Bands like Periphery come along only once in a blue moon. Metal bands who can blend technicality, groove, melody, and heaviness all into one package are all too rare indeed, whether now or a decade ago. Alongside cohorts like Tesseract, Volumes, and Animals As Leaders that emerged at the tail end of the 2000s/early 2010s, Periphery’s brand of forward-thinking progressive metal has undergone quite an evolution indeed. With 6 records released in their career to date, including an impressive double album in Juggernaut Alpha + Omega, Periphery’s journey to independence started with the release of their self-titled debut album – which was released on this day in 2010.
Vocalist Spencer Sotelo was a killer choice for the band, and while he was even more unleashed on subsequent albums, the kinds of notes he was able to hit on accessible tracks like “Jetpacks Was Yes!” was awfully impressive. Meanwhile, the obscenely catchy groove of “Letter Experiment” and standout “Icarus Lives” add to the accessibility factor – while the album closer “Racecar” is a behemoth.
Of course, Periphery’s success wasn’t predetermined, necessarily. Gaining the kind of stature Periphery has over the last decade is awfully impressive when you consider how difficult it is for bands in the subgenre to maintain – let alone garner – any sense of commercial viability. After all, they were nominated for a Grammy Award with “The Price Is Wrong” from their 2016 album Periphery III. Not many bands can claim that kind of clout.
While Periphery’s place in the band’s discography is surely up for debate, one cannot deny that plenty of modern day bands are influenced by its groundbreaking status. With electronic and melodic infkuences abounding, and plenty of talent to go around, there’s little reason to dismiss this monumental album.
