Innovation. Many bands claim to have it, many fall short. Bursting onto the scene with their self titled offer Periphery ushered in the new era of modern metal. In this digital age, social media is paramount. Where YouTube reigns and Facebook likes govern the band have been masters of the new age. Their music forging paths for bands alike to emulate but never equal. In true Periphery style, the band decide to cross another metaphorical rubicon deciding to go opt for something truly old fashioned. The double album, a staple of prog usually revolving around a concept needing more than just the usual length of an album. In such an age where music is fast becoming disposable, with the ready availability of torrents, Spotify and one click wonders, did it pay off?

Splitting the album into two different entities is important to understand its essence. Similar to a mathematics equation, first we must divide the whole to understand the individual, then combine both together to create the sum. Juggernaut has been a work in progress, with guitarist Misha “Bulb” Mansoor originally creating the project in Periphery’s infancy. Known for their fierce technical nature, from the beginning after slowly becoming more accessible with second album Periphery II. We see both sides equally matched in their third incarnation, Juggernaut.

First installment Alpha appeases the melodic front of Periphery’s genius, with catchy songs such as self titled “Alpha” which to the untrained ear would appear to be a pop song. Although how many pop choruses subtly slip in a 3/4 time signature shift… Beginning our story of birth Juggernaut: Alpha is peppered with major lines creating a sense of uplifting, particularly the anthemic “The Scourge“. Although the playful sense of melody is recurrent with songs like “22 Faces” and “Heavy Heart” the true genius lies in the subtle change from Alpha to Omega. Here we see things become a less optimistic colour, changing up the overall feeling of the record along with the creative song writing behind it.

Including the massive eleven minute self titled track “Omega” containing experimental solo’s that will have instrumentalists reeling for days, not to mention the more straight forward barrage of singles “Graveless” and “The Bad Thing“. But where Periphery truly excel to heights unreachable is the album as a whole. Continuity has always been a staple of Periphery’s sound, in previous Periphery II we saw vocal hooks come in from the beginning right until the end (Muramasa, Masume), Juggernaut explores this even further. Incorporating hooks from Alpha in Omega whilst final track of Omega ,”Stranger Things” flows into first track of Alpha, “A Black Minute” creating a sense of bookends, not to mention a great easter egg hunt for the ears.

With Juggernaut we see the band firing on all cylinders, creatively its potentially the most ambitious work to date. Technically, each member is truly unmatched in their skill, however gold goes to Sotelo for his piece de resistance act here, proving that although he may not be all metal heads cup of tea he has an infallible set of lungs.

In the disposable era that we live in where people have an indispensable amount of music. Opting for a double album, was not only a risky but also innovative decision. Where so decisions are made within such small amount of time, simply owing to the ready availability Periphery have once again, reinvented themselves with yet another innovation in modern metal.