Washington, DC · progressive metal · djent

Periphery

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The band that made djent a genre rather than an onomatopoeia, and then kept writing actual songs inside it — prog-metal with hooks.

Periphery came together in the Washington, D.C. suburbs in 2005 around guitarist and producer Misha Mansoor, who first built an audience posting instrumental demos online through Soundclick and metal message boards. Mansoor originally played drums before settling on guitar, and the band worked through several drummers and singers in its first years, gradually shifting from a Meshuggah-inspired sound toward something more melodic.

After several vocalist changes the band settled with singer Spencer Sotelo and released its self-titled debut album in 2010, alongside drummer Matt Halpern, who had been scouted while playing in a local pop band. The current lineup adds guitarists Mark Holcomb and Jake Bowen alongside Mansoor.

The group is closely identified with djent, the low-tuned, rhythmically intricate style that grew out of Meshuggah's influence, but Periphery's records combine that palette with clean singing, layered harmony and pop-leaning melody. Mansoor's production work and the band's self-recorded approach have been widely imitated by younger progressive metal acts.

Periphery has released eight studio albums, among them the double album Juggernaut: Alpha and Omega and the more recent Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre and A Pale White Dot, all self-produced by the band members. The group has also earned a Grammy nomination.

Early on, Periphery toured in support of acts including Dream Theater, Animals as Leaders, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Between the Buried and Me, building its audience through relentless touring rather than radio play.

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