Worth the wait. Definitely worth the wait.
Suggested songs for listening: "SOTS", "Blood Moon"
 |
| Laser planes FTW! |
Sometimes when a band reaches a certain point in their long
career, the question arises as to whether they have run out of steam and should
just call it a day. As Project 86 releases their ninth full-length album after
a jarring change of pace in their last two, this question is ever present in
the minds of faithful fans. Will there be another “Rival Factions” with its
shrill scream style, or another “Picket Fence Cartel”-esque album with odd
melodies abundant? Project 86 smashes through all expectations with yet another
change in style in “Wait For The Siren”, but this time around they are rearing
their heads with their heaviest work to date. And such a change shows that they
have aged very well indeed.
Anyone looking for familiarity here should leave it at the
door; the old Project 86 is gone (quite literally, in fact). The only original
member that remains is lead singer Andrew Schwab, and everyone else is fresh
meat in the hardcore band’s lineup. Shuffling the crew can be a good thing at
times, however, and it is heard here as a hard rush of fresh air into the
sixteen-year-old band. For anyone who is an avid listener of Project 86, this
redefinition of sound is not all that surprising; they are notorious for
changing styles from CD to CD. But for anyone experiencing them for the first
time, now is a great time to jump on board.
 |
| Flight suits? Check. Let's do this. |
From the very beginning, a new heaviness is heard and felt
that lasts through most of the album. There is more aggression here than in
other albums and this lends even more to the low-tuned guitars and growly bass.
Quite honestly, Project 86 is pushing the bounds of metal in a way: there are
more full-on screams this time around as opposed to Schwab’s usual “yelling”
style, and the riffs for some of the songs are frantic in a way that resembles Lamb
Of God. The sonic punch that emanates from this album is a far cry from
anything they’ve put out before. Even more surprising are the slower ballads,
something not heard since the band’s fifth album, “…And The Rest Will Follow”.
It’s almost like they have morphed into a completely different band in all
aspects.
An enjoyable characteristic of “Wait For The Siren” is the
clarity of all the instruments in the mix. The elusive bass guitar actually
takes the spotlight for many of the songs with growled dominance. Honestly,
this is some of the best sounding rock-style bass guitar out there; the tone is
fantastic without being too gritty or plain. The bass grooves nicely throughout
the entire album and lays down a fantastic foundation for everything else. Guitars
are thoughtfully layered and complement each other well as they weave upper
melodies and chug with the bass in the heavy sections. While it is obvious that
Randy Torres and his unique guitar voicing are no longer here, the newer,
simpler guitar work fits the new style well. There are parts that pay homage to
Torres’ work and a keen listener who has heard other Project 86 albums will
recognize the tributes. The drums are delightfully full and build on the
heaviness that the album claims as its own. Add in Schwab’s unique vocals,
which now include softer singing and rending screams, and the whole puzzle
comes together in all its glory.
 |
| We don't need no stinking guest vocals! ... But come on in, guys. You can sing somewhere. |
Speaking of vocal work, Project 86 has done something rather
unusual on this album by bringing in quite a few guest vocalists, which include
former Korn guitarist Brian Welch and Bruce Fitzhugh from Living Sacrifice.
While this was certainly a welcomed addition to the record, a problem arises:
there was not a part in the album that debuted any of the guests by putting
them in the spotlight. Surely they add to the sound as a whole, but overall it
seems almost insignificant due to everyone besides Schwab being nearly
inaudible. The idea of bringing guests in is to showcase them along with the
band’s music, is it not? Questions as to why such vocalists were even asked to
perform arise when they are blended in so deep that they become nothing more
than another sound in the mix. Careful, repeated listening will probably reveal
them, but for the most part they take a secondary place and never truly shine.
Obviously the new heavy sound is the point of interest for
this album, but this recalculated style does come with a price. Seasoned
Project 86 fans will notice that many of the songs do indeed sound very
similar, a stark contrast to albums of the past, and even new listeners will
probably hear this problem throughout “Wait For The Siren”. But such a
complaint begs the question: can there be too much of a good thing? All of the
crushing riffs and heaviness may slightly run together, but it just sounds too
good to be a huge problem. It will probably come down to personal preference
whether or not the album sounds repetitive.
“Wait For The Siren” signals a new chapter for Project 86,
and this is definitely a step in the right direction. The achieved heaviness
that saturates this release is refreshing in every way possible, yet there is
still an obvious feeling that this is a Project 86 album. While it would have
been nice to hear the guest vocalists shine through, they still add to the
sound that rages forth. Any repetitiveness aside, this is definitely an album
for anyone trying to find a groovy, heavy, hardcore sound. Project 86's "Wait For The Siren" drives home a:
 |
| 6 steps tuned down out of 7. |
