Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is numerous enjoyable. However, one factor it’s possible you’ll not have seen as a participant or a far-flung spectator is that progressive steel band Periphery labored alongside Digital Extremes on a particular visitor monitor for the replace. All of it matches inside the rock band vibe that got here with Temple and the brand new defence mission.
However how did this really come to be? How did Periphery find yourself working with DE on Techrot Encore, and what went into creating the monitor? To seek out out, I despatched over just a few inquiries to Periphery’s Jake Bowen and Mark Holcomb, in addition to Elliot Coleman from Good Tiger who labored alongside the group on lamenting the Days.
VG247: How precisely did this collaboration come about? When did work begin on the monitor?
Holcomb: It got here collectively very organically. I’ve recognized Megan, Rebb, and Steve since 2016 or so, and we had all the time mentioned doing one thing collectively. Jake and I frolicked with them at a Periphery gig again in 2024, and that’s when the wheels formally began turning on this venture. We started engaged on the monitor in earnest through the summer season of 2024.
Bowen: We’ve been buddies with the Warframe workforce for some time, and it got here up fairly casually, I believe. It simply began as a “Hey, wouldn’t or not it’s cool if we collabed?” and it simply began to coalesce from there. I do know they have been engaged on a music/guitar-based character and have been in search of a band which may be capable of contribute music and seek the advice of on what the character’s “sound” may very well be.
Coleman: Jake initially reached out to me to gauge my curiosity in working with them on an authentic music for the sport. The three of us have labored on music collectively prior to now, so it was a no brainer for me. The three of us have nice chemistry!
VG247: How lengthy did you need to make this new music for the Warframe 1999 replace?
Holcomb: We got the chance of getting months of runway to complete the music, however Jake and I met at his place in Jersey Metropolis to get the majority of the music written and recorded solely in a pair days. We spent months tweaking afterward, and that allowed us to have the Warframe workforce bounce concepts and ideas off of us in no hurry, in an effort to mould the music even additional into one thing they felt match their imaginative and prescient.
Bowen: I don’t know a lot about online game growth nevertheless it appears to me you could’t make a online game, a lot much less a online game on Warframes scale with out plenty of time and precision planning so we had just a few calls with Rebb and Megan and so they helped us lay out the plan and gave us ample time to provide you with one of the best factor we might. So whereas the majority of the music’s association got here collectively in about two days within the studio we had fairly a little bit of time to hone the monitor and get it sounding proper.
Coleman: I had numerous melodies come to my head fairly shortly once I heard the instrumental they have been engaged on. I fired up the sport and would hearken to the music on repeat for just a few days to get a really feel of how I wished the vocals to sound.
VG247: Periphery has composed for video video games just a few occasions, together with a monitor for Deus Ex in 2016, the Halo 2 anniversary OST, and Homefront all the way in which again in 2011! What impressed this return to the medium? Is online game work one thing the band is all the time eager to do?
Holcomb: Since our bandmate Misha primarily dealt with the music lent to these aforementioned video games, this was a golden alternative for me to dip my toes into this world. I’ve carried out voice-acting in video video games relationship again to 2017, however I’ve by no means composed music for one, so I jumped on the likelihood to do that with Jake and Elliot. I’m a life-long gamer, and I’d climb mountains to be concerned in that world, be it via voice-acting or music composition.
Bowen: The attention-grabbing factor about a few of that earlier work is that was all dealt with by one member of Periphery, Misha Mansoor, so for me this was an opportunity to essentially get into that facet of issues, I discover the thought of composing for another person’s venture very intimidating however the Warframe workforce being followers of Periphery’s music gave a way of consolation as a result of not less than I do know they like this different factor I do.
VG247: What distinctive concerns are there for composing for a online game slightly than making a music for an album? What does the band need to take into account that differs from the common course of?
Holcomb: I’d say the most important consideration is ensuring you’re adhering 100% to the imaginative and prescient of the developer. When Periphery information an album, it’s an absolute free-for-all in that we’re creating artwork for artwork’s sake, and precedence primary is making one thing that makes us pleased, with as few concessions as attainable. For tasks like this, we had boundaries inside which we would have liked to remain in an effort to fulfill Digital Extremes’ imaginative and prescient. However that was supremely thrilling in its personal method since their imaginative and prescient was so particular and well-thought-out from the start.
Bowen: I believe the primary factor I used to be desirous about when writing the music was “does this match inside a 1999 theme”, there was speak of referring to numerous the extra iconic musical voices from that period, bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Deftones have been all the time in my head when making an attempt to provide you with the riffs. Aside from that, I wished to create a music an precise band would possibly write, Verse/Refrain/Verse/Bridge/Outro, or one thing resembling that. I even added sound parts from the sport to assist it match higher inside the sport’s world.
Coleman: After I’m engaged on a Good Tiger file, the general tone of the album often takes form fairly shortly. We all know what our band feels like and what its strengths are. Engaged on this music, I had to remember the imaginative and prescient Rebb and Megan had for it, and that was straightforward as a result of they gave nice course!
VG247: In Warframe 1999 the audio workforce has established the setting firmly within the late 90’s grunge period music-wise. Periphery was based again within the early 2000’s! Can we anticipate a music fashion extra aligned to the band’s authentic sound, extra aligned to your modern work, or one thing vastly completely different?
Holcomb: I believe by nature of Jake and I being in Periphery, you’re sure to get a bit extra of that trendy steel sound, however sure, we actually tried to get that ‘90s sound captured within the music. It was a pure match since I grew up on ‘90s-era grunge.
Bowen: I believe that was the opposite half of the music’s equation, along with paying tribute to our ‘90s inspirations we additionally needed to make room for a few of that Periphery sound which might sound a bit extra trendy. To me, that was essentially the most enjoyable a part of this venture. I cherished music from the ‘90s, so having the ability to channel that whereas doing a method that’s naturally extra present was numerous enjoyable.
VG247: In an interview with Tuonela Magazine final yr, Misha acknowledged that “musical motifs and summary ideas from only a purely musical standpoint” and that the method of constructing new music for you guys is essentially intuitive. Was the creation course of for this music the identical? Did Digital Extremes present any pointers or necessities that made you method this music otherwise?
Holcomb: I’d say it was nonetheless largely intuitive, and it didn’t differ an excessive amount of from how I function in Periphery, however the primary distinction was the set of standards Digital Extremes laid out for us. The thought of writing a music that will really feel at house within the late ‘90s was the overarching thought behind each element within the music, so we needed to throw a few of that uncooked, unfiltered thread-chasing we achieve this a lot in Periphery. However I’ve to say, it was rewarding as a result of we hardly ever ever get to put in writing inside pointers in Periphery, so it was a enjoyable train in creativity.
Bowen: We’ve undoubtedly tried to constrain this course of with the rules set forth by Digital Extremes. When Periphery is within the studio, we get to name all of the pictures, and that’s numerous enjoyable. However when somebody is asking you to put in writing a music for his or her online game you clearly need to be sure you’re in keeping with their imaginative and prescient and that is precisely why I discovered this course of a lot enjoyable – it made me method the writing and manufacturing otherwise, nevertheless it wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. Should you’re a musician, you would possibly relate to this. It’s all the time scary to strive new issues and be in new musical tasks, however as soon as it will get rolling and it appears like you understand what to do, it feels actually good.
Coleman: I wasn’t given any laborious pointers to comply with, however they did reference just a few completely different singers for vibe. Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and many others. They weren’t in search of a precise copy, so I used to be nonetheless capable of be myself.
VG247: In that very same interview Misha acknowledged that the band would not get many probabilities to play collectively (except for excursions) as you all dwell far aside. How difficult is it to create a music on deadline with out having the ability to sit in the identical room and determine it out?
Holcomb: It undoubtedly isn’t perfect, however as a band, we spend numerous time on planes and Zoom calls, haha. It wasn’t too troublesome this time since Jake and I have been capable of write and organize the music in individual, after which we have been capable of do many of the tweaking remotely.
Bowen: It actually presents just a few challenges for the band to be unfold out all around the United States. Often, all of us will simply fly to 1 place for just a few weeks and craft what we’d like in that point. Relating to touring, we often will rehearse collectively just a few days earlier than a tour begins.
Coleman: Some of the vital issues when collaborating along with your bandmates, or friends, or buddies, is that you simply all agree that you simply’re working in the direction of the identical objective. I’ve numerous belief of their constructive criticisms.
VG247: Mark, you are additionally a voice actor in video video games! Can we anticipate your voice to pop up in a future Warframe replace?
Holcomb: Sure! I voiced Flare within the new replace. It was insanely enjoyable attending to discover that character and tread some floor I’ve by no means tread in my voice-acting profession. A large thanks to Digital Extremes for writing such an attention-grabbing, enjoyable character for this and trusting me to assist carry him to life.
Bowen: I do know this query isn’t directed at me, however I additionally did some voice work for Warframe as a brand new villain character, you’ll be listening to some fairly brutal sounding stuff!
Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out proper now, and whereas Periphery’s monitor Lamenting the times is not out on Spotify as of writing, you may test it out on YouTube proper now!
