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In this exclusive interview with Guitar Center, Periphery vocalist Spencer Sotelo, drummer Matt Halpern and guitarists Misha Mansoor, Mark Holcomb and Jake Bowen answer four questions about their audacious eighth studio album, A Pale White Dot, and one question about a certain guitar store.
A Pale White Dot has been hailed as a masterpiece by some fans, and as a disappointment by others. It has certainly been perceived as a courageous and risky confusing move for those not part of the band’s brain trust during the album’s creation. The record’s 12 tracks don’t follow the model of expansive prog-metal epics that won the band impassioned followers 20 years ago. In fact, only two songs crack the five-minute mark, and just by a few seconds.
Furthermore, A Pale White Dot is a concept album about isolation and loneliness, and it also covers a varied soundscape that ranges far beyond what fans might consider as Periphery’s djent and progressive metal traditions.
Why the shift? Mansoor shared in a New York listening event that before the band started recording, the members already knew what the next Periphery album would sound like, and they felt it was too predictable.
The specific creative impulses that gave birth to A Pale White Dot may stay with the band, but it is obvious the album delivers shorter songs, tight and refined musical arrangements, a heightened sense of atmosphere and compositions dealing more directly with specific emotions.
Guitar Center asked Periphery about the album, and here are some selected quotes that offer a peek at what you’ll learn in the interview. Be sure to watch the entire discussion to get the full story.
Favorite Song on A Pale White Dot?
Holcomb: It’s probably “Everyone Dies Alone”—mostly because of what the song deals with lyrically.
Halpern: When we were writing it, I'd recently lost a very important family member, so it means a lot to me.
Mansoor: There was a little bit of magic that happened as we were writing that one and finalizing it.
Hardest Part To Play on the Record?
Mansoor: There were some riffs in “Talk” that were not only challenging, but I also wanted them to sound a certain way. It took a bunch of takes for them to sound right and have the right tone.
Halpern: The kick drum part on that song is very heavy on the right foot the whole time. So, for me as the drummer, it's pretty taxing. But it's fun.
Do You Have a Fun Guitar Center Story?
Holcomb: I filmed a guitar play-through for two songs off A Pale White Dot at Guitar Center Hollywood, but I didn't have one of my PRS signature models with me. So, I took one of my guitars off the wall and Guitar Center was kind enough to let me play that actual guitar in my play-through. That was really awesome. And by the way, if you come to this Guitar Center location on Sunset Boulevard, I did sign the backplate of that actual guitar I played. I also left a little note …
Halpern: When I was 16 years old, I competed in the Towson, Maryland Guitar Center Drum-Off, and I actually won. I went all the way up to Boston and came in second place. I didn't make it all the way through, but it was a really good experience as a young drummer.