An Ode to the Unheard

When Dutch math metal pioneers TEXTURES disbanded in 2018, they left a void in the progressive metal community worldwide. Six years later, the band has risen once again, announcing both a long-awaited new album coming through Kscope Records, and a return to the stage with an extensive European tour.

Their upcoming record, “Genotype”, serves as the conceptual counterpart to 2016’s acclaimed “Phenotype”. For nearly a decade, fans speculated about its existence, but what arrives now is not a relic of unfinished ideas - it’s something entirely new:

“We started completely from scratch”, the band explains. “We actually never looked back on the material we created for ‘Genotype’ back in the day. It was just not good enough at that time and for the reunion of TEXTURES we decided to step back from the idea of writing one 45-minutes-long prog track. We had to find ourselves again and did that by jamming and trying out new sounds. What came out were 8 songs with a way more modern approach."

Nevertheless, the title “Genotype” remains fitting. Just as a genotype defines the genetic blueprint of an organism, this record captures the DNA of TEXTURES’ rebirth. After their hiatus of seven years, the band delivers a revitalized and more impactful sound, once again self-produced according to the band’s DIY-mentality, and mixed by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus).

Lyrically, the album gives voice to those who often go unheard in society — silent minorities, introverts, people living with autism, and those wrestling with internal struggles. Genotype is, at its core, an ode to them.

Still, staying relevant in today’s modern metal scene has never been easy. “When we started out, our mix of soulful clean vocals with thrash and death riffing felt unique, especially with our mathcore and djent influences. But as more bands built on those ideas, we had to fight to stay fresh. After ‘Phenotype’, we felt obsolete — and that was reason enough to say goodbye.”

Yet with time away, inspiration returned. “Seven years after breaking up, we felt we had something real to say again. Not by pushing technical boundaries or shredding harder, but by letting the music breathe and writing stronger songs. Looking back, we’ve written some good material, but also plenty we’d rather forget. This time, the focus was on honesty and depth.”

Having released their first single, ‘Closer To The Unknown’, ahead of the 2025 summer festival season, TEXTURES now officially announce their upcoming album with the surprisingly catchy ‘At The Edge of Winter’. The song features guest vocals by Charlotte Wessels and is accompanied by another visually stunning music video, directed by the band’s bassist, Remko Tielemans. Furthermore, “Vanishing Twin,” reflects the aforementioned fear of not belonging and feeling unheard. Inspired by personal experience, it explores the rarely discussed “Vanishing Twin Syndrome”:

“I have two relatives who struggle with the so-called Lost or Vanishing Twin syndrome. This happens when two foetuses emerge in the womb, but one of them is absorbed by the woman’s body or the other twin. The remaining child that is being born will often deal with the traumatic feeling of having lost a brother/sister and this can shape their life in a significant way.”

Over their career, TEXTURES have built a passionate global following. In India, they rose to headline festivals and perform for thousands of devoted fans. In Europe, they became a staple at major events such as Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting and Brutal Assault. Their electrifying performances cemented their reputation as one of progressive metal’s most unmissable live acts — and now, they are set to reclaim that stage on the upcoming European Tour supporting Jinjer, that runs from January till March 2026.

With “Genotype”, TEXTURES don’t just return - they evolved. The band that once helped shape the sound of modern progressive metal now presents their most vital statement yet: A powerful testament to those who live unheard.