Album Rating: 5.0

Deftones atmosphere is immaculate. Really digging this so far. A really good amalgam of three decades of the Deftones "sound". Good energy and swimming in retrospection.

Album Rating: 4.0

Ecdysis is a huge jam, the visualizer for that one has a cool aesthetic.



Very solid album overall, it's definitely a fast grower

Album Rating: 4.5

Not a fan of the album title myself tbh.



Favorites are ecdysis, infinite source, metal dreams and milk of the Madonna. CXz, I think about you all the time, cut hands and my mind are right under. As suspected, the singles work SO much better within the context of the album. Liked both (especially milk), but love them when listened with the album as a whole.

Album Rating: 4.5

Album has a really great flow and track sequencing. Damn.



As for aoty, very close call between this and deafheaven (both which incidentally have def/deaf as the “first” word in their band name — coincidence, I think not! — and both of whom will be at dia de Los Deftones).



Never been able to make it down for a DDLD (most years not super impressed by the lineup either tbh), but with my daughter starting college this year at UC San Diego and her being a Deftones fan herself, maybe I should try and make it this year. She loves going to shows, but has never seen Deftones live.

Thought experiment: if any other band had released this (or something comparable) would you be extolling it the same way?

I can't help but feel like these guys along with a few others like lil ugly mane and swans have this halo effect where it almost feels blasphemous not to enjoy everything they put out

And most the stuff they put out is solid but I feel like there's some emperors new clothes shit going on too

Album Rating: 5.0 | Sound Off

"Thought experiment: if any other band had released this (or something comparable) would you be extolling it the same way?"



Absolutely

Album Rating: 4.5

Impossible to say. I may be a little biased as they are a top 3 band of mine, but I still think this is an objectively great album. And critics are raving as well, only reason I mention that is because surely they aren’t all big Deftones fans (I’m sure some are of course).

Album Rating: 4.5

“Thought experiment: if any other band had released this (or something comparable) would you be extolling it the same way?“



This gets asked every new album cycle. It's a weird question. You mean what if another lesser known band performed the exact same songs? Because then it would be lacking Chino's voice, which is particularly strong on this record and a huge reason why this album is so good. What if everything sounds the same, but there's a different band name slapped on the album cover? Then no one can convince me that this is not Deftones.

Album Rating: 5.0

Feels like you're making a mountain out of a molehill. It's a new release, sounds really good on first listen, and it retains a sound inherent to a single band. I don't listen to imitators because there really aren't many.



If another band released this album, I'd argue that it's just copying Deftones.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I think this particular album being really good and not GREAT, if it were another band I'd say they were the next best thing.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Only track I'm struggling with is -metal dream. It's different but kinda feels like a throw away to me.

Album Rating: 3.5

I think i agree with Ephemeral that this doesnt have a song that gets stuck in my head like Prayers/Triangles from Gore but the vibe and production on this one makes it superior either way.

Must say this does get better with each listen but so many good albums have come out this year that i cant justify giving this any higher than a 4, which i dont think will happen but only time can tell if i will change my mind

Album Rating: 4.5

CONSTANTS



ZEROS



Five listens in and cXz is quickly rising the ranks. Also Souvenir deserves some more love.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

I picked up the CD this morning and I cannot for the life of me figure out why this necessitated a Parental Advisory sticker

Album Rating: 5.0

Souvenir is basically Beware from SNW. Standouts for me are infinite source, locked club, and mind is a mountain.

>i also lost a lot of respect for chino and stephen

I'm old enough to remember when Chino was a known dildo in the industry

It's a good thing that Stephen can write fat riffs from time to time because that moron is too stupid to count on his fingers most days. I can't imagine him being able to do any other job.

Album Rating: 4.5

Dude needs to lay off the weed and the flat earth stuff yeah

stay off the weeeeeeeeeeeeed

Album Rating: 4.5

Stephen A. Carpenter