgenre of rap rock fusing vocal and sometimes instrumental elements of hip hop with punk rock .-History:...
band. Schwab has maintained it was never intentional, "I think we got lumped in with that music because we [had] toured with P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
and Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
." According to writer Mark Allan Powell, the music featured "cryptic, down-tuned guitars" and "half-spoken, half-rapped" vocals. Drawing Black Lines saw their style adopt elements of traditional metal, groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
, and hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
. The band used their song "Pipedream" as a blueprint to build the album: "We knew that was one of the brightest spots on the album," said Schwab, "I just wanted to take what we did in 'Pipedream' and go further with it". Experimentation with noise occurred in track "Chapter 23", and would be revisited on their fourth album with "Circuitry".
Truthless Heroes and Songs To Burn Your Bridges By generally focused on a "dark and intense musical direction". The group strayed from the style for their fifth album ...And The Rest Will Follow, opting to flirt with melodies and harmonies. Rival Factions marked a great departure when they embraced 1980s music
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
and utilized keyboards. The band was inspired to write experimental songs after Dail penned "Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)". "[It] was way different than anything we’d done before," stated Torres, "everything after that [had] to be as different as possible from things we’d done prior." Their signature hardcore sound was reinstated for Picket Fence Cartel. "We have had a great time adding more melody along the way," insisted Schwab, "but in our hearts, we still really enjoy playing aggressive songs". Even so, some songs retained synthesizers while others boasted folk influences.
Project 86 is considered a Christian band and every member professes Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. However, they have remained uncomfortable with the assertion. "We're not going to go in there and say 'Hey we're the Christian band.'" stated Schwab in a 2004 interview. "We're going to carry ourselves like a normal band. Hopefully people will like our music and investigate into the band [...] and they will learn our beliefs." In a 2007 interview, he further opined "We always tell people that the goal has been to just write music that we love, and write music hopefully that is challenging and inspiring to people and doesn't sound like everything else out there."
Influences
Rock bands have largely influenced the band like the DeftonesDeftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
, Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
, Sick of It All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
, and Snapcase
Snapcase
Snapcase is a hardcore punk band from Buffalo, New York. Their records have been released on the Chicago record label, Victory Records. Through the course of the band's initial run of fourteen years, they released six studio albums before disbanding in 2005....
. Torres expressed a particular affinity for The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
: "I just love to listen to their albums over and over and pick apart stuff here and there that is amazing," he said, "It is a huge influence on me musically." Dail has revealed The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, Fugazi, and Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
to be personally influential. At an early age, Schwab listened to Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, S.O.D.
Stormtroopers of Death
Stormtroopers of Death, better known as S.O.D., was a crossover thrash band formed in New York in 1985. They are commonly credited as being among the first bands to fuse hardcore punk with thrash metal into a style sometimes called "crossover thrash." The song "March of the S.O.D.," from their 1985...
, and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. He later discovered East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
. During the recording of Rival Factions, the band took heavy influence from post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
groups like Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
, Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, Psychedelic Furs
Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. Led by singer Richard Butler and his brother Tim on bass guitar, the Psychedelic Furs are one of the many acts spawned from the British post-punk scene...
, and The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
. Some of their favorite bands are The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
, Portishead, Quicksand
Quicksand (band)
Quicksand was an American post-hardcore band from New York City founded in 1990 by singer/songwriter Walter Schreifels. Their debut self-titled EP was followed by two major label albums, Slip and Manic Compression...
, Shiner
Shiner (band)
-History:The group formed in 1992, and quickly found wide exposure, releasing a vinyl EP in 1993 and touring with acts such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Chore, Jawbox, Season to Risk, The Jesus Lizard, and Girls Against Boys. The group released their first LP, Splay in 1996, and a second album, Lula...
, and Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. In the 1990s, the group expanded upon the grunge style that was popular in the local scene to make a more melodic sound. While not the first band to be classified as emo, they were instrumental in establishing the genre. In...
.
Some musicians have cited Project 86 as an influence. Jessy Ribordy, lead singer and songwriter for alternative rock band Falling Up, has been affected by Schwab's writings. "Andrew’s lyrics have always been a source of inspiration to me,” he told CCM Magazine. “I’ve tried to use more imaginative metaphors and things that are more symbolic, so that the songs can mean more things and have a bigger impact.” 38th Parallel
38th Parallel (band)
38th Parallel was a Christian rock/rapcore band formed in Ames, Iowa. Before being signed they received extensive airplay in Iowa markets alongside other CCM Artists. Unknown to them, they were entered into a talent search contest for Christian music giant Word Records...
, a short lived Christian rap rock
Rap rock
Rap rock is a cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock is often confused with rap metal and rapcore, subgenres that include heavy metal-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively....
group, also acknowledged the band's influence.
Lyrics
Vocalist Andrew Schwab has remained the band's lead lyricist. Schwab has stated most lyrics are based on his emotions. He also tries to incorporate social commentary from literature. Prominent influences include comic book artist Chris WareChris Ware
Franklin Christenson Ware , is an American comic book artist and cartoonist, widely known for his Acme Novelty Library series and the graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he resides in the Chicago area, Illinois...
and writers Chris Bachelder
Chris Bachelder
Chris Bachelder is an American writer, e-book pioneer and frequent contributor to the publications McSweeney's Quarterly Concern and The Believer.Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he grew up in Christiansburg, Virginia...
, Don DeLillo
Don DeLillo
Don DeLillo is an American author, playwright, and occasional essayist whose work paints a detailed portrait of American life in the late 20th and early 21st centuries...
, Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
, George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
, and T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Thomas Stearns "T. S." Eliot OM was a playwright, literary critic, and arguably the most important English-language poet of the 20th century. Although he was born an American he moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 and was naturalised as a British subject in 1927 at age 39.The poem that made his...
. He has written lyrics around a variety of topics that include alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse eventually progresses to alcoholism, a condition in which an individual becomes dependent on alcoholic beverages in order to avoid...
("One-Armed Man"), conformity
Conformity
Conformity is the process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are influenced by other people.Conformity may also refer to:*Conformity: A Tale, a novel by Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna...
("S.M.C."), emptiness
Emptiness
Emptiness as a human condition is a sense of generalized boredom, social alienation and apathy. Feelings of emptiness often accompany dysthymia, depression, loneliness, despair, or other mental/emotional disorders such as borderline personality disorder...
("Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)"), greed ("Cold and Calculated"), nightlife
Nightlife
Nightlife is the collective term for any entertainment that is available and more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning...
("Molotov"), and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
("Chapter 2"). Controversial issues like pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
("P.S.") and child molestation
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
("Sioux Lane Spirits") have also been addressed.
According to John DiBase, president of Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
, early lyrics reflected "anger, frustration, and often hopelessness." Some journalists interpreted it as cynicism; Sean Richardson writing for The Phoenix
The Phoenix (newspaper)
The Phoenix is the name of several alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States by Phoenix Media/Communications Group of Boston, Massachusetts including the Boston Phoenix, the Providence Phoenix, the Portland Phoenix and the now-defunct Worcester Phoenix...
called it "overbearing" and hoped "positive vibes" from P.O.D. and Blindside
Blindside
Blindside is a post-hardcore band from Tumba, Sweden. They formed in 1994 as Underfree and kept that name for two years before releasing their debut EP in 1996.-A Thought Crushed My Mind:...
would rub off, while Losey believed it to be a longtime "burden" being carried. "It is easy to give in to these types of [cynical] feelings when you have been wronged,” Schwab told CCM Magazine, "It’s a very selfish mentality that chokes you off from being proactive in your gifts and purpose." Critics have noted that Schwab's later material contains more optimistic perspectives.
Honesty is highly regarded by Schwab; he has stated "I don't want to be known or remembered as a positive band, but as a band that was sort of honest and had a quiet sense of hope." He has sometimes used humor to convey his feelings. "Salem's Suburbs" and "Your Heroes Are Dead" satirically examine how society blindly accepts opinions found on television and the internet. "Caveman Jams" was directed at critics who claimed their music was too aggressive. The song tells how a fan was inspired to leave a life of self-destruction. "That song was written to be funny,” stated Schwab, "[It] was definitely written as a response to some experiences we’ve had as a band over the years, but in such a way that we’re having fun with it. I tried to approach it comically.""
Discography
Studio albums- 1998: Project 86Project 86 (album)Project 86 is the debut album of the American band Project 86. It was released on June 16, 1998 on BEC Recordings, a the Christian imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. This album established Project 86 as one of the more promising hardcore/metal groups in the Christian music scene...
- 2000: Drawing Black LinesDrawing Black Lines-Personnel:*Andrew Schwab – vocals*Randy Torres – guitar, vocals, piano*Stephen Dail – bass, guitar*Alex Albert – drums*GGGarth – producer, additional engineer*Brandon Ebel - executive producer*Andre Wahl - engineer, mixing...
- 2002: Truthless HeroesTruthless HeroesTruthless Heroes is the third album released by the U.S. post-hardcore band Project 86. It was released on September 12, 2002 on Tooth & Nail Records and September 24, 2002 on Atlantic Records and debuted at number 146 on the Billboard Top 200, with over 7000 copies sold.Truthless Heroes is a...
- 2003: Songs to Burn Your Bridges BySongs to Burn Your Bridges BySongs to Burn Your Bridges By is the fourth album by rock band Project 86. Originally released independently in November 2003 on the band's own label Team Black, the album was re-released on Tooth & Nail Records on June 1, 2004...
- 2005: ...And the Rest Will Follow
- 2007: Rival FactionsRival Factions (album)Rival Factions is the sixth studio album by Project 86. The album peaked at #124 on the Billboard 200 and at #5 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums. This album is their first without previous drummer Alex Albert, with Jason Gerken from Shiner and Open Hand playing drums...
- 2009: Picket Fence CartelPicket Fence CartelPicket Fence Cartel is the seventh studio album by Project 86. It was released on July 14, 2009 through Tooth & Nail Records. As the second full release after the departure of their previous drummer, Alex Albert, it is not yet known who plays drums on this album.The sound for the album has been...
EPs
- 2007: The Kane Mutiny EPThe Kane Mutiny EPThe Kane Mutiny EP is an iTunes-exclusive digital EP that was released on November 27, 2007 by the post-hardcore band Project 86. Announced on August 23, 2007, the EP is composed of five tracks: two Rival Factions B-sides, a cover of The Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia, My Reflection," and remixes of...
- 2008: This Time of Year EPThis Time of Year EPThis Time of Year EP is the second EP released by Orange County-based rock band Project 86. The release was first announced on September 23, 2008 through the band's official MySpace blog. Nine days later, the band released a further update naming the new release as This Time of Year, and specifying...
Live albums
- 2010: 15.Live
Singles
- 2002: "Hollow Again"
Filmography
Documentaries- 2004: Subject to Change: The Making of ...And the Rest Will Follow
- 2007: I Want Something You Have: Rival Factions The DVD
Music videos
- "Pipe Dream"
- "One-Armed Man (Play On)"
- "Spy Hunter"
- "My Will Be a Dead Man"
- "Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)"
- "Destroyer"