What makes Periphery III: Select Difficulty by Periphery notable?

Periphery III received widespread acclaim, debuting at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning praise for its ambitious composition. The album's fusion of technical prowess with accessible melodies has influenced many contemporary progressive metal bands, establishing Periphery as key figures in the genre's modern landscape. Released on July 22, 2016, Periphery III: Select Difficulty marked the band's third studio album and a significant evolution from their earlier work. This album followed their self-titled debut and its critically acclaimed sequel, showcasing a more refined songwriting approach and production quality while solidifying their presence in the progressive metal scene.

Who is Periphery III: Select Difficulty for?

Periphery III: Select Difficulty works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, wave-like pacing for engagement and challenging rhythms for attentive listening.

How many songs are on Periphery III: Select Difficulty?

Periphery III: Select Difficulty has 11 tracks, running approximately 63 minutes.

Released 10 years ago

Periphery III: Select Difficulty

Periphery · 2016

63 min · 11 tracks · progressive metal

Dynamic riffs and intricate polyrhythms collide with soaring melodies and introspective lyrics, defining the essence of modern progressive metal.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Marigold — With its infectious chorus and shifting dynamics, this track exemplifies the band's ability to blend melody with complex instrumentation seamlessly.
→
Habitual Line‐Stepper — This song showcases intricate time signatures and aggressive riffs while exploring themes of personal struggle, making it a standout for its emotional depth.
→
Prayer Position — The closing track features an atmospheric build-up leading to an explosive resolution, capturing the album's overall journey and emotional arc effectively.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album blends technical complexity with accessible melodies, showcasing a strong compositional voice.

What we noticed

Melodic choruses often contrast with heavy, intricate riffs, creating a dynamic shift within individual tracks.
Several songs incorporate extended instrumental sections that showcase technical proficiency, such as the guitar solos in 'Flatline' and 'Catch Fire'.

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

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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 for engagement
challenging rhythms for attentive listening
intricate melodies that reward focus
immersive two-half listening experience

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward song structures
seek instant gratification tracks

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on July 22, 2016, Periphery III: Select Difficulty marked the band's third studio album and a significant evolution from their earlier work. This album followed their self-titled debut and its critically acclaimed sequel, showcasing a more refined songwriting approach and production quality while solidifying their presence in the progressive metal scene.
Stylistic neighbors: Animals as Leaders· Tesseract· Between the Buried and Me