Review Summary: "Deftones" suffers from some flow issues, but the sound is enough to ensure it's "classic" status in the alt-metal scene.
This review is a "sightread" review, that is to say that I write this as I listen to "Deftones" for the first time ever. This should be interesting...
The album opens with some heavy, but seeming harmless chords. Then it explodes into screaming, and the stage is set for the album. "Hexagram" is a very confused track with some odd rythyms and seemingly random screaming and out-of-place sections. Though the flow doesn't make any sense, at least it sounds good. There are some cool effects in the second half that serve as a bridge. After a buzz-out you hear some cool drumming and a great guitar part combined with some laid-back but awesome vocals. Like "Hexagrams", "Needles and Pins" has some random screaming and some structural problems, but it's just as powerful, maybe even more due to the quiet-loud dynamic change at the beginning.
"Minerva" was the only song that I had heard before this review, and it was the reason I picked this up. On an album stage it doesn't disappoint. Slow compared its predecessors, the lyrics take a backseat to delivery, and that's just fine. The guitar work on this song is just amazing. From the second "Good Morning Beautiful" began, I knew that I'd love it. The balance of normal pop-punk and heavy is great here. The drum work is solid as usual, and from here, it's becoming obvious that this album is well-produced. The effects on these vocals so far are great. My problem so far with this album is that much of it sounds very similar. But that's just through four songs. "Deathblow" begins intriguingly slowly and held-back, and when it sinks into the chorus it remains just as haunting. I love this song. This is what I hoped "Deftones" would be, but it's even better.
Any sense of calm from "Deathblow" is immediately gone from listening to "When Girls Telephone Boys". This song is powerful, but really generic death-metal sounding. It's probably the first song I flat-out dislike from this album. The guitar is great, but seriously, the constant screaming kills it to a point. There are two ways that one could listen to this: The "IT'S ***IN EPIC" way, and the "eh" way. I'm siding with the latter. "Battle Axe" leaves a great first impression, unlike its predecessor. The slow drumming and the heavy guitar combine amazingly. And then the vocals complete the alt-metal orgasm. "Lucky You" adds something unique to the album, something no other song so far has. Weird DJ effects and alt-metal combine a bit too well for comfort. They shouldn't, but it's so zoned out.
"Bloody Cape" starts off great. Like really great. Like the Deftones are throwing my ears a party. The entire song is amazing. "Anniversary" sounds like an ad that would accompany footage of homeless people, and that's a good thing (the song, not the homeless people). Easily the most beautiful song on the album. "Moana" serves as a summary of the album. And what an amazing album it is.
Pros:
-There is some amazing material on here, from the powerful to the beautiful
-The Deftones boast an amazing sound as well
-Some great lyrics
-Even though I just heard it, I already feel attached to it. It drew me in
-Great instrumentals on all fronts, especially vocals
Cons:
-Album's flow is basically made up of contrasts
-Some really unnecessary screaming
-Some songs take way too long to start
I would recommend this album to my friends if they weren't music elitists, and I suggest that you recommend this to your non-elitist friends as well.
