I hadn't heard this Dutch sextet's first release from 2003, but Drawing Circles makes me wish I had. This album is one of opposites: subtle nuances and keyboard-enhanced atmospheric sections blended with hard guitars; soft, harmonized singing shifts into all-out screams. The effect is a good one, however, as Textures keeps you guessing throughout this epic album. Each track flows into the next, practically requiring you to listen to the whole thing out of curiosity and not a little contentment.

The vocals mainly consist of powerful yells, and the instrumentation is a combination of polyrhythmic riffing and understated melodies. By the time it's over, Drawing Circles has taken you on quite a journey. Songs like "Stream of Consciousness" take you through quick verses and into steady grooves while the next track, "Upwards," is something you could fall asleep to. Well, the first half of it is, anyway.

"Millstone" is quick and urgent, "Touching the Absolute" meanders for eight minutes — the whole release is almost schizophrenic. But in a good way. You'll get enough variety in one sitting than you might otherwise all day, and the album is masterfully written and performed. Fans of well-produced thrash won't go wrong with Textures. (8.5/10)