When the Deftones first came onto the scene, it was with more of a whimper than a bang. This was no fault of theirs, however, as their debut album 'Adrenaline' was a fine collection of tortured vocalising and blunt-edged riffing.
'Around The Fur' is even less commercial than 'Adrenaline' but pushes the intensity and melody levels up one notch higher. Their ever-cool frontman Chino Moreno manages to wring out every different noise from his throat on this album, and most of the time, on one song. For example, 'Lotion' is completely crushing; staccato riffs over a whitewash of vocal screams, that is, until the gorgeously melodic chorus occurs which changes the feel of the entire song.
The subject matter is similar to that of their debut but mixes in some weird sexual references ('Lhabia') and Chino's relationship with his wife ('Mascara' and 'Dai The Flu'). The band display some new influences, as the ghost of the Smashing Pumpkins floats through 'Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)', whereas the Cavalera (Max) collaboration 'Head Up' obviously has distinct tones of Sepultura. Hopefully, the Korn comparisons will now stop cropping up.
Even though 'Adrenaline' was really not similar to Korn, they tended to be pigeonholed with the Bakersfield crew. Equally tortured, but more subtle, in a way that most Korn fans would not realise, the lyrics sway to the darker side of life, but not obvious "f**k you, I hate you" fodder which Korn seem to dish up at every opportunity. When Moreno sings "Thank God that you love me." He actually sounds genuinely lost and lonely, not just a case of empty philosophising.
Stephen Carpenter's guitar works is one part fuzzed-out semi-psychadelia to two parts cutting and power chordery, providing the perfect foil for Moreno's voice to work with. Chi Cheng's bubbling bass lines underpin the whole thing while Abe Cunningham's crisp drum sound has been maintained under the watchful eye of super producer Terry Date. The best thing about this album is it's scope.
Heaviest album of its time? Maybe. Best vocal performance? Definitely. But it also has enough meat on the bone for fans of melodic music to chew on also. Be surprised, this is a thing of definite beauty.
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Advantages: Beauitful masterpiece of lovely curved songs drifting into each other brilliantly. Disadvantages: A bit of a "sick" feeling, and lyrics people will struggle to understand.
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Feb 11th, 2009
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