Deftones - Deftones [Black Vinyl LP]

Deftones' self-titled fourth studio album expands on the sound they pioneered with White Pony, blending alternative metal with atmospheric textures and shoegaze influences. This black vinyl pressing captures the Sacramento band at their most eclectic and experimental. Frank Delgado left his turntables behind to focus on keyboards and synthesizers, creating a notably different sonic landscape than previous efforts while Stephen Carpenter's low tuning adds crushing weight to the heavier moments. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on July 7, 2003, confirming the band's ability to push boundaries while maintaining their core audience.

The explosive opener "Hexagram" sets the tone with its grinding riffs and Chino Moreno's signature dynamic vocals, while "Minerva" became a fan favorite with its blend of aggression and melody. The dark, atmospheric "Bloody Cape" and tracks like "Good Morning Beautiful" and "Deathblow" balance crushing heaviness with ethereal beauty. "Lucky You" is a dark, soft, trip hop piece featuring DJ Crook from Moreno's side project Team Sleep and vocalist Rey Osburn of Tinfed. The mournful "Anniversary of an Uninteresting Event" features grand piano and toy piano, while the closing track "Moana" brings the album full circle with haunting melodies. Each song reveals the band's ability to crush and soothe in equal measure, with Moreno's vocals ranging from whispered melodies to desperate screams.

This black vinyl pressing delivers the album's dynamic range, from crushing guitar tones to delicate keyboard passages. Reviewers praise the pressing for its flat, quiet surface and crystal clear sound, noting that the instrumentals are deep and rich sounding, much more dynamic than streaming services. Rolling Stone stated, "This is metal that crushes, then soothes; collapses, then soars... Deftones just blow open the possibilities". The vinyl format brings out the textured layers that define this album's place in the alternative metal canon.

• Format: Black Vinyl LP
• Standout tracks: "Minerva," "Hexagram," "Bloody Cape"
• Pressing details: Standard black vinyl pressing
• Genre/style: Alternative Metal, Shoegaze, Post-Metal, Experimental Rock
• UPC: 093624835011

This vinyl edition captures Deftones expanding their sonic palette while maintaining the crushing intensity that made them alternative metal innovators.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Hexagram
2. Needles And Pins
3. Minerva
4. Good Morning Beautiful
5. Deathblow
6. When Girls Telephone Boys

Side B:

1. Battle-axe
2. Lucky You
3. Bloody Cape
4. Anniversary Of An Uninteresting Event
5. Moana