Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is a variety of enjoyable. However, one factor it’s possible 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 monitor 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 truly come to be? How did Periphery find yourself working with DE on Techrot Encore, and what went into creating the monitor? To search 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 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 mission. We started engaged on the monitor in earnest through the summer season of 2024.
Bowen: We’ve been pals with the Warframe group for some time, and it got here up fairly casually, I believe. 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 have been engaged on a music/guitar-based character and have been in search of a band that 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 unique tune 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 it’s a must to make this new tune for the Warframe 1999 replace?
Holcomb: We got the chance of getting months of runway to complete the tune, however Jake and I met at his place in Jersey Metropolis to get the majority of the tune 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 options off of us in no hurry, as a way to mould the tune even additional into one thing they felt match their imaginative and prescient.
Bowen: I don’t know a lot about online game growth but it surely appears to me that you would be able to’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 give you the very best factor we may. So whereas the majority of the tune’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 a variety of melodies come to my head fairly shortly after I heard the instrumental they have been engaged on. I fired up the sport and would hearken to the tune 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 instances, 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 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 achieved voice-acting in video video games courting 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 voice-acting or music composition.
Bowen: The fascinating 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 mission very intimidating however the Warframe group being followers of Periphery’s music gave a way of consolation as a result of at the very 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 tune for an album? What does the band should 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 data 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 comfortable, with as few concessions as doable. For tasks like this, we had boundaries inside which we wanted to remain as a way 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 fascinated by when writing the music was “does this match inside a 1999 theme”, there was discuss of referring to a variety of the extra iconic musical voices from that period, bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Deftones have been at all times in my head when attempting to give you the riffs. Apart from that, I wished to create a tune an precise band would possibly write, Verse/Refrain/Verse/Bridge/Outro, or one thing resembling that. I even added sound components from the sport to assist it match higher throughout the recreation’s world.
Coleman: Once I’m engaged on a Good Tiger file, the general tone of the album normally takes form fairly shortly. We all know what our band feels like and what its strengths are. Engaged on this tune, 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 fashion extra aligned to the band’s unique 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 metallic sound, however sure, we actually tried to get that ‘90s sound captured within the tune. It was a pure match since I grew up on ‘90s-era grunge.
Bowen: I believe that was the opposite half of the tune’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 trendy. To me, that was probably the most enjoyable a part of this mission. I liked music from the ‘90s, so having 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 Mag last year, 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 tune the identical? Did Digital Extremes present any tips or necessities that made you strategy this tune 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 principle distinction was the set of standards Digital Extremes laid out for us. The concept of writing a tune that will really feel at house within the late ‘90s was the overarching concept behind each element within the tune, 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 not often ever get to put in writing inside tips 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 photographs, and that’s a variety of enjoyable. However when somebody is asking you to put in writing a tune for his or her online game you clearly should be sure to’re in keeping 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 another way, but it surely wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. In the event you’re a musician, you would possibly 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 seems like you realize what to do, it feels actually good.
Coleman: I wasn’t given any exhausting tips to observe, however they did reference just a few completely different singers for vibe. Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and so on. They weren’t in search of an actual 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 possibilities to play collectively (except for excursions) as you all stay far aside. How difficult is it to create a tune on deadline with out having the ability to sit in the identical room and determine it out?
Holcomb: It undoubtedly isn’t excellent, 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 have been capable of write and organize the tune in particular person, after which we have been capable of do a lot of the tweaking remotely.
Bowen: It definitely presents just a few challenges for the band to be unfold out all around the United States. Normally, all of us will simply fly to 1 place for just a few weeks and craft what we want in that point. In terms of touring, we normally 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 pals, is that you just all agree that you just’re working in 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. An enormous thanks to Digital Extremes for writing such an fascinating, 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 monitor Lamenting the times is not out on Spotify as of writing, you may test it out on YouTube proper now!