Editing Project 86 (section)

===2000–2003: ''Drawing Black Lines'' and ''Truthless Heroes''===
{{sfn|Dodd|2001|p=37}} The group worked on their sophomore record with producer [[Garth Richardson|Garth "GGGarth" Richardson]].{{sfn|Powell|2002|p=732}} in [[Vancouver]], BC.   Schwab wrote lyrics about a wider variety of issues, rather than just focusing on personal expression with their sophomore release: "The new album deals a lot less with me, and more with the world around us; Issues in people, society, culture".{{sfn|Bandoppler|1999|p=19}} The sound was heavier and more progressive, with more hints of melody as well.  As soon as the album was finished it garnered interest from several major labels, and Atlantic records licensed the album for co-release with Tooth and Nail/BEC in March 2000.  ''[[Drawing Black Lines]]'' peaked at No.&nbsp;37 on [[Top Heatseekers|Heatseekers]],{{sfn|Allmusic staff|2009}} and was well received by critics.{{sfn|Losey|2009}}{{sfn|DiBiase|2000}}{{sfn|Figgis|2000}}{{sfn|Richardson|2000}} By this time, listeners in the band had begun to amass a sizable fanbase.{{sfn|Daugherty|2002|p=11}} Despite heavy reliance on tour dates and [[word of mouth]] to inform people of its release, the album experienced some commercial success when it eventually sold nearly 120,000 copies.{{sfn|Schwab|2004|p=172}}{{sfn|Winters|2005|p=129}} The band added Cory Edelmann, previously of [[No Innocent Victim]], after the album was finished.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} Project 86 traveled nationwide with P.O.D., [[Hed PE]], and [[Linkin Park]] on the "Kings of the Game" tour in October 2000.{{sfn|Mancini|2000}} They also played a string of shows with [[Queensrÿche]].{{sfn|Schwab|2004|pp=82&ndash;83}}

In 2002, Project 86 teamed with [[Slayer]] producer [[Matt Hyde]] to record their next album. The record was envisioned as a critique of post-9/11 America and the music industry. Formatted as a [[concept album]], it told the story of a character attempting to find fulfillment in modern culture. "Songs were written and assembled with a certain ebb and flow in mind," said Schwab, "I approached the album like writing chapters in a book."{{sfn|Daugherty|2002|p=11}} The group spent over 14 months recording demos for Atlantic, which invested nearly $1,000,000 in the project when it was all said and done.{{sfn|Schwab|2004|p=173}}  Because of the pressure to produce radio singles, the sound of the album was quite different from its previous releases, as was Schwab's cryptic lyrics, which represented the frustrations of being stifled creatively and feeling powerless in the process.  {{sfn|Schwab|2004|p=174}}

{{listen | filename = Little Green Men.ogg | title = "Little Green Men" | description = Some Christians were concerned with the lyrics in ''Truthless Heroes''; in the first track, ''Little Green Men'', Schwab yells "I don't need anybody, I don't need anyone, I don't need your guidance home!".{{sfn|DiBiase|2002}} On the other hand, Allmusic writer Bradley Torreano declared it "one of the most topical metal albums of the turn of the century."{{sfn|Torreano|2009}} | format = [[Ogg]]}}
''[[Truthless Heroes]]'' was released in September 2002 and peaked at No.&nbsp;146 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. Their first and only single, "Hollow Again", peaked at No.&nbsp;35 on [[Mainstream Rock Tracks]].{{sfn|Allmusic staff|2009}} Atlantic refused to release the second single because they claimed the lyrics conflicted with the [[Iraq War]] effort.{{sfn|Schwab|2004|p=173}} While lauded by critics for its pounding criticism of the media and entertainment industry,{{sfn|DiBiase|2002}}{{sfn|Torreano|2009}}{{sfn|Argyrakis|2002}} the album proved to be controversial, particularly the promotional website.{{sfn|Taylor|2003}} The group performed with [[Taproot (band)|Taproot]] on their self-titled tour in fall 2002.{{sfn|Richardson|2002}} In addition, they played shows with [[Thirty Seconds to Mars]], [[Trapt]], [[Blindside (band)|Blindside]], [[Trust Company (band)|Trust Company]], [[Sevendust]], and [[Finger Eleven]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}