Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is a variety of enjoyable. However, one factor you might 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 observe for the replace. All of it matches throughout 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 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 recognized 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 undertaking. We started engaged on the observe in earnest throughout the summer time of 2024.
Bowen: We now have been associates with the Warframe group for some time, and it got here up fairly casually, I feel. It simply began as a “Hey, wouldn’t 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 of 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 previously, 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 strategies off of us in no hurry, with a view to mildew the music even additional into one thing they felt match their imaginative and prescient.
Bowen: I don’t know a lot about online game improvement but it surely 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 and so they helped us lay out the plan and gave us ample time to provide you with 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 variety of melodies come to my head fairly shortly after I heard the instrumental they had been engaged on. I fired up the sport and would take heed 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 instances, together with a observe 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 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 probability 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 way 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 aspect of issues, I discover the concept of composing for another person’s undertaking very intimidating however the Warframe group being followers of Periphery’s music gave a way of consolation as a result of no less than I do know they like this different factor I do.
VG247: What distinctive issues are there for composing for a online game quite 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 joyful, with as few concessions as doable. For tasks like this, we had boundaries inside which we would have liked to remain with a view 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 feel 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 concerning a variety 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 attempting to provide you with the riffs. Apart 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 sport’s world.
Coleman: After I’m engaged on a Good Tiger document, the general tone of the album normally takes form fairly shortly. We all know what our band appears like and what its strengths are. Engaged on this music, I had to bear in mind the imaginative and prescient Rebb and Megan had for it, and that was straightforward as a result of they gave nice route!
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 count on a music model extra aligned to the band’s unique sound, extra aligned to your modern work, or one thing vastly totally different?
Holcomb: I feel by nature of Jake and I being in Periphery, you’re certain to get a bit extra of that fashionable 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 feel 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 undertaking. I liked music from the ‘90s, so with the ability to channel that whereas doing a mode that’s naturally extra present was a variety of enjoyable.
VG247: In an interview with Tuonela Magazine final yr, Misha said that “musical motifs and summary ideas from only a purely musical standpoint” and that the method of creating new music for you guys is basically 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 in another way?
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 principle distinction was the set of standards Digital Extremes laid out for us. The thought of writing a music that might really feel at dwelling 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 jot down inside pointers 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 variety 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 method the writing and manufacturing otherwise, but it surely wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. In the event you’re a musician, you may relate to this. It’s at all times scary to strive new issues and be in new musical tasks, however as soon as it will get rolling and it appears like you realize what to do, it feels actually good.
Coleman: I wasn’t given any arduous pointers to observe, however they did reference a couple of totally different singers for vibe. Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and so forth. 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 said that the band would not get many possibilities to play collectively (other than excursions) as you all reside far aside. How difficult is it to create a music on deadline with out with the ability to sit in the identical room and determine it out?
Holcomb: It positively isn’t very best, however as a band, we spend a variety of time on planes and Zoom calls, haha. It wasn’t too troublesome this time since Jake and I had been in a position to write and prepare the music in particular person, after which we had been in a position to do many of the tweaking remotely.
Bowen: It actually presents a couple of challenges for the band to be unfold out all around the United States. Normally, all of us will simply fly to at least one place for a couple of weeks and craft what we’d like in that point. Relating to touring, we normally will rehearse collectively a couple of days earlier than a tour begins.
Coleman: One of the necessary issues when collaborating along with your bandmates, or friends, or associates, is that you simply all agree that you simply’re working in the direction of the identical purpose. I’ve a variety of belief of their constructive criticisms.
VG247: Mark, you are additionally a voice actor in video video games! Can we count on 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 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 possibly can test it out on YouTube proper now!
