Hailing from Fresno, California, Perception is a band that isn’t interested in staying inside one box. Comprised of Jordan (vocals), Stephen (guitar), Pedro (bass), and Miles (drums), the band brings together aggressive riffs, dynamic songwriting, technical musicianship, and an energetic live presence.
With only two officially released songs at the moment, “Pulling Teeth” and “Destructive,” Perception is still in the early stages of introducing their sound to the world. But as the members revealed during our conversation, there is already plenty more waiting in the wings.
When asked what song they would play for someone discovering Perception for the first time, the band had different answers. Some pointed toward “Destructive” as an introduction before following it with the heavier “Pulling Teeth,” while others immediately chose the unreleased track “Ghost.”
For the members, “Ghost” represents some of their favorite songwriting to date, and they’re hoping listeners won’t have to wait forever to hear it. “Ghost” also happens to be one of the band’s most challenging songs to perform. The track became even more demanding after producer Mo added a more intricate drum part, including a heavy use of ghost notes.
For Miles, mastering those parts meant developing the endurance to maintain them throughout multiple sections of the song.
“It makes the beat so much harder,” he explained, before jokingly acknowledging the irony of discussing the song’s difficulty. “Those ghost notes are haunting.”
“Abandonment” is another track that consistently challenges the band. Jordan described it as particularly demanding vocally, with intense sections that require careful breathing and endurance. Because the song appears later in their set, the challenge becomes even greater. Still, those difficult songs are exactly what make performing them exciting.
“When it works well, it works really well,” Jordan said, explaining that “Abandonment” is also a song that gets the crowd moving.
When it comes to building their setlist, Perception isn’t interested in filling every possible minute. The band typically sticks to around six songs and follows a “less is more” philosophy. Songs such as “Dirty Water” and “Falling” have remained in the set because they bring the right combination of energy, pacing, and aggression. “Dirty Water,” which dates back to around 2019, has proven that a song doesn’t necessarily have to be new to remain effective live.
“If it’s all killer, no filler, that tends to be what determines it,” the band explained.
That same mentality extends to the band’s approach to the music industry. When asked about the worst advice they’ve received, the response was immediate: “Do everything that everyone else is doing.”
For Perception, that’s exactly what musicians shouldn’t do. The band believes one of the reasons they were able to stand out when they first started was because they weren’t afraid to experiment. Rather than committing themselves to one specific genre, they incorporated different influences and styles into their music.
“Just do you,” they emphasized. “Have fun. Make the music you want to make.”
It’s a philosophy that feels particularly fitting for a band still developing its identity. Perception isn’t trying to sound like every other heavy band coming out of California. Instead, they’re allowing their different musical backgrounds to shape what they create. The band also talked about some of the artists within the local and surrounding heavy music scene that have caught their attention. Blend 27 was mentioned as a standout modern nu-metal band from the Valley, while Captive State and Scoundrel were also praised for what they’re bringing to the scene.
They also shouted out Blind Wolf and Red Keep, making it clear that there’s no shortage of artists they enjoy watching and supporting. For Perception, the local scene isn’t just about competition. It’s about discovering other musicians who are pushing themselves and creating something exciting.
Their own live performances are beginning to generate that same reaction. The band recalled playing in the Bay Area, where “Falling” managed to get people moving. With its aggressive drums, energetic riffs, and a standout guitar lead from Stephen, the song has become one of the band’s reliable crowd-moving tracks.
When the conversation shifted toward what they’re listening to outside of their own music, their influences proved just as varied. References ranged from Count Your Blessings-era Bring Me the Horizon to heavier deathcore and newer acts such as Alpha Wolf. Jordan also mentioned Pray for Me, particularly their blend of deathcore and “pig squeal” vocals. The band isn’t limited to heavy music, either. The Home Team was brought up as an influence when it comes to songwriting and song structure, showing that Perception pays attention to music beyond their own genre.
That willingness to pull inspiration from different places may ultimately be one of Perception’s biggest strengths. They’re a band still growing, still experimenting, and still figuring out exactly where their music can take them. With only two songs officially released and tracks like “Ghost” waiting in the wings, Perception is clearly just getting started.
And if their philosophy is any indication, they’re going to keep doing things their way without worrying too much about what everyone else is doing.
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