In 1998, Project 86 released its self-titled debut on BEC Recordings, a division of Tooth & Nail Records, and was immediately labeled "rapcore" due to strong similarities to acts such as Rage Against the Machine. Though Schwab's vocals could barely be called rapping, it was a convenient label due to the popularity of that genre of music at the time. The album and a supporting tour opening for P.O.D. and Blindside on the Warriors Tour stirred a lot of hype for the band and their sophomore album was excitedly anticipated.
Project (as the band is often referred to by its fans) released Drawing Black Lines in early 2000 to very strong aclaim and the album is widely considered to be the band's defining work. In support of Drawing Black Lines, Project 86 toured extensively with the addition of a second live guitarist (Cory Edelman, formerly of No Innocent Victim), headlining with supporting bands such as Living Sacrifice and Stavesacre and also opening for P.O.D. and Linkin Park. Perhaps more importantly, influential modern shock rocker Marilyn Manson took interest in the band and had the song "P.S.", originally released on Drawing Black Lines, added to the Blair Witch 2 soundtrack. Probably due to this interest, Project 86 became a higher priority for Atlantic. DBL was slated to be re-released with new artwork and three new songs, but in actuality it was only a bare bones repackaging of the exact same album. However, Atlantic did pour over half a million into Project's next musical foray, entitled Truthless Heroes (2002), which, though proving to be the band's most popular outing yet, was released amidst great turmoil.
Over the course of recording Truthless Heroes (which took around a year to complete) Project 86 had increasing difficulty with its management, as well as both record labels (Tooth & Nail still had rights to release their music to the Christian market). This wore the band down immensely, but by the time the album was finished, the difficulty seemed to have worked out in Project's favor - Atlantic bought all of Tooth & Nail's remaining rights to the band and released "Hollow Again", the first single from the album, on mainstream radio. Word came out that the band would be shooting a video for the song shortly, but it never materialized as Atlantic ran into troubles of its own and liquidated some of its assets - including Project 86. In 2003, finding themselves cut loose by both label and management, Project started its own independent label.
Also during this time, the members of Project 86 became outspoken concerning the Contemporary Christian Music scene, siding with other similar acts such as Stavesacre and MXPX in saying that they wanted to distance themselves from the label and the idealogical restrictions that the CCM label automatically places on bands. A Truthless Heroes website containing links to various underground news organizations, as well as edgy visual art pages that decried the dehumanizing effect of pornography, surfaced and generated much controversy among the band's fans.
Project 86's fourth album, Songs To Burn Your Bridges By, was released independently in the fall of 2003 and went on to sell quite well despite being sold only at shows and online. Come 2004, the band mended relations with and re-signed to Tooth & Nail Records and Songs To Burn Your Bridges By was re-issued with three new songs and completely new artwork.
In February 2005, Project 86 announced that they were working on a new album. The title was later announced as ...And The Rest Will Follow. The band spent several weeks in the studio with Garth Richardson over the summer recording the material, and then began releasing a new song every Monday on their purevolume site. The album was released on September 27, 2005, and sold 8,000 copies in its first week, more than any other Project 86 album. A release tour began September 23, with Spoken, Number One Gun, Mourning September, and The Fold.
On January 6th, 2006, Project 86 appeared live on G4's Attack of the Show!, performing "My Will Be A Dead Man" and "The Spy Hunter". This was the band's first appearance on mainstream cable television.
In other recent news, announced March 28th, 2007, on the band's website: "Recently, Alex Albert officially left Project 86. After many years as the drummer for the band, it was time for him to move on to pursue other interests. Alex parted the band on friendly terms, and Project 86 wishes him the best in this new chapter in his life. Thanks for all your years of comraderie, Alex, and you are in our prayers!"
From www.project86.com:
Project 86 has been riding high since the release of their 6th studio album "Rival Factions" in June, 2007. The record grabbed P86 their highest career Billboard debut at 123 and their 1 single "Evil -A Chorus of Resistance" has topped rock charts for the last several months. The new record has garnered extensive critical praise with glowing reviews in AP, Infuze, All Music Guide, Sputnik, The OC Register, etc. The guys were also featured in Outburn and CCM, and graced the July cover of HM Magazine. Add the recent tapping to have their music used on the upcoming film "The Seeker-The Dark Is Rising" video blog series on MTV.com and its clear the guys in P86 have much to celebrate.
"The Kane Mutiny-EP" was released on Nov. 27 2007, making it the first EP that Project 86 ever released.
Then, after almost a year of no new music, Project 86 released the "This Time Of Year EP", a christmas album with 5 tracks on it.
On April 24, 2009, Project 86 Announced that their seventh studio release would be entitled "Picket Fence Cartel." On May 20, 2009, they uploaded two songs from Picket Fence Cartel, "Destroyer" and "Dark Angel Dragnet" to their MySpace page, for streaming play. They also added the song from 'Picket Fence Cartel' called A John Hancock with the safety off on June 4, 2009. The album was released on July 14, 2009.
After fulfilling their last agreement with T&N, in December 2011 the band announced a Kickstarter campaign via their official website and Facebook page, stating that "the fans are now our record label." Their eighth studio release, Wait for the Siren, was released on August 21, 2012.
Featuring all star guest appearances by: Bruce Fitzhugh (Living Sacrifice), Rocky Gray (Evanescence), Brian "Head" Welch (Korn, Love and Death), Andrew Welch (Disciple), Blake Martin (A Plea for Purging) and The Wedding. The new album was produced by Steve Wilson and Andrew Schwab and engineered/mixed by Steve Blackmon.
Described as Andrew Schwab's opus the record promises to be a fresh take on the P86 sound. Schwab said, "On this record I was really able to take the reins of the creative process in a direction I was passionate about. I was able to write songs that pushed me to grow as an artist. It was also insanely fun to have so many of my friends involved in the process and at this point in the game that is what its about. I am really looking forward to people hearing this album." With concert goers noting the new energy of the songs and new band members Scott Davis on drums, Dustin Lowry on guitar and Mikee "Norman" Williams on bass it seems P86 has benefited from a back to basics reinvention.
2. Also, in the early 90's, house producers Howie How & Little Carlos released 12"s on seminal labels R&S Records and Nu Groove Records, under the name "Project 86". They are otherwise totally unrelated. See also the following link for detail on this collaboration: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Project+86
A Text Message to the So-Called Emperor
Project 86 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Countless sleepless days in underestimation
But under these anxious, darkening leaves
No word goes unheard
And no deed is without compensation
When the workers come to collect their wages
Now the straw men are swaying in the distance
Whispering for retribution
Waiting for some voice to call them
From the bottom where you left them
So onward friends from our battered homes
Forward to the onrush of cast stones, crushed bones
And the gallows
These lyrics from A Text Message to the So-called Emperor by Project 86 are forcefully written to capture the frustration and anger of those who have been mistreated, oppressed, and left without hope or support. The first few lines convey how people have been ignored, belittled, and robbed of their dignity and opportunities for far too long. The next lines juxtapose this sense of underestimation with a promise of justice: even though it might seem like no one is paying attention and that their struggles are happening in the shadows, every word is being heard and every deed is being noted. The lyrics suggest that there will come a time when these mistreated individuals will be able to collect the wages that they have been denied, and that the people who have hurt them will be held accountable.
The chorus of the song is equally powerful, as it offers a chilling call to action for the have-nots who are struggling to be heard. The stormy wind is personified as "listless," suggesting that even nature is disinterested in the plights of these individuals. Yet they continue to whisper for retribution, waiting for someone to call them forward and give them the courage and direction they need to rise up. The closing lines are a rallying cry that connects hope with violence: the battered individuals must move forward towards the onrush of cast stones, crushed bones, and the gallows. By invoking images of violence and death, the lyrics make clear that this struggle is not for the faint of heart, and that it is a matter of life and death for those who are involved.
Line by Line Meaning
For too long cast aside, stripped of dignity, opportunity
We have been marginalized and prevented from achieving our full potential.
Countless sleepless days in underestimation
We have worked tirelessly, yet our efforts have been undervalued and disregarded.
But under these anxious, darkening leaves
In our current state of uncertainty and fear,
No word goes unheard
Our cries for justice and equality will not be ignored.
And no deed is without compensation
Those who have exploited us will face consequences for their actions.
When the workers come to collect their wages
We will demand fair compensation for the work we have done.
Now the straw men are swaying in the distance
Those who have held power through oppression are showing signs of weakness.
The have-nots calling in the listless wind
We, the oppressed, are calling out for justice.
Whispering for retribution
We are seeking payback for the harm that has been inflicted upon us.
Waiting for some voice to call them
We are hoping for a leader who will speak out on our behalf.
From the bottom where you left them
We have been left in a disadvantaged position by those in power.
So onward friends from our battered homes
We will come together and continue the fight for our rights despite the hardships we face.
Forward to the onrush of cast stones, crushed bones
We know that the fight for justice will be difficult and painful, but we will not back down.
And the gallows
We are willing to die for this cause if necessary.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Alexander Albert, Andrew Schwab, Randy Torres, Steven Dail
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind