Tag Archives: #TechMetal

DUTCH PROGRESSIVE METAL TITANS TEXTURES RETURN WITH GENOTYPE, OUT NOW

After nearly a decade of silence, Dutch progressive metal innovators Textures have finally returned with Genotypeβ€”a powerful, forward-thinking album that proves the band hasn’t lost a single ounce of intensity, ambition, or emotional depth. Released today, the album arrives alongside a striking new video for the six-minute epic β€œMeasuring the Heavens” and the launch of a massive European tour with Jinjer.

Long anticipated by fans, Genotype is not a sequel to 2016’s Phenotypeβ€”it’s a rebirth. Written entirely from scratch and self-produced, the album distills everything that defines TEXTURES into eight meticulously crafted tracks. Mixed by Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus), Genotype balances surgical technicality with emotional weight, pushing heaviness, melody, and atmosphere into new territory πŸ’€

Measuring the Heavens: Tension as a Weapon

The newly released lyric video for β€œMeasuring the Heavens” is a masterclass in restraint and release. Drummer Stef Broks describes the track as a deliberate exercise in tension-buildingβ€”six minutes of controlled pressure before a final, punishing payoff. It’s a song that challenges patience, expectations, and comfort zones, rewarding listeners willing to go the distance.

Lyrically, Genotype speaks directly to outsiders, introverts, and those navigating unseen inner worlds. It’s an album about authenticity, resilience, and refusing to dilute who you areβ€”music for those who exist just outside the spotlight, but burn just as bright πŸ”₯

Genotype Tracklist

  • Void – 3:49
  • At The Edge Of Winter – 6:42
  • Measuring The Heavens – 6:51
  • Nautical Dusk – 5:35
  • Vanishing Twin – 5:49
  • Closer To The Unknown – 4:08
  • A Seat For The Like-Minded – 5:01
  • Walls of the Soul – 7:52

Formats Available

Genotype is available now in multiple physical editions, including a striking coke-bottle green splatter vinyl and a white/blue marble vinyl gatefold with printed lyric insert, as well as a classic black vinyl edition and CD digipak.

Reclaiming the Stage

TEXTURES have spent years building a fiercely loyal global followingβ€”from headlining festivals in India to becoming a fixture at European metal landmarks like Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Graspop, and Brutal Assault. Now, they’re set to reclaim their place as one of progressive metal’s most electrifying live acts.

Kicking off today in Cologne, the band joins Jinjer and Unprocessed for an extensive 5.5-week European tour running through March 2026. As Stef Broks puts it, this tour marks a major milestone for the bandβ€”and an invitation for fans old and new to reconnect in the pit 🀘

TEXTURES European Tour Dates (with Jinjer)

January 23, 2026 – Cologne – Palladium – Germany
January 24, 2026 – Tilburg – 013 – Netherlands
January 25, 2026 – Brussels – Ancienne Belgique – Belgium
January 27, 2026 – Glasgow – SWG3 – Scotland
January 28, 2026 – Dublin – Olympia – Ireland
January 29, 2026 – Manchester – O2 Ritz – England
January 30, 2026 – Birmingham – O2 Institute – England
January 31, 2026 – London – O2 Kentish Town Forum – England
February 2, 2026 – Paris – L’Olympia – France
February 3, 2026 – Lyon – Le Transbordeur – France
February 4, 2026 – Toulouse – Le Bikini – France
February 6, 2026 – Lisbon – LAV – Portugal
February 7, 2026 – Madrid – Wagon – Spain
February 8, 2026 – Bilbao – Santana 27 – Spain
February 10, 2026 – Trezzo Sull’Adda – Live Club – Italy
February 11, 2026 – ZΓΌrich – X-Tra – Switzerland
February 12, 2026 – Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn – Germany
February 13, 2026 – Wiesbaden – Schlachthof – Germany
February 14, 2026 – MΓΌnchen – Tonhalle – Germany
February 16, 2026 – Budapest – Barba Negra – Hungary
February 17, 2026 – Vienna – Gasometer – Austria
February 19, 2026 – Prague – Sasazu – Czech Republic
February 20, 2026 – Leipzig – Felsenkeller – Germany
February 21, 2026 – Berlin – Astra – Germany
February 22, 2026 – Warsaw – Progresja – Poland
February 24, 2026 – Helsinki – Kulttuuritalo – Finland
February 25, 2026 – Tampere – Tavara Asema – Finland
February 27, 2026 – Stockholm – Fallan – Sweden
February 28, 2026 – Oslo – Sentrum Scene – Norway
March 1, 2026 – Copenhagen – Amager Bio – Denmark
March 2, 2026 – Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36 – Germany

Deep Dive into the Universe of TEXTURES

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πŸ’»βš™οΈ MASTER BOOT RECORD CONFIRMS MASSIVE 2026 NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINING TOUR

Italy’s boundary-breaking computer metal project Master Boot Record is set to return to North America in Spring 2026, launching a full coast-to-coast headlining tour across the United States and Canada.

Following a hugely successful European run alongside Igorrr with support from Imperial Triumphant, MBR now brings their uncompromising live assault back across the Atlantic. The tour ignites on April 24 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and culminates on May 30 in Brooklyn, New York, marking over a month of relentless execution.

Tickets are on sale now.

🧠 COMPUTER METAL RETURNS β€” LOUDER, SHARPER, DEADLIER

MASTER BOOT RECORD describes the upcoming run as both a return and an expansion β€” revisiting familiar strongholds while finally infiltrating long-awaited new cities.

Fans can expect:

  • Brand-new synchronized visual systems
  • A full expanded live set
  • Inclusion of β€œTenebre Rosso Sangue” by Keygen Church, as performed during the recent European tour

This is computer metal in its most evolved state β€” precision-engineered, visually weaponized, and physically overwhelming.

SPREAD THE CODE.

πŸ—“οΈ MASTER BOOT RECORD β€” 2026 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

4/24 – Sonia – Cambridge, MA

4/25 – Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC

4/27 – Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON

4/28 – Sanctuary – Hamtramck, MI

4/29 – The Foundry – Columbus, OH

4/30 – Reggies – Chicago, IL

5/01 – X-Ray Arcade – Milwaukee, WI

5/02 – Zhora Darling – Minneapolis, MN

5/03 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE

5/05 – HQ – Denver, CO

5/07 – Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT

5/09 – Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC

5/10 – Star Theater – Portland, OR

5/12 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA

5/14 – CafΓ© Colonial – Sacramento, CA

5/15 – DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA

5/16 – Zebulon – Los Angeles, CA

5/17 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA

5/19 – The Rosetta Room – Mesa, AZ

5/22 – Empire Control Room – Austin, TX

5/23 – Siberia – New Orleans, LA

5/24 – Garden Club – Atlanta, GA

5/26 – Chapel of Bones – Raleigh, NC

5/27 – Richmond Music Hall – Richmond, VA

5/28 – Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD

5/29 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA

5/30 – The Meadows – Brooklyn, NY

🧨 CRITICAL PRAISE

β€œA relentless stream of instrumental metal fused with retro computer-game bleeps and aesthetics… technically dazzling, packed with tapping, sweeping, and shredding.” β€” Rock Flesh

β€œLoaded and ready to execute. Their sound is crushing, industrial, and punishing β€” the crowd is fully onboard.” β€” At The Barrier

πŸ’½ HARDWAREZ β€” THE CODE BEHIND THE CHAOS

MASTER BOOT RECORD tours in support of HARDWAREZ, the 2024 full-length released via Metal Blade Records.

Created by multi-instrumentalist and mastermind Vittorio D’Amore (aka Victor Love), HARDWAREZ explores the duality of technology β€” power versus dependence, precision versus chaos. The album follows Personal Computer (2022) and Floppy Disk Overdrive (2020), further expanding MBR’s cybernetic mythology.

True to form, HARDWAREZ was composed live via desktop streaming, entirely programmed through MIDI, then reinforced by real guitars, updated drum systems, and a heavier, punchier mix approach developed through intensive touring.

The results spoke immediately:

  • #3 on Billboard’s Current Electronic Albums
  • #11 on Current Hard Music Albums
  • #17 on Top New Artists Albums

🌐 Deep Dive into the Universe of Master Boot Record

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MASTER BOOT RECORD Announces East Coast Winter Headlining Tour

The Italy-based electronic metal innovator MASTER BOOT RECORD (MBR) is set to conquer the East Coast this winter with a nine-date headlining tour. The journey kicks off on January 17, 2025, at Reggies in Chicago, Illinois, and concludes on January 26, 2025, at TV Eye in Ridgewood, New York. Tickets are available now via MBR’s official website.

MASTER BOOT RECORD Live Dates:

  • 1/17/2025: Reggies – Chicago, IL
  • 1/18/2025: Mahall’s – Lakewood, OH
  • 1/19/2025: Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
  • 1/21/2025: Garrison – Toronto, ON
  • 1/22/2025: Les Foufones Γ‰lectriques – Montreal, QC
  • 1/23/2025: Sonia – Cambridge, MA
  • 1/24/2025: Underground Arts/Black Box – Philadelphia, PA
  • 1/25/2025: Super Magfest – National Harbor, MD
  • 1/26/2025: TV Eye – Ridgewood, NY

Supporting HARDWAREZ
The tour supports MBR’s latest album, HARDWAREZ, released last month via Metal Blade Records. The record delves into the duality of technology, continuing MBR’s legacy of innovative soundscapes.

HARDWAREZ builds upon the foundations laid by Personal Computer (2022) and Floppy Disk Overdrive (2020), marking a bold evolution in MBR’s sound. Composed entirely via MIDI and live-streamed on YouTube during its creation, the album introduces live guitars for an enhanced sonic experience. The result is a dynamic blend of pulsating rhythms, intricate arpeggios, and majestic riffs that bridge the gap between synthetic and organic soundscapes.

This unique approach earned HARDWAREZ impressive chart positions in its first week:
USA – Billboard

  • #3 Current Electronic Albums
  • #11 Current Hard Music Albums
  • #17 Top New Artists Albums
  • #26 Digital Albums
  • #36 Current Rock Albums
  • #37 Independent Label Albums

Canada – Billboard

  • #5 Dance/Electronic Albums
  • #15 Digital Albums
  • #20 Hard Music Albums

Preview and purchase HARDWAREZ at Metal Blade Records.


Critical Acclaim for HARDWAREZ

  • “A culmination of MBR’s evolution… pumping electronic rhythms and majestic riffs.” – Pop Matters
  • “The most robust version of the band yet.” – New HD Media
  • “An intoxicating blend of arpeggios, synths, and ultra-hard riffs.” – Metalized
  • “Energetic and intoxicating, a heavier iteration of MBR that stands as one of its best.” – Angry Metal Guy

Deep Dive into the Universe of MASTER BOOT RECORD
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