Periphery // Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre
Periphery is so good that it’s genuinely unfair to other bands. Each member is in the top 1% of their respective profession, and not just in terms of their skill, but also in their ability to push boundaries and create something completely novel.
This is their second album in a row to have a humorous title, but it’s also a topical reminder of how much Periphery has evolved since their debut in 2010. “Icarus Lives” and “Jetpacks Was Yes” were revolutionary tracks in 2010, but Periphery has expanded so far beyond that djenty stereotype.
“Wildfire” was my favorite song of 2023 and “Atropos” wasn’t too far behind. Spencer Sotello’s range is phenomenal and he infuses his vocals with so much character – it really boosts the immersive feeling of the music.
This is a long album – 9 songs, 70 minutes. It’s apparent that the band had a vision for each track, and the album has a noticeable ebb and flow. Starts heavy, has some subdued songs in the middle, and picks up again at the end. I normally criticize slower songs, but tracks like “Dying Star” are grand in their own way.
The only substantial criticism I have is the number of outros. 6 of the 9 songs are over seven minutes long and they each have an unnecessary outro that interrupts the flow and bloats the album.
