One thing I can't stand whatsoever is when bands whine moan and complain about them not being the style they've pigeonholed themselves into. In this case, they've been very vocal about Project 86 not being "rapcore". Whatever. Just a little hint guys- if you don't want to be known as a "rapcore" band, don't play the style. It's that simple. How's about "nu metal"?
I could go on, but I'm not. Bottom line is thus- the self-titled debut from Project 86 is, to say the very least, hard, heavy and probably better played than most of the nu metal glut that's been the style du jour as of late. As far as I know, they've been around much longer, so one can hardly slag them as bandwagon hoppers. Lyrically speaking, I find them to be intelligently written, of the introspective, almost existential from a Christian perspective. I especially like the section on "When Darkness Reigns" that goes: "You'd have me adopt that suicide / You'd have me succumb without reply / But you forgot the thousand deaths I've died / You'd have me continue this pace / You'd have me join your race / But that grave will be nothing but an empty space / Arise from the dead, O sleeper, prepare for the battle cry / Because this is the hour when truth divides..."
Granted, I do listen to this disc once in a while for a quick heavy fix. But, when all is said and done, I'm not a huge fan of the style, though I confess that Project 86 is the better pick. Given the quality of the recording and the intensity this band obviously gives their material, it's a wonder why they haven't hit as big as P.O.D. yet.
7.5/10
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestSince Bryan Carlstrom produced the first Stavesacre album, he did quite some jobs for both BEC Recordings as for Tooth & Nail. He did this new fruit from the Seattle-tree too. And not without merit. Project 86 is a young band that was started in 1996 with members who had some experience with bands like Innermeans and Focused. From the first song on this debut-disc the music is thick with…HM Magazine #72Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovernFollowing in the tradition of bands like POD, EDL, etc., Project 86 comes to the rap-core table with its very own brand of the style. Instead of just ripping off its contemporaries, the band takes the passion and intensity to a unique level, while it would still be tough, in my opinion, to match that of either of those other bands. Beats are usually relaxed, heavy, plodding grooves, and the…7ball #19Reviewed by Dan MacIntoshAlthough it borrows its rhyming cadences from hip-hop, Project 86 bellows its lyrics over incessantly eerie guitar riffs with all the raw power of a hungry young punk band, which leaves its eponymous debut sounding closer to the hardcore end of the emerging musical style known as rap-core. Besides its musical inclinations, though, there is also far too much turbulence in these soapbox rants to…Similar sounding releases
1999StavesacreSpeakeasy
2005SeemlessSeemless
2003Dust Eater DogsHardbiter's Inn
2004DisengageApplication For An Afterlife
2005Kids in the WayApparitions of Melody
2002Cave InTides of TomorrowMore from Project 86
2005...And the Rest Will Follow
2002Truthless Heroes
2004Songs To Burn Your Bridges By
2000Drawing Black Lines
