Artist
Intervals
Toronto, Canada
Intervals is a music group from Toronto, Canada. Their discography on Gatefold includes 5 records.
5
Albums tracked
5
In collections
—
Since
Biography
1) Intervals is a Canadian/American progressive metal band. Intervals originally started as a creative outlet for guitarist Aaron Marshall in 2011 after the demise of his previous band; he wrote, recorded and programmed all the instruments for the debut EP "The Space Between". After the release of "The Space Between", Aaron recruited 3 more members and made Intervals into an instrumental band. The band toured extensively and recorded a follow up EP, "In Time", in 2012.
The Arc of Intervals
The pivots — what forced Intervals to reinvent.
The Bedroom Architect
Before it was a touring entity, Intervals was just Aaron Marshall tracking everything himself in a home studio environment. These early EPs established the heavy-syncopated style of djent but traded the typical gloom for a brighter, more melodic palette. You can hear the lack of a full band in the surgical precision of the programming, creating a sound that was less about a room vibe and more about technical perfection.
The Vocal Experiment
In 2014, the project shifted into a traditional four-piece lineup with Mike Semesky taking over lead vocals for A Voice Within. The move was a calculated attempt to break into the progressive metalcore mainstream, but the friction between the complex arrangements and pop-leaning vocal hooks felt forced to the core fanbase. By the time the tour cycle ended, the entire backing band had exited, leaving Marshall to rebuild the project from the ground up.
The Technicolor Reboot
Coming off the collapse of the vocal lineup, Marshall recruited session heavyweights like Cameron McLellan and Travis Orbin to track The Shape of Colour. This was the moment the project ditched the metalcore baggage for a fusion-heavy, upbeat sound that leaned into major scales and catchy leads. The production became cleaner and more vibrant, shedding the dark 'chug' of the early days for a style that felt more like Joe Satriani playing modern prog.
Influences
- Allan Holdsworth — Marshall has explicitly cited Holdsworth as the primary reason for his legato technique and weird chord voicings. You hear it in the fluid, non-linear lead lines that float over the rhythm section instead of just following the riff. It’s jazz fusion theory applied to a high-gain context.
- Joe Satriani — Marshall frequently references Satch's ability to make the guitar the 'voice' of a song without needing a lyric. The songwriting structure on The Shape of Colour mirrors Satriani’s pop-sensible approach to instrumental rock. It’s about the anthem, not just the exercise.
- Periphery — The early Intervals EPs were tracked during the height of the Misha Mansoor-led djent boom, and the shared DNA is undeniable. The use of palm-muted 'thall' rhythms and digital amp modeling defines the foundation of the 2011-2012 era. They were basically the big brothers of the scene that showed everyone how to self-produce.
- The Police — Marshall has gone on record praising Stewart Copeland’s drumming and the band's use of space and texture. This shows up in the way he arranges clean guitar sections and the rhythmic interplay between the bass and percussion. It keeps the music from sounding like a wall of constant noise.
- Dream Theater — The DNA of John Petrucci’s disciplined alternate picking and cinematic song structures is all over the early material. Marshall has noted their influence on his technical development and his understanding of how to build a progressive epic. It’s the school everyone in this genre graduated from whether they admit it or not.
Discography
Their records — most-collected first.
Related artists
Around the web
Follow every record they touch.
Start your shelf and Gatefold tracks Intervals's new pressings, tour dates, and the whole discography — automatically.
Start your shelf →Free forever. Works with 10 records or 10,000.