Polyphia’s Upcoming Album: A Heavy Journey into New Musical Realms
With their fourth studio album, Remember That you Will Die, Polyphia catapulted to unprecedented popularity in 2022, showcasing the potential of virtuoso guitar music. Featuring an impressive lineup of collaborators, including guitar legend Steve Vai, Deftones’ Chino Moreno, and hip-hop artists Snot and Lil West, the album was a vibrant tapestry of genres.
A Singular Vision for the Future
In an exclusive interview with Guitar World, guitarist Tim Henson shared insights into the band’s next project, which promises to be more focused and cohesive.The driving force behind this new direction is their ambition to expand their unique blend of hyper-shred to even larger audiences.
“It’s going to be heavy,” Henson stated during the NAMM 2025 event while promoting his latest string collaboration with Ernie Ball. “Last year opened our eyes to how we should approach our compositions for live performances.”
Elevating Live Performances
Last year marked a important milestone for Henson, Scott LePage, and the band as they embarked on their first major festival tour, performing at renowned European festivals such as Pinkpop, Rock Am Ring, and Hellfest. By intensifying their sound, polyphia aims to energize their live shows, catering to the demands of festival-goers eager for powerful riffs. Henson emphasizes that while they will maintain their technical prowess, the focus will be on ensuring that the music is executed flawlessly for larger crowds.
“Playing a nylon-string guitar for 80,000 fans feels a bit disconnected,” he explained. “When you think of a nylon-string, you picture someone in a cozy coffee shop. We’re excited to refine our sound to resonate with larger audiences.”
Innovative Guitar Techniques
Henson hinted at a shift in their guitar approach,teasing the use of more distortion and extended-range instruments.He also mentioned the potential for new Ibanez signature models designed specifically for this album.
“We’re incorporating a lot of eight-string guitars and baritones,” he revealed. “We’re even creating new guitar models that don’t currently exist, all to craft something truly unique. If you want to learn it, you’ll have to get that guitar!”
Genre-Blending production
Despite the heavier direction, fans can expect Polyphia to continue their tradition of genre-blending production. Henson highlighted the album’s emphasis on sound design, drawing inspiration from recent collaborations with Mike dean, a prominent figure in hip-hop production known for his work with Kanye West.
Exciting Collaborations Ahead
As always, Polyphia’s albums are likely to feature an array of high-profile and unexpected collaborators. Henson mentioned, “We’ve got a track with Serj Tankian from System of a Down, and we just wrapped up a collaboration with Babymetal for their album. We’re also working on a track for our own record.”
This summer, polyphia will support System of a Down, alongside Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and Deftones, during a series of massive stadium shows. In between these performances, they plan to schedule studio sessions to continue developing their new album and explore additional guest collaborations.
Refining Their Sound
Previously, the band has expressed interest in collaborating with a diverse range of artists, from Zakk Wylde to Fall Out Boy, Meshuggah, and Thundercat. Whatever the outcome, fans can anticipate a more concentrated effort in their upcoming release.
“Remember That You Will Die showcased our range, featuring tracks like ABC, a J-pop influenced piece, and Bloodbath, which is heavy and intense, alongside Playing God with its nylon-string elements and the jazzy The Audacity. For this new album, we’re focusing on honing in on our sound and diving deeper rather than spreading ourselves too thin.”
With this renewed emphasis on heaviness, it’s exciting to speculate whether Henson’s long-awaited signature eight-string guitar will finally come to fruition. Here’s hoping Ibanez makes it happen!
