What makes Periphery II: This Time It's Personal by Periphery notable?

The album debuted at number 34 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking a commercial breakthrough for the band. It received critical acclaim for its ambitious songwriting and technical proficiency, influencing subsequent progressive metal acts and contributing to the rise of djent's popularity. Released on July 3, 2012, Periphery II: This Time It's Personal was the band's second studio album and a significant evolution from their self-titled debut. At this point in their career, Periphery had gained traction within the progressive metal scene and were solidifying their reputation as leaders in the genre.

Who is Periphery II: This Time It's Personal for?

Periphery II: This Time It's Personal works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, wave-like pacing with intensity and intricate riffs for detail seekers.

How many songs are on Periphery II: This Time It's Personal?

Periphery II: This Time It's Personal has 15 tracks, running approximately 72 minutes.

Periphery II: This Time It's Personal

Periphery · 2012

72 min · 15 tracks · progressive metal

Complex rhythms and soaring melodies intertwine with heavy guitar riffs, creating an intricate soundscape that defines modern progressive metal.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Scarlet — This track showcases the band's ability to blend melodic hooks with aggressive instrumentation, capturing the essence of their duality and complexity.
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Ji — A standout for its dynamic shifts and intricate guitar work, this song highlights Periphery's innovative approach to songwriting within the progressive metal framework.
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MAKE TOTAL DESTROY — This track's relentless energy and complex structures exemplify the band's unique sound while pushing the boundaries of traditional metal.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

67 /100

Alpine

Higher than 91% of albums we've rated

The album showcases ambitious songwriting and technical proficiency, marking a significant evolution for the band.

What we noticed

Several songs incorporate clean vocals alongside harsh vocals, creating dynamic contrasts throughout the record.
The last three tracks shift towards more atmospheric elements, with 'Epoch' serving as a lengthy instrumental piece that closes the album.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with emotional peaks
wave-like pacing with intensity
intricate riffs for detail seekers
engaging two-halves listening experience
soaring melodies for cathartic release

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward song structures
seek instant gratification tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on July 3, 2012, Periphery II: This Time It's Personal was the band's second studio album and a significant evolution from their self-titled debut. At this point in their career, Periphery had gained traction within the progressive metal scene and were solidifying their reputation as leaders in the genre.
Stylistic neighbors: Animals as Leaders· Tesseract· Between the Buried and Me