It’s been five years since Projected hit the scene with their debut album, Human. The band made up of members of Sevendust, Alter Bridge and Tremonti just want to show the world they are back with their latest release, Ignite My Insanity and have built upon their sound from their previous record making an even stronger musical sounding experience.
Projected is made up from members of Sevendust guitarist John Connolly, Alter Bridge/Creed drummer Scott “Flip” Phillips, Sevendust bassist Vinnie Hornsby and Tremonti’s guitarist, Eric “E-Rock” Friedman they all come from bands that have made a name for themselves in the music industry. With Projected the members wanted to be able to create music the way they wanted, doing it their way allowing them to write freely.
The band released their first album, Human in 2012 and fans have been waiting five years for a follow-up to the record. Ignite My Insanity which will be released on July 21, 2017 on Rat Pak Records builds upon the last album by featuring 21 songs on a double album. With 10 more songs featured on the new record, this time around the band was able to truly create, experiment and construct from a place in a way they saw fit.
Disc One of Ignite My Insanity starts off with “Strike” a melodic piano piece that at times has some distorted vocals that can be heard in the distance adding dimension to the occasional guitar part that makes an appearance. It is a stunning piece to set the tone for the album.
What can be said about the album is that the songwriting and delivery is spot on. The tunes are heavy musically, lyrics are profound, musicianship shows off true talent and vocal performances are extraordinary and strong. With 10 songs on the first disc it is hard to find one that does not have something special about it whether its arrangement, presentation or just plain heavy in nature.
Some of the songs that are sure to be fan favorites are “Reload”, which also happens to be the band’s first single and video . With a heavy vibe to it featuring a strong percussion section and some killer guitar parts including Connolly’s solo, it proves to shine and the vocals are clear and strong. Another heavier song on the disc is “Vain”, an in-your-face vocal performance with great harmonies in the chorus. With double bass and drums and a haunting guitar solo this sure is a song fans will be drawn to. “Rectify”, was co-written by Alter Bridge/Tremonti songwriter Mark Tremonti providing a true hard rock song with flair. Both Tremonti and Connolly’s love for heavy music shines through in this piece with heavy percussion and wailing guitar sections. One of the biggest treats is a guitar solo that offers some outstanding playing and precision. Another thing to mention is the chorus of the song is very strong and catchy.
One song that stands out is “Faith”, which starts off as an acoustic song and turns into true rock. Having the acoustic vibe going with a melodic vocal performance by Connolly featuring some powerful lyrics it truly is a touching song. “Gomorrah” is a powerhouse hard rock song that at times can even be called heavy metal. With guitars wailing in the background adding depth to the piece it shows the true eye for detail and the band’s music creativity.
Disc 2 also has so much powerful artistry going on musically and lyrically. It can be said that the second disc, like the first, is a monstrous hard rock record with songs that are unique and will resonate with fans. Song one like on disc one is a musical piece but this time it features a guitar playing with a distorted kind of background that adds a distinctive sound. “Fire” will truly be something fans will be drawn to.
“Ignite”, the band’s latest video and follow-up to the “Reload” video, is a killer tune with some amazing in-your-face vocal performances from Connolly and with harmonies in the chorus featuring Eric Friedman. Heavy percussion provided by Phillips and Hornsby allow for the song to take on a heavier side sure to make it a fan favorite. “Call Me The Devil” also co-written by Mark Tremonti has some very strong vocal performances going on throughout the song, not to mention a mesmerizing guitar solo. “Concede”, co-written with Sevendust drummer, Morgan Rose is a hard rock song that has a very solid rhythmic style to it. Connolly sings clearly and crisply and at times comes in with some screaming sections. The guitar solo in this piece is electrifying and the song in general has the sound that in many ways has a Sevendust vibe to it,but do not be mistaken it’s all Projected.
With precise harmonies, passionate vocals and heavy guitars and solo “Inhuman” makes for a song that fans will embrace. “Hate You Back” starts off with a solo strumming guitar and turns into a hard rock song. It has a strong chorus and the tune in general is one that fans will find themselves drawn to and singing along to. For a heavier vibe “Upside Down” has a double-time drum and bass playing throughout the song, along with guitars playing fast and with passion. This maybe the heaviest song on the album with a rhythmic feel and emotional vocals.
The last song on disc two is “Battlestation”, which can be put in the category as “Upside Down” being a true heavy metal type song. It is a powerhouse tune that brings both discs full circle and concludes the whole album with a shock to the system.
Projected has taken what they started with their album, Human and have run with the creativity and sound making for a record that truly has 21 songs, where each has a style and facet all its own. Ignite My Insanity truly was worth five years of waiting for because it has all the creativity and musicianship that any rock fan could ask for.
