Deftones - Gore (2016) [Vinyl]

I'm happy with the new Deftones Album - both sonically a well as direction wise. It's clear that there has been a slight infusion of new energy and purpose, primarily from Chino. This record feels and sounds like an amalgam of Saturday Night Wrist in its experimentalism, Around the Fur in some of its punk infusion or flourishes, and Koi No Yokan, vocally. Having said that, it does not bring much new in terms of head banging tracks or tracks that would make teenage girls swoon. It seems to be more about fusing direction and passion over the length of the album - albeit at much milder and more refined level than Koi No Yokan. Gore does not have the sexiness of White Pony, nor does it have the dynamic perfection of Koi No Yokan. It probably sits as 'better' than Saturday Night Wrist in its experimentalism, but lateral to Diamond Eyes or Koi No Yokan. But again, like the last 2 efforts - it's an album displaying Deftones perfection of creating continuous dynamic. Tracks blend into tracks, each distinct and yet taking part in a whole picture. It's an album that somehow manages to goad the listener into wanting the next track. Chino, having benefitted from time in other groups, obviously aims not to take Deftones closer towards Psalms or Crosses territory, but instead aims to introduce Deftones fans influences that inspire him. One can gauge that with less heaviness going on, Carpenter may need be sold this new direction. Gore is not an album about the riffs. It's an album about dynamics and the journey from track A to Z. Having said all this, this record will mean a different thing to each person. To me, it was a pleasant and mature step away from quick gratification over long term sensibility; Gore instead aims for long term sensibility over quick gratification. The tracks convey this through nuance and subtlety with the aim for overall coherence and beauty. This is a step away from the Deftones records of the past, conveying grace through brutality or blatant 'acoustic sex'. Lastly, I am personally happy that there's less here on the album about drug high's and sex. Chino's obtuse lyrics remain, but nothing overly gratuitous and teenage, but that bit much more mature. I look forward to where this step leads, and I believe the next album will be a full blown step forward. As it stands, Gore is not a classic, but it's not an anomaly or failure either. It is simply an album that needs to be explored and heard as an album, free from quick judgements, rather than heard and judged in individual bites.