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. The band has stated their influences come from artists of all genres. The group started out with a heavier shred-oriented style but has since created a more melodic-focused sound. When describing the album Muse, guitarist Tim Henson says that the primary inspiration came from pop and rap music. In a 2013 interview, when asked about the name of the band, the following answer was given:
It comes from the word "Polyphony", meaning "music whose texture is defined by the interweaving of several melodic lines". Playing off this definition, as a band, we capitalize on musicianship and that, musically, each member of the band is a cornerstone of our sound. We stray from the idea of a one-dimensional, vocal-centered, or guitar-centered, or drum-centered group, and let each member of the band play an integral part in the overall product. As a people, all of us have a unique and personal identity that makes us dynamic and purposeful, and our band means to convey this quality within all of us through our music; never diminishing the potential of others and thriving in unity.
In September 2022, Polyphia released the single "Ego Death", the fourth from their latest album, Remember That You Will Die. The release was accompanied by a video, both of which feature guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. Remember That You Will Die was released on October 28, 2022, and includes guest appearances by Sophia Black, Brasstracks, Snot, Chino Moreno and the aforementioned Vai. The band has announced a 15-date European tour to support it.