The First Post Should Be The Namesake, I Suppose

Project 86 - "Wordsmith Legacy"

"Knock knock knock
Sound the blows to the forehead from the
Mock mock mock
Of the words, a voice I hear every morning

Like stalking me from yesterday
The taunts of one who sought to frame
The picture of this desolate
This figure cowering

Every word a double edged sword
A double edged sword
My every word

Drop drop drop
Sound the sledge to the metal
Shot shot shot
Sound the pin to the chamber
My own words pound after me
Intentions bent on conquering
The very will I proudly claimed
Was the very axe that cut the nape

Every word a double edged sword
A double edged sword
My every word

(I'll never, ever look back
Sitting still, sitting still
Arrogant mindset of lusts
They search and strain and drink and stagger
When we are hollow
Sitting still, sitting still
You hate us cause we'll never go away)

You can drown
In your own mistakes
Burrowing into the black
Or you can take my hand

Double
Edged
Sword
My every word

This gift was never yours
So why would you ever think
That the words you said were your own?
I have chosen
And breathed
And forgiven
And changed
And purged
And cleaned
And forgave
And bathed
And carried
And soothed
And burned
And spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken and spoken...
Yours is not to proclaim...but only to obey."

From the quasi-staccato, atmospheric opening, to the winding down of the final chords which drip like the pigment in a Dali painting, this song rocks. When the chorus clarifies and the guitar kicks in, shredding the subtle brewing storm, I get a slight adrenaline rush. From Andrew Schwab's powerful voice to the weird drum work of Alex Albert, I really love Project 86's sound. While I love the music itself, I'm not very musically talented, and I couldn't read a sheet of music if my life depended on it, so I focus on the lyrics, which I can handle. Typical Project 86 in its near-scream-somewhat-grolwled-yet-still-listenable lyrics, I really think this song resonates with me for several reasons.

Namely, the fact that we all have to live with every word we speak. And especially those which are actually written down. But yet we cannot be controlled by them. I'm reminded of James 3 with these lyrics, if one wants to get biblical with them; the issue of taming the tongue is laced throughout these words. I especially love the closing line of the song: "Yours is not to proclaim...but only to obey." Sometimes, we get so caught up in the sound of our voices, we forget to simply shut up and follow. The final verse reminds me that my words are not my own. I picture God saying the last verse, reminding me that God has handled everything from creating to burning. My job is simply to obey.

Project 86 has now put out five albums ranging from the self-titled debut to this most recent work. I own their last four (I gotta find that debut somewhere!), and I love them all. The sound has evolved over the years, but it's still distincly Project. I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys some high-quality hardcore with insightful and thought-provoking lyrics. Check them out at: http://www.project86.com for more info, tour dates, biography, etc.

Until next time...