Periphery is streaming “Alpha”, the title track from the band’s forthcoming release Juggernaut: Alpha, which will be simultaneously released on January 27th with Juggernaut: Omega.

“"Alpha" is the title track from the first Juggernaut album and I’m particularly proud of how this one turned out,” explained guitar player Jake Bowen. “I really enjoy songs that have an unconventional arrangement but still flow nicely, and I think that's exactly why I like "Alpha"; it starts out more upbeat, then evolves into a darker mood towards the end, illustrating the Juggernaut story both musically and lyrically. Additionally, a few different themes and motifs appear in this song, acting as a nexus between the Juggernaut: Alpha and Omega albums. I hope you like this one as much as I do! Enjoy!"

Periphery guitar player Misha Mansoor is the focus of the latest installment of the D.C.-based prog outfit's ongoing Juggernaut web series.

Watch all five below:

"With these webisodes we have been trying to give some people some insight on where we were directly after having finished the album.  It was so gratifying to be able to finally make a fully collaborative album with the guys, and in this particular video I expand on the process and experience of making Juggernaut,” explained Mansoor.

Periphery will release dual albums - Juggernaut: Alpha and Juggernaut: Omega - outside of North America, Australia/NZ and Japan via Century Media Records on January 26th, 2015. Sumarian Records will release the albums in North America on January 27th.

The band are streaming “Graveless” from the Omega release. "Graveless is one of my favorite songs on the record! It's fast and aggressive, but morphs into something beautiful and catchy as the song progresses,” explained Adam “Nolly” Getgood. “There's an element of the classic Periphery sound in there, but with all band members pushing to take things to the next level it's got a whole palette of colours that the band hasn't explored before too.”

The album artwork reflects the story behind the Juggernaut releases, a tale of birth and re-birth with the first album (Alpha) sharing the origins of the main character and the second offering (Omega) sharing the gut-wrenching twists and turns the tale takes.  Each release is housed an outer, die cut o-card with the band’s signature P and three dot logo, which, once removed features a booklet cover from graphic novelist Justin Randall. Each album includes a 12-page booklet with numerous illustrations that add a visual layer to the conceptual albums.

 

 

Juggernaut: Alpha:

"A Black Minute"
"MK Ultra"
"Heavy Heart"
"The Event"
"The Scourge"
"Alpha"
"22 Faces"
"Rainbow Gravity"
"Four Lights"
"Psychosphere"
"22 Faces":

"The Scourge":

 

 

Juggernaut: Omega:

"Reprise"
"The Bad Thing"
"Priestess"
"Graveless"
"Hell Below"
"Omega"
"Stranger Things"

"The Bad Thing":

"Given the nature and complexity of the Juggernaut story, we've actually done something different and exciting in regards to the release,” explains drummer Matt Halpern. “Juggernaut is a story that is told through our music, and we want our audience to fully digest the whole experience. Because Juggernaut is very detailed and dense in terms of character development, peaks and valleys, climaxes and resolutions we've divided the story and music in two, in the form of two separate albums. Juggernaut: Alpha, the first part of the story, focuses on the back story and character development, while part two/album two, Juggernaut: Omega, focuses on some pretty serious and gut-wrenching events, taking you for a thrill ride along the main character's complex journey. Although the albums are split in two physically, the story is only complete when the albums are digested consecutively, allowing the listener to recognize and hear the lyrical and musical overlapping themes, foreshadowing, and connected ideas.”

“This is new ground and it’s exciting,” band founder and guitarist Misha Mansoor says of the band’s approach to writing and recording Juggernaut, which saw all six members work collectively for the first time in Periphery’s history. “It's a way to shake things up. Everyone contributed to everything, even if it wasn't his instrument. It wasn’t about confrontation. Everyone was focused on creating a really cool album.”

 

 

Periphery will embark on extensive touring around the release of Juggernaut. First will be a five-week North American tour with support coming from Nothing More, Wovenwar and Thank You Scientist. Next on their agenda are Russia, a full European tour with Devin Townsend Project and Shining which leads to a Periphery headlining show in London, UK, on April 1st.

Misha Mansoor on going to Russia: "We are very excited to finally play Russia! We have heard so many amazing things about the shows and fans supporting us there and we can't wait to rock out with them at the shows.” And on headlining in London he has the following to say: “It has been too long London, you are one of our favorite cities to play ever. We couldn't come to Europe and miss you guys so we are stoked to be coming back finally! See you there.”

Periphery's live schedule can be found at this location. Check out a teaser video below: