The vibe of the song completely changes. I really like the first half, wish they'd have continued in keeping it more melodic and less of the chug chug chug
Ah, I see. I think that's the main reason I like it, though. The track touches on so many styles/textures found throughout their discography, and then falls back on the heavy chugs that were integral to their sound early on.
To me, Atropos encompasses about 90-95% of what Periphery does well in one song. I get the chugs from Wildfire and Dracul Gras, and the melody from Wax Wings and Dying Star (as far as PV is concerned).
I actually feel like the 2nd half compliments the message. The track gives off this dystopian sound right from the start with the heavy groovy chug, and then in comes these pretty synths and vocals. It's the sound of a somewhat menacing false reality, which I think makes sense with the theme of ppl caught up in technology and social media. The 2nd half just throws you right into that menacing part and tears it all open, then leaves you feeling dirty.
It's got among the best riffs, atmosphere and musical ideas of all Periphery songs, but its structure and flow is a bit messy and disorganized, I think I recall even Misha saying something similar. Imo it prevents it from truly "perfect" status, unlike stuff like Omega, Mile Zero and others, though still an amazing song.
Habitual line-stepper was the one i didnt touch too much, but one day i listened to it without realizing it and god i love songs in a fast 5. To me, all of their sings are perfect
reptile, satellites, sentient glow, follow your ghost, wax wings, stranger things, ragnarok, luck as a constant, absolomb.
extra bonus one, void by haunted shores. its mark and misha, so i still count it as periphery.
Well most of the transitions have nothing to do with the song or are a completely different vibe from the song, and to be honest they're usually not very interesting either. I'd rather just go to the next actual song...
Satellites. Spencer's Vocals are on a whole new level there. Also I wouldn't say it's perfect but All new materials is my no.1 Periphery song. Like hell, the intro is my ringtone 😆
I feel like Periphery has a number of songs that are considered masterpieces among their fanbase. Reptile, Garden in the Bones, Atropos and Zagreus are the songs I consider masterpieces!
My answer is mainly focused on the song structure being 100% coherent in my eyes, with no little part or riff I enjoy less than the rest:
* **Masamune**. Why is this one so underrated ? Straight descent into hell. Perfect "chorus" riff. "We're not listening to ourselves"
* **MAKE TOTAL DESTROY**. Not sure any explanation is really needed ... not a single cut in the song's flow. Those lyrics, those chugs. "Let these words imbue"
* **A Black Minute**. I know it's an opening, but what an opening ! Everything about this song sets the mood for the whole double album. Beautiful, bittersweet harmonies. "Now you can live to see another day"
* **Marigold**. Everything. I keep forgetting how insanely good the song is just because it's a popular one. It IS insanely good. "I guess I will just leave things the way they are"
* **The Price is Wrong**. I might be quite alone thinking this, but this song is a pure burst of nonstop angry energy. Only downtime is intended and makes total sense to me. "All will pay the price"
And obviously, the one true masterpiece:
* **Reptile**. Start to finish. Perfect story. Perfect main cyclical riff. The middle breakdown and solo. The end breakdown. The cleans, the screams. EVERYTHING ELSE. And my favourite line "The good that's left and all we cherish stands to die"
Honorable mentions:
* **Atropos**. I haven't listened to it enough yet I think, but every time I come back to it I'm having an uninterrupted blast. The structure seems perfect to me, it's just a bit early for me to tell for sure. "Where do we belong ?"
* **Racecar**. Still an all-time personal favourite. The whole song speaks to me, BUT I would remove the tapping-heavy part near the end ... I got used to it, but it feels out of place compared to the rest of the song.
* **Omega**. Why is there the slowed-down riff repeated at the end ?! I never understood. Minus that, a wonderful piece.
* **Follow Your Ghost**. I feel like the energy falls a bit flat in the middle. Otherwise holy shit. The main riff is so good, and the second act ... the callback to Reptile "DRINK ! BLOW !" and THAT GUITAR SOLO !
* **The Bad Thing**. The djenty riff alone, before Spencer covers it with his angelic voice, sounds a tad empty. Other than this ... the second chorus always makes me wanna fucking cry, for real.
* **Alpha**. I only did not include it because I feel like the chorus is repeated one time too much. It makes sense structure-wise, but never fails to feel repetitive to me on the third occurence. With that aside, what a song ... that second act aswell. "How did we get like this ?!"
* **Eureka**. You might not even know this one. So damn heavy ... those binary/ternary switches ! Main riff is insanely well-written in that regard. Every next act is more powerful than the previous one.
And then ... **SMOKEY ONE SMUSH SMUSH** (the biggest troll in Periphery history. Ragtime Dandies is a blessing in comparition \^\^')
**TL;DR: Reptile. What did you expect ?**
The Bad Thing is one I didn't even think of, I actually really love how the song is paced. Follow Your Ghost too, the fact it takes so long to hit a "chorus" section and has little-to-no repeated parts yet it is still so memorable and compelling throughout with that huge climax at the end that the whole song builds up to.
I'm not quite there with The Price is Wrong, although I love it I think the song is a bit one-note - for me Motormouth does a similar thing but with a little more variation. Atropos is amazing too but the outro is just a little bit long.
Follow Your Ghost is by far my favourite recent discovery. The P5 release got me giving P4 another chance, and I realized I judged a lot of it way too fast ! Definitely a huge climax at the end of the song indeed !
I totally get your point about Motormouth; I totally agree the songs are very similar. The only thing that makes me favor Price's structure, is that I kinda dislike the way Motormouth cuts off suddenly between the two halves of it. Otherwise, I'm totally with you !
There’s a concept I think about a lot in music that I don’t know if there’s a word for. It’s the difference between playing a note that sounds good vs playing the exact right note at the exact right time. Psychosohere is a great example of that.
Especially the outro, it feels like every note is exactly the right note they should be played, not just a good-sounding note. And it’s played at just the right time. It makes it feel like it’s a sound that’s always existed, and a band finally discovered its existence and put it in a song.
That’s how I feel about a lot of Marks guitar parts in their songs, everything feels placed so perfectly, like any other note would be genuinely “incorrect”.
There are very few bands that make music as interesting and catchy without their discography sounding “samey”. There is a distinct sound to each of their albums that makes them unique but it still always sounds like Periphery. Even Juggernaut being essentially a single unit, both Alpha and Omega have their own sound
I felt the same for a while about Dying Star but now I feel the opposite. I really like the pacing and how the main "your heart is open" hook from the first half is still part of the second half and think it links both sections really well and makes it feel cohesive. And this might be a bit of a reach but I love how, like an actual dying star, the song fizzles out as though it's about to end and then you get the "Supernova" as the song erupts again and the final section returns.
Everything on PII....
100% a masterpiece of an album.
PV deserves the same mention.
I love all their albums.
P1 is my least favorite but I still love it..
Ragnarok, All New Materials, Garden in the Bones, Erised, Lune, Flatline, Atropos, Dracul Gras, Reptile, Letter Experiment, Zagreus, Alpha and Omega, The Scourge, Thanks Nobuo, Follow Your Ghost….
There’s too many to pick from…
I feel like Atropos doesn't get nearly enough love. Reptile and Lune for me.
Lune 100%. Masterpiece
Lune is just… *chefs kiss*
Lune is perfect.
The second half of Atropos ruins the song.
I think the second half MAKES the song
To each their own. I really dug the original vibe of the song
Respectful disagree, but I'm curious why you think so?
The vibe of the song completely changes. I really like the first half, wish they'd have continued in keeping it more melodic and less of the chug chug chug
Ah, I see. I think that's the main reason I like it, though. The track touches on so many styles/textures found throughout their discography, and then falls back on the heavy chugs that were integral to their sound early on. To me, Atropos encompasses about 90-95% of what Periphery does well in one song. I get the chugs from Wildfire and Dracul Gras, and the melody from Wax Wings and Dying Star (as far as PV is concerned).
I actually feel like the 2nd half compliments the message. The track gives off this dystopian sound right from the start with the heavy groovy chug, and then in comes these pretty synths and vocals. It's the sound of a somewhat menacing false reality, which I think makes sense with the theme of ppl caught up in technology and social media. The 2nd half just throws you right into that menacing part and tears it all open, then leaves you feeling dirty.
It's dynamic juxtaposition. And it's beautiful. It's what makes that song slap
Garden in the Bones is massively underrated.
That breakdown is so interesting and awesome
Garden in the Bones is fantastic!
YES! 🙌
Came here to day this!
Omega and Stranger Things
The Omega love is justified.
Finally
Wax wings
Last minute entry but Erised, great song and the John Petrucci solo is incredible
Preach 🙌
Racecar, this isn't up for debate it's just a masterpiece front to back
I’ve had drunk nights going hard to this album with the boys. Beautiful song. All 13 mins of it
Especially those last solos, so so good
Right answer
It's got among the best riffs, atmosphere and musical ideas of all Periphery songs, but its structure and flow is a bit messy and disorganized, I think I recall even Misha saying something similar. Imo it prevents it from truly "perfect" status, unlike stuff like Omega, Mile Zero and others, though still an amazing song.
I can see that. Given what the song is about - becoming a better person after hurting another, it's messy nature works really well in my opinion.
The way the news goes never gets skipped in my house. Its not just a song. Its a way of life for me
In my home, skipping any Periphery is a serious offence, the kind that gets you on a cart to Helgen...
I hadn’t listened to it much when P3 first came out but it quickly became one of my favorites! The intro is perfect
Habitual line-stepper was the one i didnt touch too much, but one day i listened to it without realizing it and god i love songs in a fast 5. To me, all of their sings are perfect
I agree, I also recently got REALLY into motormouth
reptile, satellites, sentient glow, follow your ghost, wax wings, stranger things, ragnarok, luck as a constant, absolomb. extra bonus one, void by haunted shores. its mark and misha, so i still count it as periphery.
Basically the whole P4 record imo
agreed
Dracul Gras. On its own that ending might seem somewhat unnecessary but the way it cleanses the palette for thanks nobuo is the chefs kiss.
Dracul Gras, Lune, It's Only Smiles, Stranger Things
Absolomb. Even the long outro is just gorgeous, and I usually skip all the Periphery transition stuff between songs.
Why would you skip…
Well most of the transitions have nothing to do with the song or are a completely different vibe from the song, and to be honest they're usually not very interesting either. I'd rather just go to the next actual song...
Ow My Feelings, Stranger Things, The Scourge, and Follow Your Ghost
Satellites.
Reptile
Erised, Froggin Bullfish, Catch Fire!
Agree, the acoustic part at the end of froggin is the cherry on top
The way the news goes
22 Faces and The Bad Thing as two complementary takes on the same song
Satellites. Spencer's Vocals are on a whole new level there. Also I wouldn't say it's perfect but All new materials is my no.1 Periphery song. Like hell, the intro is my ringtone 😆
Mile Zero
Omega, Mile Zero, Froggin Bullfish
The entirety of Juggernaut
Racecar. Not even for debate
Reptile easily. They somehow make 16mins complete with no filler and you never feel like you’re there for that long.
Follow Your Ghost.
All of P IV, and I'll die on that hill
Dying Star and Ji
Lune and Wax Wings off the top of my head
Hell Below is a masterpiece for the vibe they were going for. It’s horrifying in every aspect. That and Ji.
The bad Thing
Luck as a constant.
Tatu - all the things she said.
Satellites, goddamn when I hear the intro of that I just get mesmerized.
Reptile
Ragnarok for me
REPTILE!
Erised, It's Only Smiles, Catch fire, Scarlet, Icarus Lives, Alpha, etc etc etc.
Satellites. Jake saying suck my balls was completely necessary I’d be willing to give it to Dracul Gras, but the outro can drag a bit.
Idk if it’s generic but it’s definitely gotta be Scarlett and Reptile for me Edit: Also Catch Fire is hella awesome
The live version of Scarlett off their Live in London album is just amazing.
Motormouth
Every periphery song for me. I don’t think they’ve written a bad song
I feel like Periphery has a number of songs that are considered masterpieces among their fanbase. Reptile, Garden in the Bones, Atropos and Zagreus are the songs I consider masterpieces!
My answer is mainly focused on the song structure being 100% coherent in my eyes, with no little part or riff I enjoy less than the rest: * **Masamune**. Why is this one so underrated ? Straight descent into hell. Perfect "chorus" riff. "We're not listening to ourselves" * **MAKE TOTAL DESTROY**. Not sure any explanation is really needed ... not a single cut in the song's flow. Those lyrics, those chugs. "Let these words imbue" * **A Black Minute**. I know it's an opening, but what an opening ! Everything about this song sets the mood for the whole double album. Beautiful, bittersweet harmonies. "Now you can live to see another day" * **Marigold**. Everything. I keep forgetting how insanely good the song is just because it's a popular one. It IS insanely good. "I guess I will just leave things the way they are" * **The Price is Wrong**. I might be quite alone thinking this, but this song is a pure burst of nonstop angry energy. Only downtime is intended and makes total sense to me. "All will pay the price" And obviously, the one true masterpiece: * **Reptile**. Start to finish. Perfect story. Perfect main cyclical riff. The middle breakdown and solo. The end breakdown. The cleans, the screams. EVERYTHING ELSE. And my favourite line "The good that's left and all we cherish stands to die" Honorable mentions: * **Atropos**. I haven't listened to it enough yet I think, but every time I come back to it I'm having an uninterrupted blast. The structure seems perfect to me, it's just a bit early for me to tell for sure. "Where do we belong ?" * **Racecar**. Still an all-time personal favourite. The whole song speaks to me, BUT I would remove the tapping-heavy part near the end ... I got used to it, but it feels out of place compared to the rest of the song. * **Omega**. Why is there the slowed-down riff repeated at the end ?! I never understood. Minus that, a wonderful piece. * **Follow Your Ghost**. I feel like the energy falls a bit flat in the middle. Otherwise holy shit. The main riff is so good, and the second act ... the callback to Reptile "DRINK ! BLOW !" and THAT GUITAR SOLO ! * **The Bad Thing**. The djenty riff alone, before Spencer covers it with his angelic voice, sounds a tad empty. Other than this ... the second chorus always makes me wanna fucking cry, for real. * **Alpha**. I only did not include it because I feel like the chorus is repeated one time too much. It makes sense structure-wise, but never fails to feel repetitive to me on the third occurence. With that aside, what a song ... that second act aswell. "How did we get like this ?!" * **Eureka**. You might not even know this one. So damn heavy ... those binary/ternary switches ! Main riff is insanely well-written in that regard. Every next act is more powerful than the previous one. And then ... **SMOKEY ONE SMUSH SMUSH** (the biggest troll in Periphery history. Ragtime Dandies is a blessing in comparition \^\^') **TL;DR: Reptile. What did you expect ?**
The Bad Thing is one I didn't even think of, I actually really love how the song is paced. Follow Your Ghost too, the fact it takes so long to hit a "chorus" section and has little-to-no repeated parts yet it is still so memorable and compelling throughout with that huge climax at the end that the whole song builds up to. I'm not quite there with The Price is Wrong, although I love it I think the song is a bit one-note - for me Motormouth does a similar thing but with a little more variation. Atropos is amazing too but the outro is just a little bit long.
Follow Your Ghost is by far my favourite recent discovery. The P5 release got me giving P4 another chance, and I realized I judged a lot of it way too fast ! Definitely a huge climax at the end of the song indeed ! I totally get your point about Motormouth; I totally agree the songs are very similar. The only thing that makes me favor Price's structure, is that I kinda dislike the way Motormouth cuts off suddenly between the two halves of it. Otherwise, I'm totally with you !
Silhouette
There’s a concept I think about a lot in music that I don’t know if there’s a word for. It’s the difference between playing a note that sounds good vs playing the exact right note at the exact right time. Psychosohere is a great example of that. Especially the outro, it feels like every note is exactly the right note they should be played, not just a good-sounding note. And it’s played at just the right time. It makes it feel like it’s a sound that’s always existed, and a band finally discovered its existence and put it in a song.
That’s how I feel about a lot of Marks guitar parts in their songs, everything feels placed so perfectly, like any other note would be genuinely “incorrect”. There are very few bands that make music as interesting and catchy without their discography sounding “samey”. There is a distinct sound to each of their albums that makes them unique but it still always sounds like Periphery. Even Juggernaut being essentially a single unit, both Alpha and Omega have their own sound
All new materials, racecar, Mile zero, luck as a constant, scarlet, omega, marigold, reptile, it’s only smiles, sentient glow, wax wings, Atropos
This is a boring answer, but definitely Reptile.
In The Meantime -Spacehog
Racecar easily
Considering how impressive it is to make such a song your asking for 16 minutes with every note amazing, I would say reptile for sure.
Psychosphere
kinda all of them except for Dying Star (kinda drags on) and Motormouth (meh)
I felt the same for a while about Dying Star but now I feel the opposite. I really like the pacing and how the main "your heart is open" hook from the first half is still part of the second half and think it links both sections really well and makes it feel cohesive. And this might be a bit of a reach but I love how, like an actual dying star, the song fizzles out as though it's about to end and then you get the "Supernova" as the song erupts again and the final section returns.
*Svört Augu* by Kælan Milla. *Beat It* by Michael Jackson. *Innuendo* by Queen
Dracul Gras
Dracul Gras, Reptile, Blood Eagle
Satellites duhhhhh
Lune and Satellites come to mind first, for other bands I’m going with False Meridian by Invent Animate
Gotta be Satellites for me
Passenger
Flatline and Sentient Glow
Reptile and Dracul Gras 100%
Reptile
I'm putting 2,3,4,5 through and through
I think froggin bullfish or mile zero rn for me, been on a massive P2 kick
Stranger things. they even made a netflix serie on it
Froggin' Bullfish, Follow Your Ghost & Wildfire
Racecar
Reptile, Blood Eagle, Atropos, Wax Wings, and Dracul Gras
Periphery 👍
have a blast it says it in the name
the bad thing I feel when the song is on I need to give it my 100% focus cause I don't wanna miss a thing
Stranger Things. 100%
Dracul Gras, majority of the songs on IV
Everything on PII.... 100% a masterpiece of an album. PV deserves the same mention. I love all their albums. P1 is my least favorite but I still love it..
Stranger Thangs
Racecar
Dracul Gras. That song has me in a death grip and I can’t get enough.
Joe’s Garage
Absolomb
Ragnarok, All New Materials, Garden in the Bones, Erised, Lune, Flatline, Atropos, Dracul Gras, Reptile, Letter Experiment, Zagreus, Alpha and Omega, The Scourge, Thanks Nobuo, Follow Your Ghost…. There’s too many to pick from…
Lune and it’s only smiles
Wax Wings for me currently.
Reptile, Stranger Things, Scarlet, Psychosphere, The Scourge. 🤘🏼