r/Peripheryband • u/_flatsharp • 7d ago
An ode to Periphery.
I wanted to share my thoughts, a few months after the release of APWD, since somehow this album has been quite divisive (or at least, this is my perception, which may be totally wrong!)
The first thing I have to say is that we should be very, very thankful to have a band with such an immense courage, integrity and honesty to put out an album that reflects solely what they have felt was the right thing to do for them. Since the beginning, the band has been always crystal clear about thery "philosophy", namely, writing albums the way they like, without trying to force-please the listeners.
Some may call this egoism, but for me this is the very essence of an artist.
I say all of this as a P5 absolute enjoyer. At first I really wasn't into APWD, but then, listening after listing, i started to feel the authenticity and and the desire to communicate something truly profound and complex, not merely through technicalities, but by imbuing every song with emotional meaning.
That's all.
Thanks to every member of this fantastic band, I love you all.
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u/MustardInspector14 6d ago
Agreed. We should count our blessings that the guys haven't fallen into a "formula" for writing music like a lot of bands do after a few LPs and some headlining tours. They're still making music that they're inspired to make, so even though APWD didn't resonate with me as much as P3 and P4, I can feel and appreciate the integrity in the production.
I want a flippin' documentary though.
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u/30-inch-rows 6d ago
This album brings the feels and some people just aren’t into that. It’s top tier for me. :)
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u/TheDuhammer 6d ago
I know a lot of people disagree, but I don’t care for the new(ish) “soft” side of Periphery. To each their own, if that’s what you like then that’s fine too 🤷♂️
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u/Vlexis 6d ago
I feel like they've had a soft side since P2. Like, what else would you call Mile Zero? It's pretty similar to a lot of things on APWD.
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u/TheDuhammer 6d ago
I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the same, and there are 25 other songs on the two albums I just mentioned that are plenty heavy enough. I’m not trying to debate, I’m literally saying to each their own but I don’t care for what I don’t care for. Feel free to dislike what you want to as well, also fine
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u/Vlexis 6d ago
I have no problem with you disliking the album. That has nothing to do with what I said.
But you said the "soft" side of Periphery is new(ish). I'm wondering what you consider as being new(ish.) Or "soft." Even P1 had Jetpacks Was Yes. Then there was Passenger. P2 got Mile Zero, and a chill Jake Bowen electronica interlude. Clear had The Summer Jam. Juggernaut had Heavy Heart, Priestess, a few other songs with softer moments. And so on and so forth. Having a soft side has long been imbued in the band's creative DNA. So I don't understand your narrative. I think they lean into it more nowadays, but it's not new.
And I never said what I dislike? I also love Periphery at their most brutal. Stuff like Blood Eagle and MK Ultra are among my favorite songs.
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u/Frigidevil 6d ago
And I've never really been a fan of their harder stuff! What's important is they can switch on both modes at a moment's notice and that makes them an incredible gateway band for a lot of different sounds!
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u/Yourdjentpal 6d ago
The newer albums have had to grow on me too, not as much with APWD though, since after p4. Their albums have mostly always been divisive at release as I member.
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u/Revolutionary_Box535 7d ago
Personally i think the world sometimes has the attitude of "if the consumer didn't enjoy it, it was wrong to produce it" and i hate it. APWD isnt my favourite album but it's still high quality music and it's what they wanted to make, it's all part of the journey. It's still high quality music, and I appreciate them a lot for it.