Since their musical inception in 1988, alternative metal kings Deftones have released eight riff-tastic, heavy, atmospheric albums and have cemented themselves into their own legacy; their high-octane, in-your-face live show has left fans and listeners raving for years as well. Longtime supporters of the reggae-rock community, Deftones have recently announced that they will be hitting the road this summer with Rise Against and Thrice -– a live show you can’t afford to miss!
2016 was another banner year for the Sacramento-based Grammy Award-winning quintet. Gore, the band’s first album in four years was met with high accolades and praise from critics and Deftones enthusiasts alike. The album charted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200; the highest-charting position since they released their self-titled Deftones album in 2003. Gore was described by lead vocalist Chino Moreno as “more of a heady record” and “aggressive but beautiful,” in which they continued to explore new territory and expand sonically from previous releases. The album features a steady push-and-pull of instrumentals from Moreno and the heavy, 
bludgeoning riffs from lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter that has helped craft their unique sound for so many years. There is more noticeable contribution from bassist Sergio Vega as well, Abe Cunningham brings the thunder once again on the drums and the efforts from samplist/keyboardist Frank Delgado are not to be overlooked.
Gore features 11 tracks in total, highlighted by the tremelo-rific beauty and layered exploration of “Hearts/Wires,” the soothingly progressive “Phantom Bride” (which also features a glorious solo by Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell), and the captivating, furious finish of “(L)mirl.” Gore incorporates plenty of layers and different dynamics to invite listeners to embark on a musical journey for the duration of the album, only to allow the record to become more addicting and compelling with each listen.
In addition to the widespread success of Gore, Deftones were also awarded with the Kerrang! ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in June, and Chino Moreno also became the first musician to play a set 400 feet inside of a volcano in front of 20 fans in Iceland (yes, this actually happened). While the band will be touring several months throughout 2017, a new album is not yet expected to be in the works leaving fans eagerly anticipating news on Moreno’s various side projects – Team Sleep, Palms, Crosses and the recently announced Saudade (featuring members of Bad Brains and Cro-Mags).
Dating back to their early days, Deftones have toured with and played alongside several household names within the reggae-rock realm, including 311, Bad Brains and others. Deftones were also featured as a headliner at 311 Pow Wow Festival in 2011 at the Spirit of Suwanee campgrounds in Florida — a lineup which also included Dirty Heads, Sublime with Rome, Ballyhoo!, SOJA, The Movement and many more. A video can be seen below from their performance!
Deftones On Tour:
In addition to their recently announced tour dates with Rise Against and Thrice, Deftones will be hitting the road in April and May to play several shows overseas including Germany, France, Italy, UK and more. Fans are also hoping to see additional dates get added during their summer tour dates as well as only a select number of states were included, so be sure to check back for more information in the coming months!
Related Links:
Deftones Website
Deftones Facebook
Deftones Twitter
Article By: Brian Glaser
Watch: Deftones – “Diamond Eyes” – Live at 311 Pow Wow Festival
Listen: Deftones – “Phantom Bride” (feat. Jerry Cantrell)