There are debuts, and then there are declarations- and ‘Death of Me’, the first release from James Davis’s ever-evolving collective The Project, is nothing short of the latter. Equal parts throttle and finesse, this is a sonic curtain drop on a new kind of rock outfit: one built on legacy, attitude, and sheer firepower.
Founded by Davis, a former axe-slinger for 00s hard rock favorites Shameless, The Project is less a conventional band and more of a living, breathing organism- one with rotating DNA pulled from the veins of iconic groups past and present. On ‘Death of Me’, the lineup reads like a backstage pass to a festival of rock veterans: Dennis Hill’s vocals carry both gravel and gravitas, slicing through the mix with the weariness of a road-tested frontman and the edge of a man with something to prove.
The instrumental trio behind him doesn’t so much support as launch- with Scott Shiflett (Eagles of Death Metal), Erik Ferentinos (Stephen Pearcy’s Ratt), and Davis himself layering six-string heat like it’s muscle memory. Lit’s Kevin Baldes and BulletBoys’ Jimmy DeAnda round out the rhythm section, turning the foundation into a freight train.
Musically, ‘Death of Me’ is pure high-octane momentum. It’s drenched in that California-baked melodic crunch- hooky enough to hum, heavy enough to hurt. Think Foo Fighters at their most radio-ready, or Queens of the Stone Age if they were born in the heart of the Sunset Strip. There’s a sunburnt optimism to the track- an anthem for breaking free, even if it means blowing something up on the way out.
And that’s the ethos here: not just playing loud, but living loud. This isn’t a nostalgia trip. It’s a celebration of rock’s power to evolve without apology. And if ‘Death of Me’ is the opening shot, you can bet The Project has plenty more in the chamber.