Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is a number of enjoyable. However, one factor it’s possible you’ll not have observed 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 suits inside 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 a number 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 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 undertaking. We started engaged on the monitor in earnest throughout the summer season of 2024.
Bowen: We’ve been pals with the Warframe workforce 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 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 authentic track 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 important to make this new track for the Warframe 1999 replace?
Holcomb: We got the chance of getting months of runway to complete the track, however Jake and I met at his place in Jersey Metropolis to get the majority of the track 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 strategies off of us in no hurry, to be able to mould the track 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 can’t make a online game, a lot much less a online game on Warframes scale with out numerous time and precision planning so we had a number of calls with Rebb and Megan and so they helped us lay out the plan and gave us ample time to give you the perfect factor we might. So whereas the majority of the track’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 number of melodies come to my head fairly shortly once I heard the instrumental they had been engaged on. I fired up the sport and would hearken to the track on repeat for a number of days to get a really feel of how I needed the vocals to sound.
VG247: Periphery has composed for video video games a number of instances, together with a monitor 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 executed 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 via 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 facet of issues, I discover the concept of composing for another person’s undertaking very intimidating however the Warframe workforce being followers of Periphery’s music gave a way of consolation as a result of a minimum of I do know they like this different factor I do.
VG247: What distinctive concerns are there for composing for a online game relatively than making a track 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 comfortable, with as few concessions as potential. For tasks like this, we had boundaries inside which we wanted to remain to be able 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 discuss 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. Apart from that, I needed to create a track 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 recreation’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 track, 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 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 count on a music fashion extra aligned to the band’s authentic sound, extra aligned to your modern work, or one thing vastly totally 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 track. It was a pure match since I grew up on ‘90s-era grunge.
Bowen: I believe that was the opposite half of the track’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 undertaking. I liked music from the ‘90s, so having the ability to channel that whereas doing a mode that’s naturally extra present was a number of enjoyable.
VG247: In an interview with Tuonela Magazine final 12 months, 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 essentially intuitive. Was the creation course of for this track the identical? Did Digital Extremes present any pointers or necessities that made you strategy this track 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 concept of writing a track that may really feel at residence within the late ‘90s was the overarching concept behind each element within the track, 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 write down 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 photographs, and that’s a number of enjoyable. However when somebody is asking you to write down a track for his or her online game you clearly must ensure you’re according to 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, but it surely wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. In case 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 looks like you understand what to do, it feels actually good.
Coleman: I wasn’t given any exhausting pointers to observe, however they did reference a number 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 capable of be myself.
VG247: In that very same interview Misha said that the band would not get many possibilities to play collectively (apart from excursions) as you all dwell far aside. How difficult is it to create a track on deadline with out having the ability to sit in the identical room and determine it out?
Holcomb: It undoubtedly isn’t preferrred, however as a band, we spend a number of time on planes and Zoom calls, haha. It wasn’t too troublesome this time since Jake and I had been capable of write and prepare the track in particular person, after which we had been capable of do a lot of the tweaking remotely.
Bowen: It actually presents a number of challenges for the band to be unfold out everywhere in the United States. Normally, all of us will simply fly to 1 place for a number of weeks and craft what we want in that point. Relating to touring, we often will rehearse collectively a number of days earlier than a tour begins.
Coleman: Some of the vital issues when collaborating together with your bandmates, or friends, or pals, is that you just all agree that you just’re working in the direction of the identical objective. I’ve a number 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 deliver 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!
