Deftones' New Album Stays Heavy

Put four guys in a room with really loud instruments, lots of energy and too much time on their hands. What do you get? The deftones, a really heavy band from California. Their latest release "Around The Fur" is filled with super-overdriven guitar, a supertight rythm section and real loud screaming.

Leading the band is the frontman/vocalist, Chino Moreno. On guitar is Stephen Carpenter. The rythm section consists of bassist Chi Cheng and drummer Abe Cunningham.

The band formed when the members were in high school. Funding for new equipment came from an insurance settlement granted when Carpenter was struck by a car. The band received a record deal after giving a demo tape to their friends in the band KoRn.

The sound of the deftones is unlike anything else. Many of the songs on "Around The Fur" are based around a groove formed by Chi Cheng and Abe Cunningham. Often, Carpenter is adding color to the song, making strange sounds with his guitar during the verses, while Moreno sings beautiful melodies before going into a raging chorus filled with blood-curdling screams and driving guitar.

The first example of this style comes on "My Own Summer (Shove It)", the first track and first single release on the CD.

The one moment of peace on the CD is the sixth track "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)." This moment is short-lived, however, because it is followed by "Lotion", one of the heaviest and loudest songs on the CD.

The last two tracks on the CD, "Headup" and "MX" respectively, both feature guest musicians. The first features Max Cavalera on vocals and guitar. On the second, Annalyn Cunningham adds backup vocals.

One of the things that makes the deftones so good is their use of dynamics. The heavy, loud choruses are made even heavier and louder in contrast to the soft verses and almost angelic melodies of Moreno. This makes it much more exciting and listenable than having a a soft song and then a heavy song. The deftones mastered this practice and employ on nearly every track on "Around the Fur."

If you are a fan of heavy music, but want to hear something a little different, I suggest picking up the new album from the deftones.