Deftones - Ohms - review
Deftones - Ohms - review
Tracklist
01. Genesis02. Ceremony
03. Urantia
04. Error
05. The Spell Of Mathematics
06. Pompeji
07. This Link Is Dead
08. Radiant City
09. Headless
10. Ohms
A review by
RaduP October 02, 2020
Alternative metal is somewhat of a weird term, because just like alternative rock it can be a somewhat large umbrella. I mean you can call both Imagine Dragons and Sonic Youth alternative rock bands. Ever since grunge exploded in the early 90s, effectively killing glam and thrash metal, some parts of alt rock (including shoegaze, industrial rock, post-hardcore and noise rock) have been getting heavy enough to collide with metal, hence why we have Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Tool, Marilyn Manson, Primus, Helmet, Unsane and Rage Against The Machine here. It was a feedback loop of bringing outside influences into metal and making the outside heavier as well, and the latter of the mentioned bands might've had the unintended effect of creating nu metal. Which, say what you will about it, at least it wasn't as bad as the post-grunge sound that would also come out of this feedback loop. And now in 2020 most of these bands have either had a falling off, have broken up for long periods of times, and maybe they don't even plan on releasing any comeback records. Deftones isn't really the exception to the rule, like the similar analogy I made previously, but out of all the 90s alt metal bands, they're still the one I'm most excited about when it comes to new records.
Part of it is because they never really had a "bad" album. Sure, Saturday Night Wrist and Gore were definitely weaker points, but none of them felt like they signaled a lukewarm phase. The latter, in particular seems to get a lot of bad rep, which did make me a bit anxious about this album, but I also don't share most of the negative opinions on that album. At this point there is sort of a "Deftones sound", and a huge chunk of every record since their self-titled record in 2003 dropped all traces of nu metal from their sound has been about refining that sound. And if there is anything about that feedback loop I mentioned earlier is that it is quite clear that a lot of what comes in the Deftones sound comes from both the alt world and the metal world, with them possibly being among the oldest "gaze" influenced bands while also showcasing a bit of post-metal embedding here and there, which makes sense considering that vocalist Chino Moreno literally was in a band with Isis. No wonder everyone calls Deftones dream metal.
If Ohms was simply a continuation of that loud vs quiet dynamic, it might've gotten the same treatment as Gore. But somehow it seems like Ohms is being more successful at making the two feel less at odds with one another. Like a band that settled their creative differences and agreed that this sound they've been crafting needs both ingredients. If there is any record this would sound closest to, it is Koi No Yokan, but Ohms sounds a bit more effortless. Not lazy, mind you. Chugging riffs can live alongside washing synths and ethereal wails quite well. Heavy doesn't necessarily mean just distorted guitars and screams. Yes, by that metric, "The Link Is Dead" is heavier than "Urantia", but songs like "Error" and "The Spell Of Mathematics" clearly show how the merging of the two doesn't need to sound antithetical. And while Ohms has songs that could, in another life, be pop songs or ambient soundscapes, the tracklist is a bit inconsistent with most of the better tracks on the back end, and the closer doesn't really feel like a closer.
It still feels both like another Deftones record and another Deftones classic. I can't yet put my hand in fire that the latter is accurate, but the subtle ways that Ohms feels distinct make me thing that the former is inaccurate as well.
Comments
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We can replace alternative whit Nu here. Grunge Killed big bands, small survive. 80s bands did and came beck whit killer Come back albums
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 21306 Written by Bad English on 03.10.2020 at 11:13 You could, but you'd be wrong.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 9626 Written by tea[m]ster on 03.10.2020 at 16:39 I wouldnt mind one.
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
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Posts: 327 Written by tea[m]ster on 03.10.2020 at 16:39 I'd be thrilled, as I had long thought Chino would be perfect for just that kind of project even before Palms. I thought that album was really good and somewhat underappreciated around here, although post metal in general doesn't seem to get much love compared to, say, melodic death metal. As for this Deftones record, I might need another listen or two. It's clearly solid, but on first listen I didn't catch as many high water moments as on the previous three (which in my opinion are their best.)
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Posts: 223
"Saturday Night Wrist and Gore were definitely weaker points..." What?! SNW was/is an crowning achievements of deftones. SNW is pure, mature deftones essence. After this album band had only two ways: broke up or rearrange. Seriously. It doesn't get any better than this. Faith was harsh and the band needed to rearrange after Chi death... SNW is very sophisticated album, full of ideas, tensions between band mates... it is very unique music voyage. Maybe this is why so many so called "fans" still didn't get it after so many years! Gore is also very strong album. Ohms need more time before proper review. It is too early to do it... Your review proofs it because most of its part is about something else.
---- "Inspired by the future of the past" "Pride goeth before the fall"
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Posts: 21306 Written by BetulaObscura on 10.11.2020 at 21:30 I agree with that, and I believe most of the fan base would as well. It seems odd saying it's "definitely" one of their weaker albums, as it's a quintessential Deftones release made up of everything they've done prior but with more focus on developing more rounded songs. It might be weaker on the ears to Radu, but I think making a generalized statement about its reception among listeners is disingenuous and doesn't capture how most people feel about it. Thanks for bringing that up -- it's put me in the mood to give it another listen tonight.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 223 Written by Troy Killjoy on 10.11.2020 at 23:25 I agree! One day I will write SNW review to bring out more of my thoughts... White Pony stared new chapter in deftones musicianship. Later self-titled album was amplification of that way. SNW is kind of epilogue and statement of that times, that particular moment of deftones develop. I repeat: statement of that times. It wasn't final achievement This is very important. Because deftones are still maturing and developing. But looking back, SNW was their opus magnum, summary of their abilities that time, summary of their life as well. That's why I love it! It pulses and brings emotions!
---- "Inspired by the future of the past" "Pride goeth before the fall"
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Yup, SNW is indeed one of their best, second only to White Pony, which dwarfs it by being a true cultural milestone, rather than just a milestone in one band's discography. SNW was the last album when the Deftones were truly at their heaviest (Rats, Rupture) and also their most experimental album to date. And yes, trying to mold pop out of their eclectic sound palette can and should be seen as experimental.
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Y'all got me. I love SNW, but then again I do love all of their albums, so it was hard to find a "weaker" album to name other than Gore. Which only goes to show how consistently great they are. I just like their seltitled and Diamond Eyes a wee bit more.
---- Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking One day there will be no heart at all?
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Posts: 107
This album and, I guess, the band, is finally sinking in and hits the mark for me. I can finally say that I am a fan of Deftones. I had, and still "have" a ticket to see them with Gojira this past summer. I am now looking forward more than ever to the possibility of seeing them live for my first time...whenever that will be... 
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