Warframe 1999: Techrot Encore is out, and it is loads 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 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 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 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 mission. We started engaged on the monitor in earnest through the summer time of 2024.
Bowen: We now have been pals 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 on the lookout for a band which may have the ability to 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 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 you need 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 group bounce concepts and ideas off of us in no hurry, as a way to mildew 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 which 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 a couple 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 loads of melodies come to my head fairly rapidly 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 couple of days to get a really feel of how I wished the vocals to sound.
VG247: Periphery has composed for video video games a couple of 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 performed 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 essentially get into that facet 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 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 relatively than making a track for an album? What does the band need to remember the fact 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 glad, with as few concessions as attainable. For tasks like this, we had boundaries inside which we would have liked to remain as a way to fulfill Digital Extremes’ imaginative and prescient. However that was supremely thrilling in its personal means 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 excited about when writing the music was “does this match inside a 1999 theme”, there was speak of pertaining to loads of the extra iconic musical voices from that period, bands like Stone Temple Pilots and Deftones had been all the time in my head when making an attempt to give you the riffs. Aside from that, I wished 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 sport’s world.
Coleman: After I’m engaged on a Good Tiger file, the general tone of the album often takes form fairly rapidly. We all know what our band seems 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 path!
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 type 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 sure to get a bit extra of that fashionable 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 feel 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 may sound a bit extra fashionable. To me, that was essentially 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 loads of enjoyable.
VG247: In an interview with Tuonela Magazine final 12 months, Misha acknowledged 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 tips or necessities that made you strategy this track in a different 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 track that might really feel at dwelling 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 accomplish that 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 loads of enjoyable. However when somebody is asking you to put in writing a track for his or her online game you clearly need to be sure you’re in step 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 differently, but it surely wasn’t in any respect unfamiliar. When 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 realize what to do, it feels actually good.
Coleman: I wasn’t given any exhausting tips to observe, however they did reference a couple of totally different singers for vibe. Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Eddie Vedder, and many others. They weren’t on the lookout for an actual copy, so I used to be nonetheless capable of be myself.
VG247: In that very same interview Misha acknowledged that the band does not get many possibilities to play collectively (apart from excursions) as you all stay 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 loads 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 organize the track in particular person, after which we had been capable of do a lot of the tweaking remotely.
Bowen: It definitely 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 at least one place for a couple of weeks and craft what we want in that point. Relating to touring, we often 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 pals, is that you simply all agree that you simply’re working in the direction of the identical purpose. I’ve loads 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. A large 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 possibly can test it out on YouTube proper now!
