Adam KennyConsistency for a band is difficult to maintain. To create fresh, exciting and decent sounding music over and over again is something all acts and artists strive for. It’s a roller coaster of a process, especially as father time comes for all. Deftones for me, however, are one of the perfect examples consistency. Their latest album, private music, proves this and then some.
Deftones
Deftones are an alternative rock band that can be slotted into several different genres. Nu Metal, shoegaze and even art rock. Led by frontman Chino Moreno, the band has become one of the most popular and adored metal bands in music. From original fans who have been following them since their debut album adrenaline in 1995. Then newer fans becoming enamoured with tracks like “Cherry Waves” from their album Saturday Night Wrist. “Change (In the House of Flies)” off of my personal favourite of their discography White Pony. Everyone has their own preferences along with what they like and dislike, but with Deftones you can’t really go wrong.
They’re a band that has an album for everyone. Want something a bit more experimental rock? Tryout Ohms. An in your face melodic and trashy album, Saturday Night Wrist would be my pick. Koi No Yokan would be a great pick for somebody who prefers slower albums. Deftone’s have curated a uniquely refined discography. Every album has it’s own identity. The same can be said yet again for private music.
private music is now public
To start off, sonically speaking the album takes on a more direct and in your face approach. The first track “my mind is a mountain” doesn’t waste a single second. the track comes blasting in with these intense and crashing guitars that are followed by Chino’s piercing vocals. It almost sounds as though nothing has changed for the guy. To be able to harmonize like this still after 20 years is incredible. His vocals are their own instrument in the album. The layered vocals being used along with the guitars riffs to follow out the melody is still so cool. It’s Deftones through and through. The guitars are just plain excellent. I could genuinely listen to the same riff over and over and over and not get sick of it. It’s a great start to the album and sets the bar high.
The second track “locked club” follows up with some seriously heavy distortion on the guitars. Chino’s vocals again coming in to drag the melody across the track, but takes on some more spoken word aspects with the verses. It’s a bit of derivative of “my mind is a mountain” but that’s less a complaint and more an observation. This isn’t an issue on the track “ecdysis” which slows things down for a second. Sporadic but carefully placed downtrodden synths that almost seem like they’re hitting the guitars to kick start the rift create this sneaky and sly atmosphere here. The swells into the doubly layered guitars that almost seem they’re trying to overtake one another brings this urgency and seriousness to the track that makes you feel like you’ve witnessed an instrumental argument that draws to a sudden stop. It’s one of the more unique tracks on the album that I really enjoyed.
Distorted, heavy, and surprisingly well paced
A third of the way through the album is where “infinite sources” comes into play. The guitars here lean more into a nu metal territory then say the more shoegaze esque guitars we’ve been hearing until this point. The track paces itself well. The main rhythm coming from the guitars which become overwhelmed by the heaviness of other riffs. One of the biggest strengths of the album so far is how the guitar always seem to come in and obliterate any other sound except for Chino’s vocal. Everything sounds like it’s crashing and trashing around in room yet there’s this softness to it all. It’s never too loud, there’s nothing egregiously abrasive to the point of where you feel the need to take a break or turn down the volume. It’s a pleasant listening experience, and to me shows how refined and experienced the band are with their sound now.
“souvenir” is the longest track on the album clocking in a little over 6 minutes. Chino and co establish a great pace to the track early. The guitars come crushing in shortly before meandering off for Chino’s vocals to take point on the track. This pattern takes place through out the song around 4 times before coming into a glum synth that almost sounds like something is being mourned for the outro. It’s something I’d expect on a Turnstile track.
Maximum effort!
Jumping ahead to “milk of the madonna” which was one of the singles released upon the build up to the album. The guitars in this are thunderous, loud and full. There’s not a part of the room where they cannot be found. The full 4 minutes is just this storm and constant battering ram of music. Chino’s vocals impressively keep the pace with the guitars. There’s not a single aspect of this track that is engaging in less than maximum effort.
Similarly for “metal hands” , which again encapsulates a nu-metal sound that removes some focus from the guitars at the the beginning of the track. Of course, the guitars make their inevitable return on the chorus, but for me the verses are the stars of the track. I’ve always appreciated when the Deftones take time in their songs to bring in other elements from nu metal to general experimentation. private music is not the most experimental album, but it absolutely borrows from their previous attempts.
The final track of the album, “departing the body” is another six minute track to close the album out. The track drones on with these thick and methodically placed riffs that aren’t looking to rush you out the door. They swell, build and linger out till the last second. As the end draws near, there so encroaching synth that pans out with a guitar rattling out slowly but surely bringing the album to a close.
Overall
private music is a great addition to Deftone’s discography. The pace of the album is addicting. It’s so easy to just stick it on repeat without thinking to change it around once. Production on each of the tracks have created this filling and satisfying depth to their sound where the guitars are not overshadowing some other exciting aspects of the album like Chino’s vocals, the drums coming in to demand your attention just for a second. The band walks a fine line of being loud whilst being oddly soothing. It’s not not their best album, but I could see it ending up being another contentious record amongst fans where some will be absolute die hards for it and it’ll be hard to not understand why.
