"We
love to make music that makes your ears bleed", says
Jochem Jacobs, guitarist of TEXTURES -
the most mind-bending Dutch experience not available in
a coffee house or the red light district; "It's all
about layering and transitions from calm, serene passages
to aggressive, hyped up stuff. We like to play with atmosphere
a lot too, and vary a lot of stuff while still maintaining
an overall sense of cohesion."
Formed
in 2001, TEXTURES – Jacobs, guitarist Bart Hennephof, drummer
Stef Broks, bassist Dennis Aarts, synth maestro Richard
Rietdijk and then vocalist Pieter Verpaalen – decided that
the only way to truly capture their musical manifesto was
to tackle every element of creating an album themselves
– from production through to artwork.
The
result of these considerable efforts was TEXTURES' 2003
debut 'Polars', an album practically overspilling with ideas,
the Dutch sextet merging the polyrhythmic attack of Meshuggah
with Devin Townsend influenced soaring melody and stacks
of imagination to epic effect.
Rapturously
received by the press both home and abroad, 'Polars' was
bestowed with an Essent Award for 'Most Promising Act' in
2004, TEXTURES hitting the road hot on the albums heels
to rack up shows alongside the likes of The Dillinger Escape
Plan, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel, Machine Head and Cult Of
Luna as well as putting in crowd leveling performances at
Fury Fest and Lowlands. The band was strengthened further
with the addition of Eric Kalsbeek to their ranks in place
of a departed Pieter, Eric's melodic abilities adding a
new dimension to the TEXTURES live show.
But
now the time has come for the next chapter; the next layer,
if you will, of TEXTURES.
The
bands second album 'Drawing Circles' (once again, self produced
and self recorded) - to be released April 17th, 2006 via
Listenable Records - is a jaw dropping body of work that
sees the sextet still frothing with rabid ambition, pushing
the envelope of metal and hardcore to its limits; bending
and moulding the genres into unexpected new shapes. It is
a rare breed of metal/hardcore album where one can find
tracks such as 'Illumination' - a subtle exploration of
Broadway show tinged melody that showcases Eric Kalsbeek's
diverse tonsils – sitting comfortably next to 'Regenesis'
- a driving, complex mini-epic of thundering guitar work
and guttural screams. But then, 'Drawing Circles' really
is unlike anything else you're likely to hear this year,
this decade, this century – a true original in a time of
repetition.
Upping
the ante in heaviness and melody, 'Drawing Circles' is simultaneously
richer and more in your face than 'Polars', its ten tracks
unrestrained by boundaries, trends or conventions. So what
are you waiting for? Perk up your ears, open your mind and
prepare to be absorbed, intrigued, and utterly blown away.
Check
out the band's homepage for more detailed information and
to listen to some samples.
Band homepage
