Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is a number of enjoyable. However, one factor chances are you’ll not have seen as a participant or a far-flung spectator is that progressive metallic band Periphery labored alongside Digital Extremes on a particular visitor observe for the replace. All of it suits throughout the rock band vibe that got here with Temple and the brand new defence mission.
However how did this truly come to be? How did Periphery find yourself working with DE on Techrot Encore, and what went into creating the observe? To search out out, I despatched over a couple of 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 observe?
Holcomb: It got here collectively very organically. I’ve identified Megan, Rebb, and Steve since 2016 or so, and we had at all times 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 challenge. We started engaged on the observe in earnest through the summer season of 2024.
Bowen: We now have been buddies with the Warframe group 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 had been engaged on a music/guitar-based character and had been in search of a band that may be capable to contribute music and seek the advice of on what the character’s “sound” might be.
Coleman: Jake initially reached out to me to gauge my curiosity in working with them on an unique music for the sport. The three of us have labored on music collectively up to now, so it was a no brainer for me. The three of us have nice chemistry!
VG247: How lengthy did it’s a must 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 group bounce concepts and solutions off of us in no hurry, to be able 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 however it appears to me you could’t make a online game, a lot much less a online game on Warframes scale with out a lot of time and precision planning so we had a couple of calls with Rebb and Megan they usually helped us lay out the plan and gave us ample time to give you the most effective factor we may. 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 observe and get it sounding proper.
Coleman: I had a number of melodies come to my head fairly rapidly after I heard the instrumental they had been engaged on. I fired up the sport and would hearken to the music on repeat for a couple of days to get a really feel of how I needed the vocals to sound.
VG247: Periphery has composed for video video games a couple of occasions, together with a observe for Deus Ex in 2016, the Halo 2 anniversary OST, and Homefront all the best way again in 2011! What impressed this return to the medium? Is online game work one thing the band is at all times 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 completed 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 by means of 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 actually get into that facet of issues, I discover the concept of composing for another person’s challenge very intimidating however the Warframe group being followers of Periphery’s music gave a way of consolation as a result of at the least I do know they like this different factor I do.
VG247: What distinctive issues are there for composing for a online game reasonably than making a music for an album? What does the band must needless to say differs from the common course of?
Holcomb: I’d say the largest 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 glad, with as few concessions as potential. For initiatives like this, we had boundaries inside which we would have liked to remain to be able to fulfill Digital Extremes’ imaginative and prescient. However that was supremely thrilling in its personal approach 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 enthusiastic about when writing the music was “does this match inside a 1999 theme”, there was speak of bearing on a number of the extra iconic musical voices from that period, bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Deftones had been at all times in my head when making an attempt to give you the riffs. Aside from that, I needed to create a music an precise band may write, Verse/Refrain/Verse/Bridge/Outro, or one thing resembling that. I even added sound parts from the sport to assist it match higher throughout the recreation’s world.
Coleman: After I’m engaged on a Good Tiger file, the general tone of the album normally takes form fairly rapidly. We all know what our band seems 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 simple as a result of they gave nice course!
VG247: In Warframe 1999 the audio group 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 unique sound, extra aligned to your up to date 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 fashionable metallic 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 may sound a bit extra fashionable. To me, that was essentially the most enjoyable a part of this challenge. I liked music from the ‘90s, so having the ability to channel that whereas doing a method that’s naturally extra present was a number of 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 basically intuitive. Was the creation course of for this music the identical? Did Digital Extremes present any tips or necessities that made you strategy this music in another way?
Holcomb: I might say it was nonetheless largely intuitive, and it didn’t differ an excessive amount of from how I function in Periphery, however the principle distinction was the set of standards Digital Extremes laid out for us. The thought of writing a music that might really feel at house within the late ‘90s was the overarching concept behind each element within the music, so we needed to throw a few of that uncooked, unfiltered thread-chasing we accomplish that a lot in Periphery. However I’ve to say, it was rewarding as a result of we not often ever get to jot down inside tips in Periphery, so it was a enjoyable train in creativity.
Bowen: We’ve positively 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 photographs, and that’s a number of enjoyable. However when somebody is asking you to jot down a music for his or her online game you clearly must be sure to’re consistent with their imaginative and prescient and that is precisely why I discovered this course of a lot enjoyable – it made me strategy the writing and manufacturing otherwise, however it wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. For those who’re a musician, you may relate to this. It’s at all times scary to strive new issues and be in new musical initiatives, however as soon as it will get rolling and it looks like you recognize what to do, it feels actually good.
Coleman: I wasn’t given any onerous tips to observe, however they did reference a couple of completely different singers for vibe. Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and many others. They weren’t in search of an actual copy, so I used to be nonetheless in a position to be myself.
VG247: In that very same interview Misha acknowledged that the band would not get many possibilities to play collectively (except for excursions) as you all reside 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 positively isn’t ultimate, however as a band, we spend a number of time on planes and Zoom calls, haha. It wasn’t too tough this time since Jake and I had been in a position to write and prepare the music in individual, after which we had been in a position to do a lot of the tweaking remotely.
Bowen: It actually presents a couple of challenges for the band to be unfold out all around the United States. Often, all of us will simply fly to 1 place for a couple of weeks and craft what we want in that point. With regards to touring, we normally will rehearse collectively a couple of days earlier than a tour begins.
Coleman: Some of the vital issues when collaborating together with your bandmates, or friends, or buddies, is that you just all agree that you just’re working in the direction of the identical aim. I’ve a number of 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. An enormous thanks to Digital Extremes for writing such an attention-grabbing, enjoyable character for this and trusting me to assist convey 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 observe Lamenting the times is not out on Spotify as of writing, you’ll be able to test it out on YouTube proper now!
