Periphery are the band that, more than any other, defined djent — the syncopated, low-tuned, hyper-produced strain of modern progressive metal. Formed in the Washington, D.C. area in 2005 by guitarist and producer Misha Mansoor, they pair dizzying technicality and crushing heaviness with soaring melody and Spencer Sotelo’s remarkable voice. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Icarus Lives!”, “Scarlet”, “Make Total Destroy” and “Racecar” — the breakout anthem that made their name, a soaring fan favourite, their most explosive single, and the fifteen-minute epic that closes their debut. The full ranking is below.

The band that defined djent

Periphery grew out of the bedroom recordings of Misha Mansoor, a producer and guitarist who became a central figure of the online metal scene in the mid-2000s. Assembling a band around his songs, he released a self-titled debut in 2010 that helped codify djent — Meshuggah-style rhythmic complexity, extended-range guitars and pristine, self-made production. With the settled lineup of Mansoor, Jake Bowen and Mark Holcomb on guitars, Spencer Sotelo on vocals and Matt Halpern on drums, Periphery grew steadily more ambitious, from the double concept album Juggernaut to the Grammy-nominated Periphery III: Select Difficulty. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing melody, ambition, musicianship and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Icarus Lives!” (2010), the breakout anthem that put the band on the map. With it: “Scarlet” (2012), a soaring, dynamic fan favourite; “Make Total Destroy” (2012), their most explosive single; “Racecar” (2010), the fifteen-minute epic that closes their debut; “The Bad Thing” (2015), a ferocious highlight of Juggernaut: Omega; and “Marigold” (2016), the emotional, melodic centrepiece of Periphery III.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Catch Fire” (2016) is a bright, hook-filled standout; “Blood Eagle” (2019) is a brutal Hail Stan single; “Alpha” (2015) is a widescreen anthem from Juggernaut: Alpha; “Reptile” (2019) is the sprawling, sixteen-minute opener of Hail Stan; and “Wildfire” (2023) kicks off Djent Is Not a Genre in style.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Ragnarok” (2012) is a heavy, atmospheric highlight from their second album; “Zagreus” (2023) is a punchy Djent Is Not a Genre cut; “Garden in the Bones” (2019) is a groove-driven Hail Stan single; and “Omega” (2015) closes the Juggernaut saga on an epic note.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with the two most acclaimed studio albums, Periphery II: This Time It’s Personal (2012) and the Grammy-nominated Periphery III: Select Difficulty (2016), then the debut Periphery (2010). From there, the ambitious double album Juggernaut (2015) and the experimental Hail Stan (2019) and Djent Is Not a Genre (2023) show how far the band has pushed their sound.

The players

Periphery are a band of virtuosos led by founder, guitarist and producer Misha Mansoor, the creative engine behind their sound. Alongside him are fellow guitarists Jake Bowen and Mark Holcomb, the powerhouse vocalist Spencer Sotelo — whose range spans clean melody and ferocious screams — and drummer Matt Halpern. Bassist and producer Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood was a core member through their classic run and still helps shape their records. The band self-produce everything and run their own label, 3DOT Recordings.

Why they still matter

Periphery took djent from an internet in-joke to a genuine movement, proving the style could be as melodic and song-driven as it was technical and heavy. Their influence runs through a whole generation of modern progressive metal bands, and their self-made, do-it-yourself approach reshaped how metal bands record and release music. Standing alongside American prog-metal peers like Dream Theater, and still restlessly experimenting, Periphery remain at the cutting edge of the genre they helped create.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Periphery albums, or place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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