Project 86 is a post-hardcore band from Orange County, California consisting of Andrew "Macabre" Schwab (vocals), Randy "Randeath" Torres (guitar), Stephen "Dail" Dail (bass), and Alex "The Hatchet" Albert (drums).
In 1998, Project 86 released its self-titled debut on BEC Recordings, a sublabel of Tooth & Nail Records. Immediately the band was labeled " rapcore". Though Schwab's vocals could barely be called rapping, it was a convenient label due to the popularity of that genre of music at the time. After putting out their second album Drawing Black Lines (2000), the band was taken on by Atlantic Records. However, the promised re-release of Drawing Black Lines went from being a full-fledged reissue with new artwork and three new songs to nothing more than a bare bones repackaging of the exact same album.
At the outset of its career, Project 86 shared the stage with rock n' roll greats P.O.D. and Blindside on the now infamous Kings of the Game Tour. Project (as the band is often referred to by its fans) has played mainstage at both Christian and secular festivals, and has shared the stage with other well known bands such as Queensrÿche, Linkin Park, Dead Poetic, and Stavesacre.
The next two years saw Project 86's addition of a second guitarist ( Cory Edelman, formerly of No Innocent Victim) and his subsequent departure just a few months later. Perhaps more importantly, influential rocker Marilyn Manson took interest in the band and had the song "P.S.", originally released on Drawing Black Lines, added to the Blair Witch 2 soundtrack. Probably due to this interest, Project 86 became a higher priority for Atlantic. Atlantic poured over half a million into Project's next musical foray, entitled Truthless Heroes (2002), which, though proving to be the band's most popular outing yet, was released amidst great turmoil.
