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Polyphia

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Polyphia
Polyphia performing in Manchester, England, 2019
Polyphia performing in Manchester, England, 2019
Background information
OriginPlano, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–present
Labels
Members
  • Tim Henson
  • Scott LePage
  • Clay Gober
  • Clay Aeschliman
Past members
  • Randy Methe
  • Brandon Burkhalter
  • Lane Duskin
Websitepolyphia.com

Polyphia is a primarily instrumental progressive rock band based in Plano, Texas and formed in 2010. The group consists of guitarists Tim Henson and Scott LePage, bassist Clay Gober, and drummer Clay Aeschliman.

Polyphia's sound is noted for incorporating virtuosic guitar parts with other styles of music.[2] Initially rooted in a metal-focused tone in their early releases, the band's music evolved to a more progressive rock sound in their later productions, combining electronic music and hip hop. Polyphia has released four studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and numerous singles.

Their third album, New Levels New Devils, was their first to chart, reaching 61 on the Billboard 200. Their fourth album, Remember That You Will Die, released in October 2022, debuted at number 33.

History

[edit]

Polyphia formed in 2010 and first achieved mainstream success after the guitar play-through of "Impassion", from their EP Inspire, went viral on YouTube. Since then the band's popularity has grown and they have shared the stage with progressive metalcore artists such as Periphery, Between the Buried and Me, and August Burns Red.[3]

The name of the band comes from the word "polyphony", meaning music whose texture is defined by the interweaving of several melodic lines.[4] They first began to experiment with incorporating pop, funk, and electronic elements into their music on their first full-length album, Muse, released in 2014. The album also featured other guitarists on several tracks, which the band has cited as a source of inspiration.[5] The band was signed to Equal Vision Records after the album charted on the Billboard Top 100, which led to its reissue in 2015.[6] Their second album, Renaissance, released in 2016, continued in the band's fusion of pop, hip hop, and EDM elements.[7] Polyphia released their third studio album, New Levels New Devils, on October 12, 2018.

In September 2022, they released the single "Ego Death", the fourth from their latest album, Remember That You Will Die. It was accompanied by a video, both of which feature guitar virtuoso Steve Vai.[8] Remember That You Will Die was released on October 28, 2022 and includes appearances by Sophia Black, Brasstracks, $NOT, and Chino Moreno.[9] In October 2022, Polyphia announced a 15-date European tour to support the record.[10] They released their first live album, Live at the Factory in Deep Ellum, on November 24, 2023.[11] The 16-track album was recorded on April 14, during the Remember That You Will Die tour at the Factory in Dallas.[11]

Style and influences

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Polyphia was originally known for their guitar covers of classical songs on YouTube. The band mixes elements of instrumental and progressive rock with EDM, funk, and hip hop.[12] The sound was further developed with the release of their second EP, The Most Hated, and third full-length album, New Levels New Devils, which featured production from hip hop and EDM producers Judge and Y2K.[13] Their fourth studio album, Remember That You Will Die, has continued in this vein, further exploring "trap percussion and hip hop stylings", as well as incorporating a variety of genres, such as bubblegum pop and bossa nova.[14]

The band says that their influences come from artists of all genres. They began with a heavier shred-oriented style but have since created a more melodic-focused sound. Groups like Within the Ruins and Job for a Cowboy were their biggest inspirations when creating their first EP, Inspire.[15] When describing the album Muse, guitarist Tim Henson says that the primary inspiration came from pop and rap music.[16]

Gear

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Tim Henson is an Ibanez endorser with two current signature guitars (the TOD10N and TOD10), as well as the THBB10, which is no longer in production. The THBB10 had a roasted maple neck, a Gotoh tremolo bridge with locking machine heads, as well as DiMarzio pickups.[17] The TOD10N is a nylon-string electric guitar, with a unique "Tree of Death" inlay conceived by Henson.[18] The TOD10 (not to be confused with the TOD10N) is a solid-body guitar. It has a roasted maple neck with the "Tree of Death" inlay first seen on the TOD10N, Gotoh tremolo bridge and locking machine heads, and a set of Fishman Fluence Tim Henson Signature humbucker pickups.[19] Additionally, Henson has worked with Neural DSP to release the "Archetype: Tim Henson" plugin, which contains three simulated amps and Henson's signature "Multivoicer" attachment.[20]

Scott LePage has one current Ibanez signature guitar, the KRYS10, and the SLM10, which is out of production. The SLM10 had a roasted maple neck, a Gotoh tremolo bridge with locking machine heads DiMarzio pickups,[21] and a quilted maple top with a transparent red matte finish. The KRYS10 also has a roasted maple neck and Gotoh tremolo bridge with locking machine heads, but the pickups are instead a set of Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Signature humbuckers.[22]

Clay Aeschliman endorses both TAMA Drums and Meinl Percussion.[23] Clay Gober uses Ibanez bass guitars, most commonly those in the Ibanez SR series.[24]

Band members

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Current

  • Tim Henson – guitar (2010–present)
  • Scott LePage – guitar (2010–present)
  • Clay Gober – bass guitar (2012–present)
  • Clay Aeschliman – drums (2016–present)

Past

  • Brandon Burkhalter – drums (2010–2014; 2015–2016), clean vocals (2010–2011)
  • Randy Methe – drums (2014–2015)
  • Lane Duskin – vocals (2010–2012)

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[25] 		AUS
[26] 		CAN
[27]
Muse — — —
Renaissance
  • Released: March 11, 2016
  • Label: Equal Vision
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 — — —
New Levels New Devils
  • Released: October 12, 2018
  • Label: Equal Vision
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 61 — —
Remember That You Will Die
  • Released: October 28, 2022
  • Label: Rise
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download, streaming
 33 72 73
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
 AUS
 CAN
Live at the Factory in Deep Ellum
  • Released: November 24, 2023
  • Label: Rise
  • Format: digital download, streaming
 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

[edit]
List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Resurrect
  • Released: November 13, 2011
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: digital download, streaming
Inspire
  • Released: April 21, 2013
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: digital download, streaming
The Most Hated
  • Released: July 14, 2017
  • Label: Independent
  • Format: digital download, streaming

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with year released
Title Year Album
"Envision"
(featuring Rick Graham) 		2013 Non-album singles
"LIT" 2017
"G.O.A.T" 2018 New Levels New Devils
"O.D."
"Yas"
(featuring Mario Camarena and Erick Hansel)
"Look But Don't Touch"
(featuring Lewis Grant) 		2019 Non-album singles
"Inferno"
"Playing God" 2022 Remember That You Will Die
"Neurotica"
"ABC"[28]
(featuring Sophia Black)
"Ego Death"
(featuring Steve Vai)

References

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  1. ^ Michael, Astley-Brown (May 12, 2022). "Digging the new Polyphia? Here are 10 trap and lo-fi beat-loving guitar players you need to check out". Guitar World. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Richard Bienstock (July 25, 2017). "Introducing Polyphia, Rising Stars of the Instrumental Guitar Scene". guitarworld. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Polyphia premiere "Aviator" music video featuring Chelsea Grin's Jason Richardson – exclusive", Guitar World, April 27, 2015, retrieved February 28, 2021
  4. ^ "Polyphia – Artist of the Week Contest / Interview!". The Circle Pit. June 6, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Richard Bienstock (July 25, 2017). "Introducing Polyphia, Rising Stars of the Instrumental Guitar Scene". guitarworld. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "Polyphia Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Story of Polyphia: The Genre-bending 4-piece Band". The Metalverse. March 29, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "Polyphia Teams Steve Vai for Virtuosic New Track Ego Death". guitar.com. September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Owen, Matt (September 1, 2022). "Polyphia's upcoming album Remember That You Will Die will feature Steve Vai and Deftones' Chino Moreno". Guitar World. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "Polyphia announce 15-date UK and European tour". Kerrang!. October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Carter, Emily (November 27, 2023). "Listen to Polyphia's new Live at the Factory in Deep Ellum album". Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  12. ^ "Album Review: Polyphia – 'Renaissance'". New Noise Magazine. March 15, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  13. ^ "Polyphia – New Levels New Devils (Review) – Depth Magazine". October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  14. ^ Eaton, Harry (October 19, 2022). "Album Review: Polyphia – Remember That You Will Die". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Vaughn, Jacob. "Plano Band Polyphia Gears Up for the Release of Its Third Album". Dallas Observer. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Dunlop Sessions: Polyphia. YouTube. August 17, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  17. ^ "Tim Henson THBB10 Signature Model". guitarlobby.com. February 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "Tim Henson TOD10N Signature Model". ibanez.com. October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "TOD10 | TOD | Electric guitars | Products". Ibanez guitars. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  20. ^ "Archetype: Tim Henson". neuraldsp.com. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  21. ^ "Scott LePage SLM10 Signature Model". geargods.com. June 21, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  22. ^ "KRYS10 | KRYS | Electric guitars | Products". Ibanez guitars. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  23. ^ "Clay Aeschliman gear". equipboard.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  24. ^ "Clay Gober gear". equipboard.com. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  25. ^ "Billboard 200: Week of November 12, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  26. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 7 November 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1705. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 7, 2022. p. 6.
  27. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of November 12, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  28. ^ Swee-Singh, Summer (May 25, 2022). "Sophia Black Interview". aapimusicians.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
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