About Project 86
Hailing from Orange County California, Project 86 is Andrew Schwab (vox), Randy Torres (guitars, keys, background vox) and Steven Dail (bass, background vox). In 1998, the band released its self-titled debut album for BEC Recordings. The album sold well, quickly raising the group to one of the top sellers for BEC. Exceptional singles from the album landed on the CMJ, Hits Magazine, Box Video, and Album Network charts. Some tracks were used on popular shows like Road Rules and The Real World, both on MTV. A few of the heavy tunes from the album are "Spill Me," "Six Sirens," "Bleed Season," and "When Darkness Reigns."
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Project 86 went back into the studio and came out in 2000 with their sophomore album, Drawing Black Lines, recorded under the Atlantic Records label. Well-known producer GGGarth and prominent engineer Bryan Carlstrom have both worked with the adept group. The guys followed up for Atlantic in 2003 with Truthless Heroes before jumping to Tooth & Nail for 2004's Songs to Burn Your Bridges By. The band's fifth album, And the Rest Will Follow, appeared in the fall of 2005.
Pushing forward, the band released Rival Factions in 2007.
Rival Factions--the concept of two poles in direct opposition--is an allusion to the conflict that lies inside (and outside) each one of us: dark vs. light. The tension of conflict between these adversaries is where you will find these ten, razor-sharp tracks. Simple in structure, yet intentionally diverse in layers and emotions, the band has patented stimulating songwriting. Consider the comparison of tracks such as the ferocious "The Forces of Radio..." and the moody "Molotov." One is bombastic and pounding, while the other is atmospheric and ambient. Though seemingly opposed, their tension as the poles of the record is where the beauty of the album itself resides. Kind of like... Rival Factions. |
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"Confrontation reveals true motivation," Andrew explains. When you are face to face with conflict, the deep recesses of the heart come to the surface, and we are forced to face who we really are. Man vs. man. Man vs. himself. Light vs. darkness. We must all face our conflicts and choose sides, and through this our mettle (metal?) is defined."
The first thing you will notice when you pop in the disc is that the opening track "Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)" is both undeniable and undeniably unique. Deep synth and keys lay across claw-like riffage as the track begins to imbed itself in your subconscious. Then Schwab's vocal bellows across the surface a la something out of a goth-punk dreamscape. Finally, the chorus lashes you with a mass of voices as you croon along...I Want Something you have...Hints of Sisters of Mercy and Joy Division collide with post-hardcore tenacity to meld into something that sounds like, well, nothing like any of the aforementioned.
P86 has, unequivocally, a sound of their very own on Rival Factions.
Bassist Steven Dail and guitarist Randy Torres, along with Schwab, took a completely different approach in writing this record than any other, pushing the boundaries of technology to hone their sound. Throughout the process the members were spread across the world, writing individually rather than collectively. Thanks to the power of the MP3, the band was able to reinvent the process itself:
"There are three songs on the record that tell stories, which is something I have never done before in individual songs," Schwab continues. 'Caveman Jam' is a conversation with three different types of music fans--two of which don't get our band and one who does. On 'The Sanctuary Hum,' a man in power feigns holiness but is hiding a violent secret. Each story has a provocative moral to it that captures imagery in away I have never done before."
To capture the sound they were striving for, the band co-produced the record Ulrich Wild (Deftones, Bleeding Through, Buck Cherry), and employed three different mixers to add diversity (Wild, Mike Watts, and JR McNeely). Jason Gerkin (Shiner, She Wants Revenge, Open Hand) played drums and Jason Martin (Starflyer 59) added keys on several songs. The result is not sonic perfection, but a lively, honest sound that celebrates the songs and the instruments, not the Pro tools-era of overcompression and drum-machine-like editing.
Project 86 continued to brighten up the doldrums of the current musical landscape with more brand new music in 2007. Releasing exclusively on Itunes November 27th P86 delivered a dynamic 5 song EP Titled the Kane Mutiny which will include a special digital booklet featuring hand written lyrics by lead vocalist Andrew Schwab and the band's latest video for hit single "Evil: A Chorus of Resistance".
"Project 86 is based on big dreams, big vocals, and lofty expectations," Schwab says. "Our hard work, determination, and faith in God has brought us all together. We have said to ourselves that we want to be the best band that's ever done this."