Textures – ‘Phenotype’ [Review]
From frantically churning riffage to throat-scarring screams and universe-pummelling beats, Textures’ Phenotype takes in everything you could ask for from a modern metal band, and spits it all out in a new, brutally mutated form.
Oceans Collide barely contains a borderline terrifying collection of monolithic grooves that Meshuggah themselves would pat themselves on the back for penning – and by the time it’s done, your mind will have been dragged through so many twists and tangents that you’ll find it hard to get your head around the fact that you just listened to only one track. Add in skybound synths and a truly expansive sense of the epic, and the end result is just overwhelming.
New Horizons maintains the intensity, hints of Periphery at their heaviest merging with searing lead guitar work. It’s clear by this point that Phenotype is exactly the kind of musical melting pot that this blog is all about. Determined lyrics lead into subterranean drops, and you can practically feel your consciousness fall into them. Stunningly executed.
With few breathers on offer, Phenotype is definitely a prime choice for those who prize brutality in metal above all else. But when the dynamics do shift to the more chilled end of the spectrum, the results are spectacular. See the middle of Illuminate The Trail and the piano-led Zman to witness the indisputable fitness of Textures’ musicianship and compositional skills. Beautiful.
Overall, although Textures are playing with the same fundamental ingredients as many other metal bands do today, they do possess an undeniable voice of their own, rotating the modern metallic kaleidoscope to a unique position. Phenotype feels consistently fresh to my ears – and they’ve heard a lot. More than worth your time.
TMMP RATING: 90%
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