Nu metal is a really recognisable genre. It's a combination of metal and hip-hop, funk and a bit of alt rock. It has peaked in the 90s and early 2000s. Back then any successful band in the US with a Adidas Originals wearing, chorsus shouting rapper front man was considered nu metal. The genre had a huge success, but not every artist was comfortable with this label. It has it's limitations too.
Deftones never got along with this style, even though it was part of the first wave of bands that launched the current. It was obvious they did not fit in with Limp Bizkit, Korn, or Papa Roach. Their music was way more nuanced, it was constantly changing and evolving. They managed to keep this up for over 30 years, so this is what you have to know before you see them at Electric Castle 2021:
They have an aggressive yet delicate sound
Unlike other nu metal bands that have lyrics about parties, women and heartbreak, Deftones have an original sound. They mix a lot of musical genres, surprisingly so. You can hear shoegaze influences, trip-hop, post-metal, and art rock. Aggressive moments are combined with introspection inducing sounds. Chaos and order live alongside in their music. And this is not just about the instrumentals:
The lyrics are about love and violence
The contradiction between hardcore and soft is present in the lyrics as well. Chino Moreno, the frontman, songwriter, and band founder has a really cool approach when it comes to the song's messages. He preaches both for violence and love. He's often said in interviews that he creates ”visual images”. He's often inspired by personal experiences, he makes up moments, people and places that are close to surreal. It's a really intelligent alt metal, often hard to understand unless you really want to. When you've got an extended musical pallet and you don't run around the same subjects, you can create something truly special:
White Pony - If you love music, you should listen to it
We need to discuss the third album by the band. ”White Pony” was launched on the 20th of June 2020, an important day for rock music. No matter your musical preferences, you need to listen to this. It's a masterpiece. Even if you're not into alt metal, ”White Pony” is so good, it will remind you the reason you love music in the first place. It's their creative peak, their most experimental album yet. Make no mistake, you'll listen to it live at Electric Castle. You'll also listen to their new stuff:
Their new album continues with musical experimentation
”Ohms”, the ninth Deftones album saw the light of day in late September. It received only praises by the specialty press. It's really not easy to be one of the most important rock bands even after 9 album launches. Chino Moreno described the album as being very ”heavy”, but with dream pop elements. He also said it's very emotional: Although recorded before the global pandemic, it has a vibe that resonates with the problems we all face during these difficult times.
