Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
By now it’s become a cliché to call any musical act an “institution”, regardless of genre. That said, if any one artist or band deserves that title, it would definitely be Deftones. They’ve constantly released banger after banger, becoming one of the most consistent groups out there. So, five years after Ohms, it’s time to see whether their consistency streak will end or not. New Deftones music, everyone: private music, in fact.
Right off the bat, album opener My Mind is a Mountain greets listeners with the tried and true formula of Stephen Carpenter riff barrages, combined with crooning vocals that will get them saying “Yup, that’s Deftones alright!” Likewise, Metal Dream features the typical chorus we’ve come to expect from the band, offset by the rap-like lyrical flows of the verses.
We’ve already mentioned the typical crushing Carpenter riffs which are present throughout, but everyone gets their moment, including touring bassist Fred Sablan. While he joined the band after Sergio Vega’s departure, this new release marks his studio debut with Deftones and it’s on Ecdysis where fans will truly get to hear his rumbling bassline shine.
One notable fact about private music is that the Sacramento group have reunited with Nick Raskulinecz. Devout fans will recognise Raskulinecz as being the producer of Koi No Yokan and Diamond Eyes, and his presence definitely shaped the record’s sound into what it is. It really does feel like this new album is a continuation of where they left off over a decade ago, as these songs conceivably could have been on those modern day classics.
But anyway, back to the songs themselves. Fans will absolutely eat up every second of this 11-track package, from the Sextape sensibilities of I Think About You Every Time, to the staccato swagger with which the vocals contrast with the rhythm section in Locked Club’s verses. Add to that Abe Cunningham’s Swerve City-esque drums found in second single Milk of the Madonna, and the magical essence of Infinite Source (which made this reviewer feel like that one meme about songs that make you ascend to another plane), and you know this is something special.
In short, private music is the most consistently Deftones record since, well, Diamond Eyes back in 2010. The Raskulinecz sound elevates a song package that is already stellar in every aspect of its compositions, and the whole album becomes a transcendental experience from start to finish. Chapeu, lads, you’ve done it again. Now let’s just hope it won’t take another five years until the next release.
10/10
Standout Tracks: My Mind is a Mountain, Locked Club, Infinite Source, I Think About You Every Time, Milk of the Madonna
For Fans Of: Deftones, Crosses, Team Sleep, Sleep Token
Written by: Florin Petrut
