Periphery (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Key people | Spencer Sotelo (vocalist), Misha Mansoor (guitarist), Mark Holcomb (guitarist), Jake Bowen (guitarist), Matt Halpern (drummer) |
| Products | Progressive metal music, studio albums, EPs |
Periphery is a progressive metal ensemble originating from Washington, D.C. in 2005. Their musical approach fuses elements of progressive metal, djent, and progressive metalcore. Widely acknowledged as trailblazers within the djent genre, the band has received a Grammy nomination. The current roster features vocalist Spencer Sotelo, guitarists Misha Mansoor, Mark Holcomb, Jake Bowen, along with drummer Matt Halpern.
Following their initial self-titled release, Periphery has produced six additional studio albums: Periphery II: This Time It's Personal, the two-part Juggernaut: Alpha and Omega, Periphery III: Select Difficulty, Periphery IV: Hail Stan, and Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre. Their discography also includes two EPs, Icarus EP and Clear. Notably, all these works have been self-produced by the band members themselves.
Formation and initial lineup transitions (2005–2009)
Guitarist Misha Mansoor established Periphery in 2005, having gained early recognition through online platforms such as Soundclick and forums dedicated to Meshuggah and John Petrucci. Mansoor honed his production techniques primarily through a home studio setup equipped with a Pod XT amp modeler. Alongside Periphery, he maintained his solo project Bulb and contributed to other acts including Haunted Shores, Four Seconds Ago, and Of Man Not of Machine.
Originally managing both guitar and drums, Mansoor enlisted local drummer Jason S. Berlin before dedicating himself solely to guitar duties; Berlin was eventually succeeded by Travis Orbin. Between 2005 and 2009, the band cycled through vocalists Jake Veredika, Casey Sabol, and Chris Barretto while transitioning from a Meshuggah-inspired sound toward a more atmospheric and melodic style that emphasized innovative production values.
From 2008 onward, Periphery embarked on extensive tours supporting bands such as DevilDriver, Dream Theater, Emmure, Veil of Maya, Animals as Leaders, God Forbid, Darkest Hour, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Fear Factory, Between the Buried and Me, and Fair to Midland.
Spencer Sotelo joins, Matt Halpern’s arrival and debut album release (2010–2011)
In 2009, Travis Orbin departed from Periphery to join Sky Eats Airplane, prompting Mansoor to recruit Matt Halpern—previously part of a local pop group—as the new drummer. On January 20, 2010, amid rumors of another vocalist change, Periphery officially announced Spencer Sotelo from San Diego as their new frontman following Chris Barretto’s exit due to personal conflicts.
The band’s debut album, Periphery, launched on April 20, 2010 via Sumerian Records in the United States. Distribution was handled by Distort Entertainment in Canada, Roadrunner Records in Australia, and Century Media Records across Germany and internationally. The album entered the Billboard Top 200 at number 128 and achieved the second position on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.
To support the release, Periphery conducted extensive touring throughout the US and Canada before completing a brief Australian stint alongside The Dillinger Escape Plan. February 2011 saw them headline tours across the UK and mainland Europe under the banner "League Of Extraordinary Djentlemen," featuring support from TesseracT and Monuments in the UK leg; Monuments and The Safety Fire accompanied them during European dates. The tour presented challenges including Spencer Sotelo battling bronchitis which impacted live shows, while Jake Bowen sustained a finger injury early in the UK leg causing him to miss most performances until returning for final appearances.
On March 22, 2011, Periphery contributed a rendition of Metallica’s "One" for the soundtrack of the video game Homefront, releasing it as a complimentary download via the game's official website.
Icarus EP and Mark Holcomb's Inclusion (2011)
On January 19, 2011, Periphery unveiled the music video for "Jetpacks Was Yes!" via NME, showcasing a newly recorded version from their Icarus EP. Their lead single from the EP, "Frak the Gods," was subsequently released on March 24.
The band announced on July 6, 2011, that guitarist Alex Bois had departed. To fulfill touring commitments, they temporarily brought in Mark Holcomb along with Adam "Nolly" Getgood—both from the British progressive metal group Red Seas Fire—to handle live guitar performances.
Periphery was confirmed on September 7, 2011, as the opening act for Dream Theater's European segment of the A Dramatic Turn of Events Tour, commencing in January 2012. By October, Holcomb was officially integrated as a permanent guitarist. Following bassist Tom Murphy's exit in November, Getgood assumed bass responsibilities for the European tour. During their 2012 US tour supporting Protest The Hero, Jeff Holcomb, Mark’s brother, filled in as touring bassist.
On February 21, 2012, the band reissued their debut album on iTunes, featuring an additional single titled "Passenger," which was a partly re-recorded track originally created by Haunted Shores.
Periphery II: This Time It's Personal (2012–2013)
The band entered the studio to record revamped versions of "Bulb" demos alongside fresh material, with production handled by Mansoor and Getgood and engineering/mixing by Taylor Larson. In July 2011, Mansoor revealed in Mixdown magazine plans to produce two separate albums: one being a concept album. These were scheduled for release three to six months apart to emphasize their individual styles and creative directions.
Periphery II: This Time It's Personal was made available for streaming on YouTube on June 28, 2012. Shortly thereafter, Getgood was officially added as bassist and multi-instrumentalist, contributing guitar work during recording sessions. Jeff Holcomb continued touring with Periphery throughout the 2012 Summer Slaughter tour but withdrew due to family obligations; he remains involved with the band's crew and occasionally performs as a substitute bassist, also directing tour documentaries and the "Ragnarok" music video.
Clear EP (2013–2014)
In September 2013, Spencer Sotelo hinted at an upcoming EP intended to serve as an interlude for fans ahead of their third full-length album, Juggernaut. The following month saw announcements of signature pickups tailored for Misha Mansoor (Bare Knuckle Juggernaut), Mark Holcomb (Seymour Duncan Alpha/Omega), and Jake Bowen (DiMarzio Titan), alongside Bowen’s Ibanez LACS "Titan" signature guitar.
November 2013 featured a surprise appearance by former vocalist Chris Barretto at the Gramercy Theater during "Icarus Lives!", marking the resolution of their long-standing feud and concluding Periphery's headlining "This Tour is Personal".
In December, the band revealed plans for Clear, which launched on January 28, 2014. Distinct from Juggernaut, this project saw each track (with the exception of the opener "Overture") creatively led by a different member of the band while maintaining thematic cohesion throughout. Clocking in at approximately 30 minutes, the group emphasized that Clear should not be strictly categorized as either an EP or a full album.
Juggernaut (2014–2016)
The concept behind Juggernaut was cultivated over several years, originating from early demos by Misha during Periphery’s formative days. Initially envisioned as an extended piece incorporating pivotal tracks such as "Icarus Lives!" and "Jetpacks Was Yes!", this idea gradually expanded into a comprehensive album project.
During the period surrounding Periphery II, plans were made to release Juggernaut as a double album soon after, but extensive touring commitments pushed the release to 2015. The writing and recording phases were further deferred to prioritize the production of the Clear EP. Recording sessions commenced in July 2014.
Lead singer Spencer Sotelo confirmed the album’s completion, targeting a January 2015 release through Sumerian Records. On November 5, 2014, the band announced that the double album would be split into two parts: Juggernaut: Alpha and Juggernaut: Omega. A supporting tour was scheduled featuring Nothing More, Wovenwar, and Thank You Scientist.
Periphery III: Select Difficulty (2016–2018)
At the start of 2016, members revealed they were working on their fifth studio album. Drum tracking took place in February, and on April 26, the band unveiled the title Periphery III: Select Difficulty, which was released on July 22, 2016. The album was promoted with singles such as "The Price Is Wrong," "Flatline," and "Marigold," with multiple tracks shared on YouTube prior to release. The band received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for "The Price Is Wrong."
Adam "Nolly" Getgood shifted his focus toward personal production endeavors, stepping back from touring but continuing to provide backing tracks for live performances. He officially left the touring lineup in August 2017 to dedicate more time to family and production work.
In April 2018, Periphery ended their relationship with Sumerian Records, announcing that their upcoming album would be independently released via their own label, 3DOT Recordings.
Periphery IV: Hail Stan (2018–2020)
In April 2018, Mansoor posted a 10-minute YouTube video showcasing writing sessions alongside Bowen and Holcomb. By October of that year, recording began for their sixth studio album, planned for release in 2019. Former bassist Adam "Nolly" Getgood returned in a studio capacity to record bass parts and handle mixing, production, and engineering duties but did not participate in songwriting. Mark Holcomb announced an April release on January 27, 2019. Singles "Blood Eagle" and "Garden in the Bones" were unveiled in February and March respectively. The album Periphery IV: Hail Stan was officially released on April 5, 2019 through their independent label 3DOT Recordings.
'Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre (2021–present)
On March 11, 2021, Periphery announced they had begun composing material for their seventh studio record. Recording was finalized by October 2022. The band revealed the album title Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre on January 9, 2023, announcing a March 10 release date along with two lead singles, "Wildfire" and "Zagreus," which dropped on January 12. Both singles reference earlier works from Juggernaut: Alpha, with "Wildfire" reimagining themes from "The Event" and "Zagreus" incorporating a riff originally from "Four Lights." Mansoor confirmed that "Zagreus" drew inspiration from the indie game Hades, named after its protagonist and featuring the game’s death leitmotif. On February 16, the third single "Atropos" premiered alongside its music video.
On April 22, 2024, Periphery announced a two-track acoustic single featuring renditions of “Scarlet” (from Periphery II: This Time It's Personal) and “It's Only Smiles” (from Periphery IV: Hail Stan), both including guest guitarist Mike Dawes. This release also includes a limited edition white and gold 7" vinyl pressing limited to 500 copies. Music videos for both acoustic versions were scheduled to coincide with the single’s launch.
Tunings
Periphery utilizes an extensive array of tunings across their six-, seven-, and eight-string guitars. Their primary tunings include Drop C on six-string guitars (CGCFAD) and Drop G# on seven-string guitars (G#D#G#C#F#A#D#). Some compositions employ standard tuning on eight-string instruments (F#BEADGBE).
| Song | Tuning |
|---|---|
| Captain On | standard eight-string tuning (F#BEADGBE) |
| Ji | |
| Extraneous | |
| A Black Minute | |
| The Event | |
| 22 Faces | |
| Four Lights | |
| Stranger Things | |
| Dracul Gras | |
| Totla Mad | Drop C tuning with low A# string (A#GCFAD) |
| Frak the Gods | |
| Zyglrox | Drop C tuning with low A string (AGCFAD) |
| Muramasa | |
| Alpha | |
| The Bad Thing | |
| Graveless | |
| Remain Indoors | |
| Habitual Line-Stepper | |
| Lune | |
| Prayer Position | |
| Chvrch Bvrner | |
| Garden in the Bones | |
| Follow Your Ghost | |
| Ragnarok | Drop G# tuning with low F# string (F#D#G#C#F#A#D#) |
| Hell Below | F# standard tuning with low C# string (C#BEADGBE) |
| Scarlet | Open Cadd9 tuning (CGCEGD) |
| Racecar | Drop sixth string tuning (A#C#G#C#F#A#D#) |
| Wax Wings | Math rock tuning tuned one-and-a-half steps down (DF#AEAC#) |
| Reptile | Drop C tuning with low G string (GGCFAD) |
| Zagreus |
Other projects
Guitarists Mark Holcomb and Misha Mansoor spearhead the side project Haunted Shores, active since April 2010. Initially releasing material via a split EP before Holcomb joined Periphery in late 2011, Haunted Shores entered a hiatus period afterward. Several tracks such as “Passenger” and “Scarlet” were later integrated into Periphery’s albums. Haunted Shores resumed activity with their debut EP Viscera in November 2015, containing both re-recorded songs and new compositions.
Mansoor collaborates with Jake Bowen in their electronic duo Four Seconds Ago, which has released albums including The Vacancy (2018) and 1000 Needles (2025). Bowen also pursues solo electronic music projects; his solo album Isometric was issued in 2015.
Vocalist Spencer Sotelo joined post-hardcore outfit From First to Last in 2014 and produces Trent Reznor-inspired music under the moniker Endur; he released American Parasite in 2017.
Holcomb has expanded into voice acting within video games, notably voicing lead characters in Disco Elysium. Additionally, he co-wrote songs for VUUR’s debut album In This Moment, We Are Free – Cities (2016).
Band members have contributed to various video game soundtracks: Periphery recorded a cover of Metallica’s “One” for the soundtrack of Homefront (2011); Mansoor composed music for titles like Halo 2: Anniversary and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided; former member Adam "Nolly" Getgood mixed “Bury the Light” for Devil May Cry 5, which was inspired by Periphery’s “Reptile.” Holcomb and Bowen are currently involved in creating music and custom sounds for an upcoming March 2025 update of Warframe.
Mansoor is also recognized as a producer for bands including Animals as Leaders, Stray from the Path, and Veil of Maya. He owns Horizon Devices—a guitar pedal company—and co-owns software company GetGood Drums alongside Matt Halpern and Adam "Nolly" Getgood. In 2024, Mansoor composed “The Beast” for season two of Netflix’s series Arcane.
Band members
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Current members
- Misha Mansoor ("Bulb") – guitars, programming, synthesizers, orchestration (2005–present); drums (2005)
- Jake Bowen – guitars, programming, synthesizers (2007–present); backing vocals (2012–present)
- Matt Halpern – drums (2009–present)
- Spencer Sotelo – lead vocals (2010–present)
- Mark Holcomb – guitars (2011–present)
Studio members
- Adam "Nolly" Getgood – bass (2012–present; studio only since 2017), production (2017–present), guitars (2012–2017)[lower-alpha 1]
Template:Col-2 Former members
- Anthony Marshall – guitars (2005)
- Jason S. Berlin – drums (2005)
- Jake Veredika (Jacob Tull) – lead vocals (2005–2007)
- Casey Sabol – lead vocals (2007–2008)
- Travis Orbin – drums (2005–2009)
- Chris Barretto – lead vocals (2008–2010)
- Alex Bois – guitars, backing vocals (2005–2011)
- Tom Murphy – bass, backing vocals (2005–2011)
Touring musicians
- John Browne – guitars (2011)
- Jeff Holcomb – bass (2011–2012)
- JP Bouvet – drums (2017)
- David Parkes – drums (2024)
Timeline <timeline .../>
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | US Billboard 200 | US Indie | AUS | AUT | FIN | GER | JPN | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Periphery |
|
128 ||18 ||— ||— ||— ||— ||— ||— | |||||||
| Periphery II: This Time It's Personal |
|
44 ||6 ||46 ||— ||46 ||— ||— ||115 | |||||||
| Juggernaut: Alpha |
|
22 ||3 ||22 ||49 ||— ||83 ||111 ||43 | |||||||
| Juggernaut: Omega |
|
25 ||4 ||25 ||48 ||— ||— ||119 ||45 | |||||||
| Periphery III: Select Difficulty |
|
22 ||2 ||8 ||42 ||22 ||39 ||102 ||57 | |||||||
| Periphery IV: Hail Stan |
|
64 ||1 ||21 ||48 ||40 ||36 ||— ||71 | |||||||
| Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre |
|
198||29||—||—||—||38||—||— |
EPs
| Title | EP details | US Billboard 200 | US Indie | AUS | JPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icarus EP |
|
—||—||—||— | |||
| Clear |
|
62||10||37||134 |
Singles
- "Icarus Lives!" (April23 ,2010 )
- "Jetpacks Was Yes!" (January21 ,2011 )
- "Passenger" (February21 ,2012 )
- "Make Total Destroy" (June5 ,2012 )
- "Scarlet" (February20 ,2013 )
- "Ragnarok" (October3 ,2013 )
- "Alpha" (January5 ,2015 )
- "Marigold" (July8 ,2016 )
- "Blood Eagle" (February6 ,2019 )
- "Garden in the Bones" (March1 ,2019 )
- "Wildfire" (January12 ,2023 )
- "Zagreus" (January12 ,2023 )
- "Atropos" (February16 ,2023 )
- "Scarlet (Acoustic)" (April26 ,2024 )
- "It's Only Smiles (Acoustic)" (April26 ,2024 )
Other appearances
- Cover of Metallica's “One” featured on the soundtrack for Homefront: Songs for the Resistance
- Cover of Florence + The Machine's “Only If for a Night” included in Florence + The Sphinx: Sumerian Ceremonials – A Tribute to Florence + The Machine
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Icarus Lives!" | 2010 | Mike Pecci & Ian McFarland | Periphery |
| "Jetpacks Was Yes!" | 2011 | Brandon Morris, Eric Haviv & Richard Webb | Icarus EP |
| "Make Total Destroy" | 2012 | Wes Richardson | Periphery II: This Time It's Personal |
| "Scarlet" | 2013 | Wes Richardson | |
| "Ragnarok" | 2013 | Jeff Holcomb | |
| "Alpha" | 2015 | Wes Richardson | Juggernaut: Alpha |
| "The Bad Thing" | 2015 | Jeff Holcomb | Juggernaut: Omega |
| "Marigold" | 2016 | Wes Richardson | Periphery III: Select Difficulty |
| "Blood Eagle" | 2019 | Jeremy Danger & Travis Shinn | Periphery IV: Hail Stan |
| "Chvrch Bvrner" | 2019 | Justin Reich | |
| "Wildfire" | 2023 | Jake Woodbridge | Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre |
| "Atropos" | 2023 | Rod Chong | |
| "It's Only Smiles (Acoustic)" | 2024 | 2 Song Acoustic Single | |
| "Scarlett (Acoustic)" | 2024 |
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