Textures – Genotype

My wife, Konnie, and I originally encountered Dutch band Textures at our first Be Prog! My Friend festival, when they performed live on 2^nd July 2016, at Poble Espanyol in Barcelona. At the time we were convinced by a group of Spanish students who sat with us, that the correct pronunciation sounded more like ‘Tex-stew-rez’. They gave an energetic and enthusiastic performance that day (the band not the students) and we enjoyed the set, noting to keep an eye on them. Unfortunately they disbanded in 2017 and faded from my radar.

Originally formed in 2001, they have gone through a number of changes, resulting in only the following, founder members remaining in the latest band incarnation, Stef Broks (drums) and Bart Hennephof (guitar & backing vocals). They are now joined by Remko Tielemans (bass), Daniël de Jongh (lead vocals), Uri Dijk (keyboards), Joe Tal (guitar), and featuring guest vocalist Charlotte Wessels (ex Delain) on the new Genotype album.

Does the music still have the feel, appearance, or consistency of prior material? Has it the character and composition of closely interwoven elements that have defined the band previously? Let’s see…

Rising from the Void on steps of piano keys, this introductory instrumental growls into the speakers as entrance is made and dramatically builds, with instruments interlacing then leads with, gentle notes, into the second track. Cautiously treading in on synth keys we are ambushed by one of the singles from the album, At The Edge Of Winter. A roar, heralding a crushing blast of guitar and percussion, before the vocals arrangement kicks in from Daniël and Charlotte, warping together in a this driven track. I’m reminded of bands of such ilk as Vola, Leprous and Aussies, The Butterfly Effect at this stage.

John Beagley style synth weaves smoothly into Linkin’ Park style vocals of Measuring The Heavens, the beat begins to pulse and lift. Burt’s and Joe’s guitars surface alongside the throbbing bass from Remko knotting with Daniël’s vocals and Stef’s drums to tie the second longest track on the album, neatly together. The pace varies on this tune, with heavier chapters and melodic structures, we can hear the growling used sparingly and effectively to contrast with quieter interludes.

Nautical Dusk leans into the wind of change against the storm of guitars and pulverising waves of percussion, as the clouds of keys blow through the squall. Daniël’s vocal captains the crew confidently on their journey, steering them into safe waters of acceptance and appreciation.

A harmonised vocal introduction disappears into the chugging guitar rhythm of Vanishing Twin, another track that has been released as a single. It moves at pace with the guitar maintaining the riff in the main passages between breaks, giving rise to a sense of urgency and propelling it through the grooves with powerful force until finally hitting the wall of completion. This track brings to mind Long Distance Calling and I could relate it closely to the tracks on their album Trips.

Not knowing what to expect from these boys, after their absence from the scene, we get Closer to the Unknown the sixth offering to the audio gods of prog. Awaiting approbation for their efforts, along with the acceptance in the company afforded to the other songs featured on this disc. It slots in neatly, as do all the tracks, with a natural integration based on their sound though not following a concept, they all seem to be integral to the larger beast that is Genotype, sharing the album’s DNA as an allelic composition.

The hereditary pattern spawned from their twenty plus years of history provides A Seat for the Like-Minded to immerse themselves in this penultimate track bearing the genetic constitution of previous incarnations, whilst inseminating a newly fledged bud that blooms. Consisting of diverse pockets of harmony, raging laments, test bursts of accentuated guitars and varied collective instruments interlace with reflective, quieter passages to form a fabric of strength and particularity.

Crafting bonded layers to withstand the erosion of the Walls of the Soul, the final track is forged with intention and passion, it attacks rather than slinks quietly over the ending precipice to which it is inevitably drawn. Composed intensity and aggression is tempered by synth like breathing spaces and subdued guitar, then the creation of gentle harmonic vocals soothes and carries you comfortingly to your exit from the performance and back into the world around you.

There are many bands who inhabit this sub-genre of metallic, post-progressive rock with some very impressive exponents, but there are others who get lost for lack of identity in the band and music. After a long hiatus Textures could have been forgiven if they had fallen into the mass on return and struggled to rise above the mediocre, but that is not the case as, with this new album, they climb up the ladder against the wall of competition to achieve distinction with these catchy tunes.

If this is a rebirth then watching this baby grow, find their feet and stand proud in the genre, developing progressively into maturity will be interesting and most welcome. Fully clothed with all the material they can create at their disposal, they have the opportunity to fashion and tailor their recognisable sound, made to measure and fitted to the genre, no loose ends and high grade quality throughout. They can then look forward to stepping on to the public catwalk, strut their stuff on the chosen formats and hopefully with new found confidence present their medium live to the expectant fans, a list I have joyfully added myself to.

If you have their previous material or like bands such as TessaracT or any of the aforementioned in the review, you won’t be disappointed in this readily acceptable, blended offering.

TRACK LISTING
01. Void (3:46)
02. At The Edge Of Winter (6:42)
03. Measuring The Heavens (6:51)
04. Nautical Dusk (5:35)
05. Vanishing Twin (5:49)
06. Closer To The Unknown (4:07)
07. A Seat For The Like-Minded (5:01)
08. Walls Of The Soul (7:52)

Total Time – 44:48

MUSICIANS
Stef Broks − Drums
Bart Hennephof − Guitar, Backing Vocals
Remko Tielemans − Bass
Daniël de Jongh − Lead Vocals
Uri Dijk − Keyboards
Joe Tal − Guitar

ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Kscope
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Date of Release: 23^rd January 2026

LINKS
Textures – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp (Kscope) | YouTube | Instagram