Phenotype

This release is ambitious even by Textures’ lofty standards. Comprised of a single composition broken into nine parts, Phenotype is a multilayered interface between metalcore, technical death metal, and progressive metal. Peak moments “Erosion” and “Shaping a Single Grain of Sand” exemplify the band’s polyrhythmic pull between lunging riffs, cosmic keyboards, and Daniël de Jongh’s harsh/clean vocals. It’s almost as if the music were documenting some epic battle between hope and despair; the former wins out by the time the band hits the stirringly melodic finale, “Timeless.”