Reviews are pouring in for TEXTURES' comeback album "Genotype," released January 23 via Kscope, with the progressive metal press largely praising the Dutch band's triumphant return after a near-decade absence from the recording studio. Critics have called the eight-track record a "monumental resurgence" that expertly balances technical precision with powerful, emotionally resonant songwriting — a combination that eluded many of the band's progressive metal contemporaries during the long years TEXTURES were away from the scene. The production, handled by the band themselves and mixed by the acclaimed Forrester Savell, whose credits include work with KARNIVOOL and ANIMALS AS LEADERS, has been singled out for its remarkable clarity and warmth, allowing every intricate instrumental passage to breathe naturally while maintaining absolutely crushing heaviness when the music demands it.
The Charlotte Wessels collaboration on "At The Edge Of Winter" has emerged as a particular and widely discussed highlight, with the former DELAIN vocalist's ethereal soprano adding a haunting and beautiful counterpoint to the band's characteristically dense progressive textures. The track has been described by several prominent reviewers as a genuine potential song of the year contender in the progressive metal space. Other standout moments include the album's explosive opening salvo, which immediately and emphatically reestablishes TEXTURES' identity with polyrhythmic fury, and the sprawling closing epic that stretches past nine minutes of dynamic, emotionally charged progressive metal that builds to a cathartic and devastating climax.
The album is being favorably compared to the band's classic "Silhouettes" and "Dualism" records, with several major publications suggesting that "Genotype" may ultimately be regarded as their finest and most complete artistic achievement. The comeback narrative has added considerable emotional weight to the release — TEXTURES officially disbanded in 2017, and their unexpected reunion was met with cautious optimism from a devoted fanbase that had largely resigned itself to the band's permanent demise. That "Genotype" has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations speaks volumes about the renewed creative chemistry flowing between the band members. TEXTURES continue their European tour supporting JINJER, introducing the compelling new material to enthusiastic crowds nightly.