Album Review: Textures – Genotype (Kscope)

It’s been six long years, but the impossible has happened, Dutch progressive metal innovators Textures are back with ‘Genotype’. Serving as the conceptual counterpart to 2016’s acclaimed Phenotype, the new album arrives January 23rd, 2026, on the band’s new label home, Kscope.

The word pioneer should never be thrown around in carefree fashion, but in the case of Textures, it is used for good reason. They have absolutely nothing to prove, their reputation is unblemished, and new music is simply a cause for celebration. On Genotype, they could easily have just repeated their best hits and left it at that, especially as it has links to Phenotype. Yet, what we actually have here is the sound of a band reborn.

It’s all about evolution, which in progressive rock really shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, but the new layers that Textures offer here will divide to some degree. This is the Textures you know, but they’ve grown that bit more and found a array of new soundscapes to explore. Resulting in a dynamic listen that captures the imagination from the start, with the starry cinematic dramatics of Void. A gorgeous example of the instrumental depth that this album has, and while it doesn’t have vocals, the power it portrays through melody is unforgettable.

Vocals are prominent on At the Edge of Winter, and not just from within Textures as this layered track (Textures using synth!) features the immense talent of Charlotte Wessels, whose potent voice makes the chorus soar. It’s no easy task to stand out when you’re working with a band as dynamic as Textures. Layers up on layers of eye-widening melody, pugnacious heaviness, vivid rock energy, and erratic tone shifts that set the senses on fire, while having more accessibility than expected.

Which is quite a unique aspect of Genotype, the fact that it’s more accessible and some of that appeal comes from Textures’ experimentation with synth. Something that is showcased in vivid fashion on the incredible Measuring the Heavens. Though it’s far from the only impressive thing about the track as the vocal chemistry is off the charts, the brazen blasts of heaviness blended with extravagant melodic twists and turns can be hypnotic, and it has a delightful cinematic edge. I love it, but you’ll struggle to find a track that I don’t love here.

I would call myself a fan of Textures, but one of my favourite aspects of progressive rock and metal is the fact that you never know what you’re going to get, so Textures’ evolution here delights me. I have very little interest in Phenotype II, and I do believe that the majority of Textures’ fans will agree. Especially when faced with incredible efforts like Nautical Dusk and Vanishing Twin. An anthemic pairing that showcase how unique this band is and how their experiences have continued to shape their sound.

It is quite fun to hear something as direct as Closer to the Unknown though. The album’s most obvious single, even though when it comes to Textures, that doesn’t quite mean the same thing as everyone else. Big melodies, mighty heaviness, a soaring chorus, and even a guitar solo, it’s a track filled with nuances that make it so much more compelling.

From that, to A Seat for the Like-Minded, where Textures’ potent drumming gives this track a meatier sound, the vocal roars are at their most intense, and the synth is incredibly layered. To Walls of the Soul, a painstakingly detailed finale that combines radical progressive power, enigmatic melody, vibrant heaviness and so much more. Ending things in memorable and flowing fashion.

It’s a gargantuan return that doesn’t necessarily feel like it. Textures continue to be a down to earth band, even as this return takes them in new directions. This is Textures as you know and love them, but it’s Textures looking forward, rather than backwards, and the result is an album that I found to be hugely absorbing and effortlessly interesting.

Textures – Genotype Track Listing:

1. Void
2. At the Edge of Winter
3. Measuring the Heavens
4. Nautical Dusk
5. Vanishing Twin
6. Closer to the Unknown
7. A Seat for the Like-Minded
8. Walls of the Soul

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