A lot can happen in three years, especially in an industry as volatile as music. A three-year hiatus from releasing a new record could spell death to most bands. But it seems the laws of music don’t apply to the Deftones.
Three years removed from the successful self-titled record, the Sacramento alternative/metal rockers are back with the fifth studio album, “Saturday Night Wrist.”
“Wrist” is an album that is deceptively melodic, yet heavy at all the right times. The Deftones have learned to proportionally balance their different sounds, and the result makes for an album that effortlessly flows from one track to another.
“It’s the most dynamic record we’ve ever made. There are the softer moments along with the more brutal moments, but it’s more well-rounded and cohesive and that makes the album sound like the boundaries are being ripped open,””singer Chino Moreno said, whose chilling voice and haunting lyrics somehow continue to surpass what he has done on previous Deftones records.
The writing process of “Saturday Night Wrist” was a bumpy one. From the beginning, the band encountered creative roadblocks, disagreements and personal dilemmas.
Part of this stemmed from the fact that the band was working for the first time with producer Bob Ezrin, who Moreno clashed with on several occasions.
At one point, it seemed as “Wrist” may not ever have reached completion, but through strong self-determination, the band was able to reconcile its differences and complete the album.
“Saturday Night Wrist” doesn’t waste any time in proving its legitimacy.
The first track and single, “Hole in the Earth” is a strong opening track with slower, more melodic verses and heavy choruses with an intense bridge filled with Moreno’s signature screaming and singing combination. The song serves as a strong introduction to the rest of the album, in the sense that for the first time the listener hears the improved transitions between the Deftones’ two styles of playing.
As the album progresses, it is clear that all the musicians in the band have stepped up their playing to the next level. Drummer Abe Cunningham continues to lay down innovative beats, while Chi Cheng on bass helps create a dark atmosphere for many of the songs. The combination of Cheng and Cunningham creates an incredibly strong rhythm section that helps to anchor the band.
Stephen Carpenter continues to improve with his guitar playing. Whether it is reverb-saturated lines on the track “Xerces” or any of the other superb riffs he supplies throughout the album, Carpenter refuses to stick to a formula and is comfortably able to switch from heavy playing to much lighter parts in an instant.
One difference between “Wrist” and past Deftones albums is the increased presence of DJ Frank Delgado. Even in some of the heaviest tracks on the album, such as “Rapture,” Delgado’s influence can be heard as he embellishes the screams of Moreno with his keyboard lines in the background. However, Delgado really shines on the softer songs throughout the album.
Tracks such as “Beware” and “Cherry Waves” have Delgado adding in soft piano lines along with ambient sounds that create an incredible atmosphere for the songs to develop in.
Even with these softer tracks throughout the album, the Deftones certainly have not lost sight of their roots as a heavy band. Moreno is nearly relentless with his screaming on the track “Rats! Rats! Rats!”
While “Combat” may take a while to get going, Carpenter’s brutal riffs, along with Moreno’s chilling screaming, provide some of the heaviest moments on the album.
While “Saturday Night Wrist” may not eclipse the Deftones’ previous stand-out album “White Pony,” it does an excellent job of displaying a more mature Deftones sound, one that is able to transition seamlessly from heavy to soft and back again in an instant. More impressively, each track is able to flow into the next, making for a remarkably complete album.
Fans of the Deftones and heavier music should not hesitate to pick up “Saturday Night Wrist.”
