Editing Project 86 (section)

== Musical style==
For most of their career, Project 86's music was characterized by heavy rock{{sfn|Gonzales|2004|p=2D}} and Schwab's "loud, eerie, and atmospheric" vocal style.{{sfn|Taylor|2003}} Their sound has been likened to rock groups [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]], [[Rage Against the Machine]], and [[Tool (band)|Tool]].{{sfn|Dillon|2009}} The adjective "intense" has frequently been used as a description.{{sfn|Dillon|2009}}{{sfn|DiBiase|2005b}}{{sfn|Losey|2005}}{{sfn|Winters|2005|p=129}} Rick Anderson of [[Allmusic]] called the music "dense and crunchy",{{sfn|Anderson|2009}} while ''[[Albuquerque Journal]]'' writer Ron Gonzales declared it a "blisteringly heavy sound."{{sfn|Gonzales|2004|p=2D}} Commenting on their musical style, Schwab said, "Our goal as a band has been to never make the same record twice. The only rule is that there are no rules. If there is a rule, it's that we try not to over-think things, that the music that comes out is honest and real, spontaneous and from our heart."{{sfn|Newcomb|2007|p=32}} 

When Project 86 released their self-titled record, they were generally acknowledged to be a [[rapcore]] band.{{sfn|Bandoppler|1999|p=18}} Schwab has maintained it was never intentional, "I think we got lumped in with that music because we [had] toured with [[P.O.D.]] and [[Linkin Park]]."{{sfn|Newcomb|2007|p=33}} According to writer Mark Allan Powell, the music featured "cryptic, down-tuned guitars" and "half-spoken, half-rapped" vocals.{{sfn|Powell|2002|p=731}} ''Drawing Black Lines'' saw their style adopt elements of [[Traditional heavy metal|traditional metal]], [[groove metal]], and [[hard rock]].{{sfn|Figgis|2000}} The band used their song "Pipedream" as a blueprint to build the album: "We knew that was one of the brightest spots on the album," said Schwab, "I just wanted to take what we did in 'Pipedream' and go further with it".{{sfn|Dodd|2000|p=21}} Experimentation with [[noise (music)|noise]] occurred in track "Twenty-Three",{{sfn|Richardson|2000}} and would be revisited on their fourth album with "Circuitry".{{sfn|Farias|2003}}

''[[Truthless Heroes]]'' and ''[[Songs To Burn Your Bridges By]]'' generally focused on a "dark, rock musical direction". The group strayed from the style for their fifth album ''[[...And The Rest Will Follow]]'', opting to flirt with melodies and harmonies.{{sfn|DiBiase|2005b}} ''[[Rival Factions]]'' marked a great departure when they embraced [[1980s in music|1980s music]] and utilized keyboards.{{sfn|Newcomb|2007|p=32}} Their signature hardcore sound was reinstated for ''[[Picket Fence Cartel]]''. "We have had a great time adding more melody along the way," insisted Schwab, "but in our hearts, we still really enjoy playing aggressive songs".{{sfn|Argyrakis|2009}} Even so, some songs retained synthesizers while others boasted folk influences.{{sfn|Argyrakis|2009}}{{sfn|Sendra|2009}}
{{listen | filename = Illuminate.ogg | title = "Illuminate" | description = "Illuminate" is the seventh track on ''Rival Factions''. Allmusic writer Jo-Anne Greene called it "a hook-riven, keyboard driven number that sounds to be ripped right out of [a] [[Duran Duran]] songbook..."{{sfn|Greene|2009}} | format = [[Ogg]] | filename2 = To Sand We Return.ogg | title2 = "To Sand We Return" | description2 = The last track on ''Picket Fence Cartel'', "To Sand We Return", contains a folk interlude that Schwab compared to "[[Stairway to Heaven]]" by [[Led Zeppelin]].{{sfn|DiBiase|2009b}} The lyrics speak about "unapologetically" surrendering to God.{{sfn|Chamberlain|2009}} | format2 = [[Ogg]]}}

The band's 2023 album ''[[Omni, Pt. 1]]'' saw the band transition from their alternative hard rock to [[metalcore]] with heavy [[industrial (music)|industrial]] and [[djent]] elements; Schwab's vocal style for this genre change transformed from expressive yelling into a vicious gritty roar.<ref>{{cite web | title=Project 86, ''Omni Part 1'' Review | website=Jesusfreakhideout.com | date=24 March 2023 | url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/OMNIPart1.asp#:~:text=Make%20no%20mistake%2C%20OMNI%20is,%2D%20lower%20screaming%2C%20almost%20growls | access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/interview-with-project-86/ | title=Interview with Project 86 | work=Bringin' it Backwards }}</ref> Talking about the dramatic shift in genre with ''Sound In the Signals'', Schwab said, "To be honest, I had a hankering to take the sound of the band in a heavier direction for a very long time, really, since ''[[Drawing Black Lines]]'' was released—we knew that people who were familiar with the band would be excited, and I personally couldn’t wait to see the reactions. The most common comment [I get] is, 'Who is the guest vocalist?' Many people said this because I took a heavier approach with the vocals this time around; instead of my typical shout, I went more death metal. Many were surprised by this, but I actually have sung this way live for about a decade."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.soundinthesignals.com/2023/03/project-86-sound-in-signals-interview.html | title=Project 86 - Sound in the Signals Interview }}</ref> Another reason for Schwab shifting the band's genre was professional throat care he underwent during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], to get rid of a nodule he had developed as far back as ''[[Truthless Heroes]]''. This allowed him to experiment with vocal styles, which led to the genre shift.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newreleasetoday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=27732&user_id=148193 | title=''Omni, Pt.1'' by Project 86 Christian CD Book Reviews &#124; NRTeam Member RyanAdams_NRT &#124; NewReleaseToday }}</ref> 

===Influences===
Rock bands have largely influenced the band like the [[Deftones]], [[Sepultura]], [[Sick of It All]], and [[Snapcase]].{{sfn|McGovern|1998|p=1}}{{sfn|Newcomb|2007|p=33}} At an early age, Schwab listened to [[Slayer]], [[Stormtroopers of Death|S.O.D.]], and [[Metallica]].{{sfn|Schwab|2004|p=86}} He later discovered [[East Coast hip hop]].{{sfn|McGovern|1998|p=1}} During the recording of ''Rival Factions'', the band took heavy influence from [[post-punk]] groups like [[Depeche Mode]], [[Joy Division]], [[Psychedelic Furs]], and [[The Sisters of Mercy]].{{sfn|Newcomb|2007|p=33}} Some of their favorite bands are [[The Cure]], [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]], [[Quicksand (band)|Quicksand]], [[Shiner (band)|Shiner]], and [[Sunny Day Real Estate]].{{sfn|Schwab|2004|p=152}}

===Lyrics===
Vocalist Andrew Schwab is the band's lead lyricist.{{sfn|DiBiase|2005b}} Schwab has said most lyrics are based on his emotions.{{sfn|DiBiase|2008a}} He also tries to incorporate social commentary from literature.{{sfn|Harris|2002}} Prominent influences include comic book artist [[Chris Ware]] and writers [[Chris Bachelder]], [[Don DeLillo]], [[Aldous Huxley]], [[George Orwell]], and [[T. S. Eliot]].{{sfn|Harris|2002}} He has written lyrics on a variety of topics, including [[alcohol abuse]] ("One-Armed Man"),{{sfn|Powell|2002|p=732}} [[conformity]] ("S.M.C."),{{sfn|Argyrakis|2002}} [[emptiness]] ("Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)"),{{sfn|DiBiase|2007a}} greed ("Cold and Calculated"),{{sfn|DiBiase|2009b}} [[nightlife]] ("Molotov"),{{sfn|DiBiase|2007a}} [[spirituality]] ("Chapter 2"),{{sfn|Powell|2002|p=732}} [[pornography]] ("P.S."),{{sfn|Taylor|2003}} and [[Child sexual abuse|child molestation]] ("Sioux Lane Spirits").{{sfn|Powell|2002|p=732}} He delved into conceptual writing for 2023 and 2024's ''Omni'', detailing a story of an oppressive dystopian society led by a corporation that seeks to merge man with AI technology in order to eradicate God.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/OMNIPart1.asp|title=Jesusfreakhideout.com: Project 86, "OMNI Part 1" Review|website=www.jesusfreakhideout.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hmmagazine.com/project-86-unleashes-video-for-new-single-0-1-off-upcoming-double-album/ | title=Project 86 Unleashes Video for New Single, '0 > 1,' off Upcoming Double Album | date=January 20, 2023 }}</ref>