Textures

Arguably the Netherlands' brightest new hope in extreme metal, Textures formed around 2001, the members coming together from various Dutch bands to form a new group initially in the progressive metal mold. Eventually, though, the band turned to harder, more extreme forms of metal, but still with the prog ethos of experimentalism and tight musicianship. By 2002 a stable lineup emerged and in 2004 their debut album, Polars, was released. Meshuggah is clearly the prime influence here, with choppy, off-beat staccato riffing, odd time signatures, and Jens Kidman-inspired vocals the dominant features here. But the band isn't afraid to wander off in completely different directions either, with the minimalist ambience of "Effluent" and "Heave" and the 17+ minute title track (tackling all manners of prog metal as well the Meshuggah-isms) proving that the band isn't content to dwell on just one style. For an debut album, this is incredibly complex, mature, and professional -- Textures is already near the top of the class for inventive extreme metal. They've since recorded three more albums.

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Discography

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