Deftones Band • Page 31

The problem with Adrenaline is pretty much nothing to do with the music - the issue is the production (which is nowhere near as big as a lot of the nu-metal albums that followed it) and the guitar tone. The actual songs on it brilliant; like it's a genuinely really good album, a lot more mature than people realise as well. Listen to a song like Nosebleed or Fireal or especially Fist - there's a lot of intelligence on there for a debut album and it kind of irritates me when people (generally newcomers to Deftones) dismiss it out of hand as just some immature, nu-metal album. It's a brilliant record.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't say nobody likes Adrenaline anymore! I think it's just not as 'arresting' as their later releases are. As was just stated, there's clearly a lot of intelligence there. It's just also the sound of a young band figuring out how to harness that intelligence into something more 'immediate.'

 

They've definitely grown and matured over time, but it's a much more impressive debut than most other similar bands. I agree, the production is a bit lacking, but I kind of like that it's unpolished. Seeing them perform 7 Words on some of their earlier (Around the Fur days) tours was amazing.

 

Fireal and Fist are dope. Portends of things to come.

 

Yeah, I would say the production is the main factor that keeps me from loving Adrenaline. Plus, there are several albums of genius afterward, so I never really feel an urge to listen to it. Definitely some killer songs on there though. If that album had the production quality of Around the Fur, it would be so much better.

 

It's crazy how on point Abe was even back then. So many creative and tasteful hits and flourishes for a kid in his early 20s in a genre where everyone else was trying to out-pummel one another.

I promise I'll try to stop gushing about him for the day.

 

He's something special

 

One of his favorite drummers is Mitch Mitchell, and I think Abe really took to his style. Abe was my drum hero when I played in HS and college.

 

You can absolutely hear his and Stewart Copeland's influence all over his playing, especially during the first three records when he threw tons of closed hi-hat work into the mix. So much fun to listen to.

 

Lol @Drew Beringer love the review, but the Bay Area and Sacramento are not the same place.

 

jesus I fucked up a lot in this review haha

 

To be fair they're only 100 miles apart so don't trip.

 

I got soooo close to listening to Gore straight through uninterrupted today. Was in the car, got to a stop light, sent a text to my wife music still going of course, and I somehow tap the iPhone camera app during (L)MIRL which cuts audio.

 

Root is a favorite of mine off Adrenaline.

 

One of my favorite riffs in their catalog.

 

Minus Blindfold is my Adrenaline track of choice. Something about that song has always caught my ear.

 

Lifter

 

Fist

 

Great review Drew, even though I disagree with you about SNW! Also, White Pony came out in 2000, not 2001 :x

I think I've settled on Gore being my second favorite album from these guys, right behind Diamond Eyes, with potential to become my number one.

 

I really hope Steph takes the lead on the next album(s). Would kill for an albums worth of songs like Finger of Death.

 

I feel like he sort of feels he has to now, if that makes sense?

 

Definitely.

 

Stef is apparently the godfather of Chester Bennington's son. The things you learn on Instagram...

 

lol weird

 

Been loving "Phantom Bride" in particular lately. That ending is incredible.