If we compare Phenotype, the album reviewed here, with recent Select Difficulty from Periphery it’s obvious Textures selected the highest possible difficulty, pushing their performance to new heights, not caring about genre definitions, providing the listener with one killing blow after another, until the said listener ends on the ground, not capable of describing what the hell happened.
Phenotype is an excellent mix of math and progressive metal, heavy as a really heavy thing, and complex beyond human understanding. What these guys do with their instruments is unbelievable, let’s take drum work for instance; it’s insanely precise, unnaturally complex, requiring at least a dozen listens in order of ultimately figuring out how breathtaking it is. Or guitars, with complex perpetual melodies, crushing solos, insanely fast rhythm switches.
Illuminate the Trail is probably the best example of the sound found on Phenotype; constant rhythm switches, melodic parts giving place for maddeningly breathtaking riff extravaganza, dissonant picking, crazy signatures, a mix if clean and harsh vocals, the song has it all. Other songs are not very far of Illuminate the Trail, providing one extremely rewarding experience, although difficult to digest.
After Meander, a sort of album’s border, things become a bit clearer, but that’s just a smart ruse, letting the listener think he’ll be okay. Timeless is a perfect closer; even without knowing you could guess that the song is the last one. It has that uncatchable quality, you know the one, when the song has a construction where every single note screams “this is the end.”
The only part where Phenotype can’t live up to Select Difficulty are vocals. It’s simple; Spencer Sotelo has an incredible range, always capable of providing surprises, guiding you through the picturesque mountains and plains of his vocal capabilities. Daniël de Jongh, on the other side, is more than capable of delivering hellish harsh vocals, but cleans are not his strong side. Nevertheless, his performance is more than good enough to accompany madness surrounding him.
Phenotype is a brilliant album, a real math metal gem, infused with progressive parts responsible for all those incredible moments you’ll go through while listening to the album. Be wary, though, Phenotype is not for all; if dissonant melodies and unusual time signatures aren’t your cup of tea, even Phenotype won’t change that. For everyone else, feel free to check it out, maybe you’ll find something you searched for years.
