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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Truthless Heroes Artist: Project 86 Label: Atlantic/Tooth & Nail Length: 17 Tracks/55:32 min Back in 2000 the future was looking rosy for Project 86. Their major label debut, Drawing Black Lines, aptly produced by GGGarth, the producer of Rage Against The Machine's seminal debut album, had just been released to critical acclaim, and they were touring the US as part of a dream line-up with P.O.D. and Linkin Park. In the intervening two years, however, Project 86 have had to watch P.O.D. and Linkin Park sprint to mainstream success with combined album sales exceeding fifteen million, while they have remained resolutely rooted in relative obscurity. Faced with this state of affairs, many lesser bands would have bowed to the temptation of compromising their art for the sake of commercial success. Not so Project 86. Instead, they have chosen to release what can only be described as a "concept album", though mercifully without all the connotations of hoary, 1970s progressive rock bands that that phrase conjures up. Truthless Heroes is a collection of thirteen songs, punctuated by four recorded "commercial breaks", that all take an angry, satirical and half-ironic look at the culture that surrounds us. With this background there are swipes at power-crazy politicians ("Little Green Men"): Out of the playground's ashesThere is despair at the attempted control of our lives by the state ("Salem's Suburbs"): Who I amThere are attacks on herd mentality ("Know What I Mean"): Do you know what it meansand, perhaps most surprisingly, there are diatribes against those in the church who commercialize the gospel for financial gain ("S.M.C."): Faith is buying me a wayIn the light of all this vitriol, it is unsurprising that the accompanying music is suitably aggressive and defiant. However, to Project 86's credit, Truthless Heroes is not just an impenetrable mass of angst, rather a tune-filled collection of intent. Thus, amidst the squirming, dirty guitar riffs of "Little Green Men" and "Know What It Means," the band manages to wrestle out simply stunning choruses. "Caught In The Middle" and "Salem's Suburbs" take this template but throw verse harmonies into the cauldron. "S.M.C.," on the other hand, is a punk/hardcore wonder with an adrenaline pill of a chorus. "Team Black" mixes harmonies, a rage-filled bridge and a huge chorus, replete with pummelling bass drums, to brilliant effect. And the list goes on... Doubtless, there will be some long-time followers of Project 86 who find this album difficult, both musically and lyrically. After all, this is not a rap-core album and there are no overt evangelistic statements. However, Truthless Heroes should be judged for what it is: thirteen excellent rock, punk and metal songs that make thoughtful, intelligent statements on the society we live in. And how often can you say that? Vik Bansal 10/27/02
Project 86 has released a kind of concept record, but Truthless Heroes should not be wrapped in that subtext and left in the heady, contrived, section of your collection. It's more than that; it's a rock and roll party. Truthless Heroes takes Project where they haven't been before. The music has evolved, as also have the concepts and lyrics, into a progressive hard music groove that wasn't developed in previous releases. Andrew Schwab (writer, vocals), Randy Torres (dirty guitars), Steven Dail (impelling bass), and Alex Albert (hard hitting drums) may have been watching a few bands that they grew up with. POD, as a case study, has changed their sound and vocal style with much success. Another couple of bands that I hear emulated in the new Project project are Stavesacre and Linkin Park, both great musical role models, and judging from Truthless Heroes , the band agrees. Although Project 86's latest sound can be compared to other bands, by no means is the new record derivative. Project 86 is their own band. Schwab has developed a wonderful sense of melody and song structure that makes this record different from other Project 86 albums. Honorable mention kudos must also go to producer and accomplished engineer Matt Hyde. The production on the album is extremely clear. Every instrument and vocal is discernible and yet looses none of its power. The songs are well crafted and very hot. The band should be very proud of the record and the fans can be proud to play it loud. Tony LaFianza 10/30/2002
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