Project - 2023 - The Awakening

(44:12; M&O Music)

Track list:
1. Blood Red Moon 4:08
2. Down and Dirty 4:18
3. Lay It All on the Line 3:32
4. Wake Up 3:45
5. Without You 5:43
6. Saving Grace 4:49
7. Fallin' 4:28
8. In the End 4:14
9. Sin City 4:33
10. The Spirit 4:42

Line-up:
David Clabaux - vocals, guitars
Philippe Merlen - guitars, keyboards
Jérôme Willocq - drums


French band Project had their initial phase of existence in the late 1990's and early 2000's before the band went on hiatus for a while. They returned as an active band in 2008 and in 2013 they released their full length debut album "Riding Free", and two more studio albums have followed since then. "The Awakening" is the most recent of these, and was released through French label M&O Music at the start of 2023.

It is a band with an interest and a passion for many types of hard rock we are dealing with here, and it would appear that the period between 1975 and 1990 is the one the band is looking at more than anything else in terms of what type of music to create. Or at least it is traditions that were established in that time period that the band have chosen to explore.

The band have a good handle of all the style variations too, but the level of songwriting and execution is a bit more variable. The more typical ballads don't really manage to excite me, although that could be due to an overexposure of these types of songs back in the 1980's. I'm not all that taken by all the band's trips into radio friendly AOR oriented waters either, mainly due to the songs either not having enough contrasts and bite for my personal taste or due to becoming a bit too chaotic. For this latter aspect I find that their choice of having a big and dominant drum sound can be just a bit disruptive at times.

There are also times when I find that Project manages to fire on all cylinders with songs that are well developed as well as well executed though. The slower paced hair metal landscape of 'Lay It on the Line' is an excellent song, and the blues style boogie swagger of 'Saving Grace' explores a compelling landscape in quite the appealing manner. The even more distinct blues-oriented opening half of 'Fallin' is a clear album highlight, and for my sake at least I found this aspect of the song more interesting and intriguing than the more energetic and vibrant conclusive section of that track. The radio friendly landscapes of 'Sin City' is also a cut above the rest here, albeit not quite at the same level as the other compositions that made an impact for me.

But where the band gets everything absolutely right, in my view at least, is on the brilliant 'Down and Dirty'. The more 70's oriented vibes of this song fits this band perfectly, and the more Rainbow style hard rock explored here, complete with some guitar details that sounds like they have been borrowed from Robin Trower in his younger days alongside a catchy, anthem style chorus section, makes this song a killer experience any day of the week.

As an album experience I do find "The Awakening" to be a little bit of a mixed bag, but while there are some songs here that may not impress me on a deeper level there are also several solid cuts here and, of course, one song that for me is a clear moment of true brilliance. Those with a taste for hard rock that cover the range from from blues based hard rock and classic era 70's hard rock up to 80's hair metal and radio friendly hard rock should find this to be a rather interesting album to explore.

Olav M. Björnsen, February 2023

Links:
https://www.project-theband.com/
https://www.m-o-music.com/