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
Numb
Project 86 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aniticipating the ease to plot his ways
Willing to instigate injustice and drink the grapes
And illustrate the character found born to fate
Drive the knife in deep to try to penetrate
As I convulse rendered numb from my state
Hands are tied my mind is fried
Shatter my comfort resulting control denied
And the nightmares concur with the flashbacks
The scene is set for confusion the conflict oppresses
Deceptions a fruit of your wrong guesses
Begging to plant your seed
Begging to manifest death
Begging to plant your seed
Begging to violate
Rest with your eyes half open
And cringe at the thought of the face who blindsides to thwart your case
With no escape from the justice prevailing
The winds of death now die without failing
To beg and plead to find a way to feed themselves
On the blood of your starving needs
Live the sword and die by the tranquil stare
Of old habits resurrected and bare
Your lies lack evidence
You think twice about precedence
Reality's gagged by the forces that force the gate
And I'm reminded that I'm the one to hate
As I sort through my infinite mishaps I see how small I remain
The illusion has faded And what's left is a searing pain
Disappointment throbs with each breath that divides my path from the things
I've sown And I'm left broken As I search for home
Pierce straight past the addage the cliches of fools
That fool themselves by the games that pass the days
Home is not a residence to hang your costume
Or check your face for the spoon
But home is your mind set But home is your heartrest.
The lyrics of Project 86's song "Numb" describe a situation where the singer is helpless and vulnerable, with his mind and body rendered numb, yet constantly manipulated and exploited by someone. The song begins with the opportunity arising at night and the antagonist anticipating an easy way to manipulate the singer, instigate injustice, and illustrate the character found born to fate. The singer is left convulsing, numb from his state, with his hands tied, his mind fried, and his comfort shattered, resulting in control being denied.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly aware of the antagonist's intentions in his absence, and the nightmares keep coming back to haunt him. The scene is set for confusion, and the conflict oppresses him. The singer is left begging to manifest death and plant their seed, with the absence of justice from prevailing. The illusions have faded, leaving only a searing pain, and disappointment throbs with every breath.
The message this song conveys is one of powerlessness, vulnerability, and manipulation. The singer is aware of the injustice being inflicted upon him but is unable to do anything about it, leaving him numb and broken. The lyrics urge the listener to question their own motives and to look beyond the costumes they wear or the face they put on for others, emphasizing that true home lies in one's mindset and heartrest.
Line by Line Meaning
Opportunity rears as the night casts the shadows to chafe the day
The darkness of the night presents an opportunity for the singer to act.
Aniticipating the ease to plot his ways
The singer is expecting things to go smoothly as he plans his actions.
Willing to instigate injustice and drink the grapes
The singer is willing to cause harm and enjoy the spoils of his actions.
And illustrate the character found born to fate
The artist's actions are a reflection of his inherent nature.
Drive the knife in deep to try to penetrate
The artist is aggressively pursuing his goals, even if it means causing harm to others.
As I convulse rendered numb from my state
The singer is experiencing physical and emotional numbness as a result of his actions.
Hands are tied my mind is fried
The singer feels trapped and overwhelmed by his circumstances.
Shatter my comfort resulting control denied
The artist's actions have disrupted his sense of safety and control.
Your intention's no secret in my absence
The artist is aware of someone else's intentions, even when he is not present.
And the nightmares concur with the flashbacks
The artist is haunted by his past experiences and fears about the future.
The scene is set for confusion the conflict oppresses
The circumstances are chaotic and overwhelming, causing stress and confusion.
Deceptions a fruit of your wrong guesses
The antagonist's lies and deceit are a result of his incorrect assumptions.
Begging to plant your seed
The antagonist is eager to sow the seeds of his plan.
Begging to manifest death
The antagonist seeks to cause harm and destruction.
Begging to violate
The antagonist is eager to cross boundaries and disrespect others.
Rest with your eyes half open
The artist is wary and vigilant, even in moments of rest.
And cringe at the thought of the face who blindsides to thwart your case
The artist fears someone who may unexpectedly interfere with his plans.
With no escape from the justice prevailing
The singer cannot escape the consequences of his actions.
The winds of death now die without failing
The antagonist's plans for destruction are coming to an end.
To beg and plead to find a way to feed themselves on the blood of your starving needs
The antagonist is willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy his own desires, even if it means harming others.
Live the sword and die by the tranquil stare
The artist will face the consequences of his violent actions.
Of old habits resurrected and bare
The artist's past behaviors are coming back to haunt him.
Your lies lack evidence
The antagonist's falsehoods are not supported by the truth.
You think twice about precedence
The antagonist is considering his past actions and their potential consequences.
Reality's gagged by the forces that force the gate
The truth is being suppressed and controlled by someone or something more powerful.
And I'm reminded that I'm the one to hate
The singer acknowledges that he is responsible for his own negative circumstances.
As I sort through my infinite mishaps I see how small I remain
The singer is realizing how insignificant and powerless he truly is in the grand scheme of things.
The illusion has faded And what's left is a searing pain
The artist's false sense of control has disappeared, leaving him with intense emotional suffering.
Disappointment throbs with each breath that divides my path from the things I've sown
The artist is experiencing deep regret and sadness as he reflects on the path he has chosen.
And I'm left broken As I search for home
The singer is lost and isolated as he seeks a sense of belonging and purpose.
Pierce straight past the addage the cliches of fools
The singer rejects common societal beliefs and values.
That fool themselves by the games that pass the days
The artist sees others as being delusional and distracted by temporary pleasures.
Home is not a residence to hang your costume
A true sense of home cannot be found in material possessions or superficial identities.
Or check your face for the spoon
Nor can it be found in addictive or escapist behaviors.
But home is your mind set But home is your heartrest.
Home is a state of mind and a sense of emotional security and comfort.
Contributed by Annabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Curtis Hess
dude i miss the old project 86
Nathaniel Austin
hell yeah
Patrick Tow
Holy crap, it's actually it!! "Numb"! Awesome, I gotta hear this. I'm favoriting this track so more people can hear it.
william4art
I have every project album signed by the entire band ha! LOL! Its about time P.O.D and project did something together.
Carpe Noctem
I'm so happy I actually still own the compilation CD that this is on :D
TobermoryIscarabaidX
@Carpe Noctem That’s awesome. Someone should post the compilation. I’m very interested. 🧐🧐🧐
Carpe Noctem
@TobermoryIscarabaidX Yep!
TobermoryIscarabaidX
Does it actually have that cover above? Lol
Patrick Tow
Just ordered a collectible edition of the debut Project 86 album with this song on it. 8) Sorry if anyone else was looking for it! And before anyone asks, I checked the seller's feedback rating and it was top-notch. I'm just not going to get the original packaging, that's all.
07rye07
awesome tune!!!