DEEP IN THE BOTTOMLESS DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN( OR THE TOP TEN DEFTONES SONGS)

For over twenty years, fives dude from California, Sacramento to be exact, have been crafting some of the most deeply textured heavy music around. They’re grown with times, and have consistently tried different things, even though it hasn’t always worked perfectly. The majority of the bands records are represented here, and while I hope you enjoy, I also encourage readers to listen to this week's mixtape( also available on @thedeathofthemixtape on IG). now, let’s get unbored and hop right into this!


10 BLOODY CAPE: DEFTONES
I’ve seen this song numerous times live, which is where you get the real in your face interpretation of the song. The guitar parts, mixed with the drums provide that one of a kind bounce that very few bands do as well as the Deftones. Tie that into Chino Moreno’s ever changing range, and his ability to sing softly just as easily as he can scream bloody murder. The song mostly stays on the road created at the opening, with few deviations, with the climax of bass and intensity, all as Moremo’s literally screams for god to help him. 


9 THIS LINK IS DEAD: OHMS
When I say the band takes risks, this song is the most recent song in their discography to walk that line. I love that the drums are really the bridge between the various parts, as opposed to the vocals or guitar. The lyrics are aggressively tongue in cheek, smug, and fed up, but again, it just works. The verses also have this sort of shimmering effect, a great mixing technique to blend the drums and low key guitar. Lastly, it's so refreshing to see a band at this point in their career and ages not slow down the intensity, instead finding whole new ways to evolve their sound even more. 


8 CHANGE(IN THE HOUSE OF FILES): WHITE PONY
This was for many the first taste of what the concept of the album and sound approach might be, and it was a thrilling one. This is the band firing on all cylinders. Even the video is a great presentation of the song. The placing of the song is cool and unorthodox also. Not often are the lead singles found on the second to last track of the album. It just has to do with the casual fans wanting to hear something they recognize early on before they delve into the rest of the music, but here the band just ignores that. It’s placement is spot on, and for many, this was the song that introduced the band. It’s near the end, but clearly with this gem of a hook of a song, they didn’t just put a weak song near the record's conclusion. 


7 KNIFE PRTY: WHITE PONY
Another driving force on the record, and it’s still one of the best songs they have at their disposal. One of the great qualities of this band has always been Moreno’s epic mode of storytelling. He’s able to reach out and speak about normal everyday things while touching on mythological themes and terrifying heartache and loss. “Knife Prty” is one of the better example of his style. For me, the female vocals near the conclusion of the song are the definition of mythological. Courtesy of Rodleen Getsic, they deliver full in tandem with Moreno’s own wailing spirits. 


6 SWERVE CITY: KOI NO YOKAN
A song that bounces and makes you want to rock will nearly always get my attention, especially if done correctly. This track is no exception. The opening immediately sets the pace for the remainder of the track, and the overall technique used by the band plays out brilliantly. The guitars shimmer in the way only Carpenter can pull off, while Abe’s drumming is secretly killing it. The real secret recipe though is Chino’s voice and how he wails and lifts himself over the music countless times and makes the song even more gorgeously heavy and epic.  .


5 MY OWN SUMMER (SHOVE IT): AROUND THE FUR 
Damnnn that opening hook still gets me. I’ve heard it probably thousands of times, at least hundreds, but it never fails to get my energy going. It has this dancey, albeit alternative element to it, especially when you’re working through the verses. By then the energy is ready to burst, which is again elevated and quenched  by the in your face chorus. The video also remains one of the cooler ideas executed during that period of alternative rock/ metal videos. Full of great hooks and raw, youthful aggression, “My Own Summer(Shove It)” lands at number five on the Top Ten Deftones songs. 


4 DIGITAL BATH: WHITE PONY
A song like “Digital Bath” not only works outside of the normal Deftones range, but they managed to still come off as feeling pure. One of the things that the band perfected on the album was the heavy and heartfelt. Vocalist Chino Moreno’s voice has the shriek of a deadly siren at times, but also the tenderness of a true lover in others. The band surrounding him, bassist Chi Cheng(R.I.P.), drummer Abe Cunningham, guitarist Stephen Carpenter, and new member Frank Delgado are the exact people to back his voice. Frank Delgado, especially, is a huge part of the shaping of this record. Before this album, he had only been a live performer, but on “White Pony” and even now he’s a full-fledged member. The sounds he brings through his board work are remarkable, and they add a layer of lush movement and glistening hope to a sound that was, to say the least, rough around the edges. “Digital Bath” is an early example of how different this album is compared to the earlier records, but it gets even more thick and lush as it goes on.


3 POMPEJI: OHMS
Before the release of this album, many people on the reddit boards and other music websites kept mentioning this track, called “Pompeji” throughout the interviews, reviews, etc. The song not only matches the descriptions written down for us to read, but often rises above the rest of the album, maybe even the bands career, as a testament to their continued dreamy destruction, often executed brilliantly. This entire record feels like Moreno’s call to action against empty platitudes and the willfully ignorance devout through our cultures. It seems like a slap in the face to him, especially when he discusses things like “choke on the water” and “ we drink from the fountain of intent.” To say in no uncertain terms, Moreno’s seems to be speaking from a dark place, faithfully speaking.” And then, after all your grievances have been yelled and you’ve blasphemed, the ending waters in the song wash over you. 

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2 PASSENGER: WHITE PONY 
I'm surprised how many people don't pick up on the connection between this song and Be Quiet and Drive to be honest. To me it seems obvious. I can't help but think it's a companion piece. Maybe this song is from the point of view of the other person in the car, the Passenger if you will. I'm sure it's not meant to be a storyline, but two songs on back to back albums about the explorations of driving, even if figuratively? Seems a little bit too obvious to ignore. Beyond that even, the instrumentation written for the song adds even more darkly atmospheric elements. It makes it easier to envision an escape in the night. Anyway, the imagery in use here is amazing. They perfectly capture what's happening in the song. From beginning to end, it's just an incredible ride. I can’t imagine anyone reading this hasn’t heard the song, but man what I would give to hear certain things for the first time again. 


1 BE QUIET AND DRIVE( FAR AWAY): AROUND THE FUR
Best opening of any song they've made. To say it set’s the audience and/or listener to rock out is an understatement.The groove of the song just makes you bounce. This is always a favorite when played live. The video is great too. Performance video's can be tricky. The song has to be right, and the location has to be right. This pulls it off. The choice of the warehouse was spot on. After all these years I'm still not sure if the song if from any one viewpoint, but I tend to think it is. This dude wants this person to get him far away, from something. He's clearly done with whatever life he's attempting to leave. The pain in his voice as the song concludes proves that time and time again. One of the best songs they ever produced, BQAD finds our list at number two.