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ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Tooth & Nail recording artists PROJECT 86 are putting the finishing touches on their sixth album Rival Factions, slated for release on June 19, 2007. Produced by Ulrich Wild (Bleeding Through, Deftones) and Project 86, the band is wrapping up mastering at Los Angeles’ The Bomb Shelter (home of The Henry Rollins Show) and gearing up for a hefty touring schedule. But first off, they will headline the 2007 Awaken Humanity Festival on May 13th (Mother’s Day) in Los Angeles to benefit critical assistance programs for women and children.

The Awaken Humanity organization supports a wide range of programs, both local and abroad, ranging from helping at-risk Los Angeles youth in their efforts to graduate from high school to developing a “children’s village” in Zambia, Africa for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The Festival kicks off at 4:00pm on Sunday, May 13th in downtown LA at the Mayan Theater (1038 S. Hill St, Los Angeles, CA). Project 86 will be headlining the festival along with a diverse group of artists including Christafari, Stranger, Northern, Until June, Odd Thomas, Buddy, Avner, Kari Kimmel, Spur58 and more who will perform on five stages.

“For the first time in the history of the band, we have the opportunity to align ourselves with a cause like The Awaken Humanity Festival,” says vocalist Andrew Schwab. “We completely support Awaken and their desire to provide relief in areas where it is needed most. This is an effort that anyone with a heart can make a true impact on the downcast, broken, and meek. We are proud to be a part of this.”

A stylistic and artistic departure from what most will expect from the band, Rival Factions is a major jump forward for Project 86. More textured and focused than their previous album, their sixth album witnesses the band at a crossroads with the heavier rock sound that their fans had come to expect and the artistic direction that they as a band want to explore. “We didn’t have a preconceived idea of what this record was supposed to be, other than a record we would enjoy listening to ourselves,” explains Andrew. “Our evolution into what we are now has only been fully realized on this album. The goal was to make bored housewives hum our jams while they are baking cookies,” he laughs.

From the Cure-ish swirl of “Old Wave” to the minor key stomp of “Death Before Dishonor” to the punk brashness of “Light ‘Em Up”, Rival Factions is an album that moves Project 86 out of the metal category and into mainstream rock. “This is the first album that we highlighted the keyboards,” he says. “Other than that, we haven’t really evolved at all. We were always on the fringes of the different styles of rock. That afforded us the ability to evolve naturally into what we are. We have always existed in this space that doesn’t sit with a particular genre or group, which wasn’t necessarily intentional, but has been a blessing nonetheless.”

Project 86 will also be hitting the road throughout the Summer and Fall, supporting the release of Rival Factions on June 19th (dates to be announced shortly). But first and foremost, the band wants to make sure the album is perfect and ready for the public to hear… and swoon. “We just hope people like the songs, even if they don’t know Project 86 is playing them. Isn’t that the whole point anyway?”

For more information on the Awaken Humanity organization, please visit: awakenhumanityfestival.org