Deftones
Saturday Night Wrist

THE REVIEW

Although overall it's not a bad album, it doesn't exceed the "quite good" threshold and consequently, especially considering the expectations that had been created, in the end, it is a disappointment. Maybe it's because I always expect the best from Deftones.

But let's proceed in order:

"Hole in the earth"
One of the best tracks on the album. It starts with a powerful metal riff which then dissolves into harmonic arpeggios that accompany Chino's melancholic voice, continuing this way even in the chorus where Stephen's sound becomes more intense and decisive, accompanied by Delgado's effects. A great success of the new sound they want to present to us. Rating: 8

"Rapture"
Very powerful song. Structured almost entirely on heavy riffs with here and there some harmonic interludes. Featuring an Abe like no other. Perhaps a bit repetitive. The chorus hits hard. In this song too, Delgado's contribution is essential. Rating: 7.5

"Beware"
Very slow and harmonic in structure, but with a really heavy sound, thanks to Delgado's synth and Chi's filtered bass, yet at the same time elegant and clean, with keyboard arpeggios that accompany almost the entire song. The drums are used solely as accompaniment. In the end, everything regresses into an adrenaline spasm. Another good example of the new Deftones sound. Rating: 6.5

"Cherry Waves"
And here the painful notes begin. It seems to start well, with very dark sounds reminiscent of the Cure, but then everything flows into a melodic line almost tiring and exacerbated by the fact that the song has a very, very calm rhythm. Although the meticulous attention to sounds is noticeable, the basic idea, this improvisation of sound taken to the extreme making it seem almost an exercise in style, remains very difficult to assimilate. Rating: 4.5

"Mein"
Although it starts with a very beautiful and elegant structure to the ear, it has sudden rhythm changes, which, although a bit hard to digest, could have been developed better, but the result is nothing special, also due to Chino's vocal line which in these passages is not the best. Surely Serj Tankian adds his touch to this song, with his beautiful voice that couldn't have been more suitable for the occasion, although it is used little. Horrible ending. Rating: 5

"u, u, d, d, l, r, l, r, a, b, select, start"
Instrumental track but the best song on the album. The beautiful arpeggios of Stephen blend with Abe's drums which in this track delivers one of his best melodic performances. The result is a slow hypnotic melody that caresses the eardrums. To be listened to with eyes closed. Rating: 10

"Xerces"
Another clear example of how Frank Delgado's role, often considered useless for the band, is instead fundamental for the success of the Deftones sound, which I can say without exaggeration, is unique in its genre. Listen to this song and listen to it until your eardrums wear out because it's a remarkably beautiful track. One of the sweetest things that the genius mind of the Californian quintet could produce. Frank's synth surely takes the lead but every member contributes. Chino's singing couldn't be more beautiful and appropriate for a wonderful melody. Rating: 10

"Rats! Rats! Rats!"
One of those cases where the band seems to have lost the inventiveness that characterized it initially. Surely this atrocity is the worst thing ever conceived by Chino and company. A powerful metal riff reused ad nauseam with a chorus that has nothing to do with the rest, which could have made some sense, but unfortunately, like the rest of the song, sucks, it seems almost thrown there to cover the holes of the track. The only positive note is Abe's excellent execution, perhaps one of the best, but insufficient to make the piece worthy of the band. Rating: 1

"Pink Cellophane"
Bah. The perplexity is great when in an album with its particular context you find a piece of this kind that doesn't have a damn thing to do with the rest, nor with Deftones in general for that matter. Most likely (indeed certainly) a piece wanted by Chino, in fact, you can't help but notice how this track sounds terribly like Team Sleep. An electronic base repeated throughout the song with here and there cheap effects accompanying the voice of Annie Hardy, from Giant Drag, who doesn't sing but rather speaks, speaks continuously the whole time, a speech that immediately becomes verbose for the listener who after the first minutes will surely end up wondering when the heck it stops. Rating: 1

"Combat"
Song in pure Deftones style, nice to listen to, although it could have been developed much better. Rating: 6

"Kimdracula"
And after an entire album that seemed to disappoint, Deftones give us this other gem. The intro is very reminiscent of "Change", but then proceeds in a totally different way. The sound takes us back to the previous album. Although it also has its ups and downs, overall it is a very nice song. Rating: 6.5

"Riviere"
Excellent song. Closes the album in Deftones style. Stephen takes the lead with his various distortions inserted into complicated arpeggios. Undoubtedly a much darker and gloomier closure compared to those of other albums, but it suits perfectly the context in which it is inserted. Rating: 7