DEFTONES
"Deftones"
(Maverick)
"White Pony" (Maverick)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
I don't know why it took Chino and friends four albums to finally give one an eponymous title, but "Deftones" has most definitely arrived and is armed with the healthiest balance between jagged firepower and shimmering mope rock that the band has displayed since "Around the Fur."
This 11-track collection is decisively heavier than the experimental "White Pony" and finally showcases Stephen Carpenter's guitar as the righteous riff machine it's always been meant to be, especially on the uber dynamic "Battle-Axe." Besides a heavier musical approach, once again Deftones prove why they're the band to emulate. The song structures are meticulously metallic and equally melodic, far surpassing any of the nu-metal contingent with the possible exception of System of a Down. Intriguing rhythmic patterns, Chino rising into another vocal stratosphere, and "Minerva," a sweepingly epic number, are amongst the more than 7,000 reasons why this self-titled release by a quintet from Sacramento may just be the band's best work to date, and a strong contender for album of the year.
For more information, check out http://www.deftones.com.
Reviewed by Paco
I've been letting "White Pony," grow on me for
awhile now and it has grudgingly earned a good deal of respect. In this regard, it is much like old Sonic Youth: I never
really liked it very much, but I respected the fact that they were advancing the art
in a way that no one else was. The Deftones are doing the same thing.
"White Pony" is a rock album. It is not metal or rap-metal and it's not particularly fast. But it is heavy
and you certainly won't confuse it for classic rock. The influences that you hear are very
different from what any other band has: bits of Pink Floyd, Tool, Smashing Pumpkins and Cypress Hill, just
to name a few. If Billy Corgan collaborated with Maynard Keenan, it might sound something
like this, except there would probably be a few more hooks.
The lack of hooks is what made it hard for me to get into this, especially in the first five songs. The
last half of the CD impressed me very much though. If modern rock starts to sound more like this,
then I'll be very happy.
"White Pony" is a successful experiment in advancing the state of the art of heavy
rock.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This
record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it
will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
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