With the announcement of an eighth studio album and an ongoing North American tour, the Deftones continue to cement their status as veterans of the metal music scene. With an immensely rich history, here is a brief breakdown on how the band continues to remain relevant thanks to their dedication to innovation and loyal fanbase.
I vividly remember listening to the Deftones for the first time. MTV (believe it or not) had compiled a list of top 10 rock songs and as the intro for the next song began, I was curious. I believe the introduction to a song is meant to stir a sense of anticipation. What is coming? A bunch of effects layered over each other? A barrage of sounds from all the instruments coming together? What is his voice going to sound like? Most importantly, how is it going to make me feel?
As the song burst into life, I was first struck by the guitar. Powerful, deep and heavy; every note connects and changes so subtly that they can easily pass you by on a set of general TV speakers. And then Chino Moreno entered with melodic, soothing yet chilling vocals. It was the first time I had ever heard anything like it. To this day, for the amount of music I listen to, I always struggle to find bands that have the same distinct sound as the Deftones. Their uniqueness keeps bringing me back.
Throughout my years as an adolescent, I have gathered that the metal genre is not blessed with as many suitors as the more common genres such as rap or pop (to name a few). Once again, the group have a different approach to growing as a band. Instead of pushing for commercial success or reaching a more mainstream audience, they rely on the genuine relationship they share with the fans.
Often described as ‘cult,’ the band and fans have a great understanding. The fans understand that the creative process behind creating that complex and unique sound is far from effortless. They would rather wait longer for a high-quality album than have lazy writing and rehashed riffs released annually to keep up with their commercial success. Even though the band has enjoyed the musical spotlight with the successes of Around The Fur (1997) and White Pony (2000), the albums never dominated the charts or repeat on the radio for a good few months. Listeners took notice of the innovative songwriting, experimental sounding instruments and passionate vocal performance. The fans elevated the value of the album simply because it was never written for the commercial success but rather, artistic emotional expression; emotions akin to the ones fans feel. You can see just how expressive the band (and fans) are in their live performances.
The Deftones are a group I can write pages about with their humble beginnings, vast styles, ever-changing sound, and even tragedy. Much like art, these five guys will reach out to thousands of people in thousands of ways. Here are five songs that will give you a glimpse of the band’s versatility and perhaps resonate a sense for metal that you might not have experienced before.
"Change (In The House Of Flies)": With over 14 million plays on Spotify, easily one of their most popular songs. Pay attention to the introducing bassline here as the atmospheric background and Chino’s vocals all combine for a mysterious vibe (reflected in the video) until the chorus ups the tempo. Pretty standard structurally, with the vocals being the highlight.
"My Own Summer (Shove It)": If I could lip-sync any song, this would be it. The second most played on Spotify with nearly 12 million plays. Off of 1997’s "Around The Fur," this is a big hit with the fans as it unleashes boundless waves of energy during live shows. The incoherent vocals make this one all about the ‘rawness.’ If you’ve ever had too many emotions overcome you at once that you just wanted to scream it all out, I encourage you to recall on that as Chino screams at them to shove it for (or with) you.
"Beauty School": 15 years after the debut album, it’s natural for their sound to change. Introducing more melody, polish and refinement between the instruments (and vocals). The process of adding one layer of sound after another makes it great for listening to frequently. The music video also gives you a great taste of how the band carries themselves and what their shows can offer. If you can figure out what the lyrics mean, then you’ll know why I’d rather not discuss it here.
"Minerva": My personal favorite. Off their eponymous record in 2003, the introductory riff might have you expecting something entirely different. The song explodes into life with an intoxicating, deep and heavy guitar, which is constantly being played off by another melodic, lighter and almost twinkly-sounding guitar (from the intro). The drums maintain a patient rhythm which combine with the vocals to round off the creation of a truly unique sound.
