| Adrenaline | ||||
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| Released | October 3, 1995 | |||
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| Length | 47:06 | |||
| Label | Maverick | |||
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| Deftones chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Adrenaline | ||||
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Adrenaline is the debut studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 3, 1995, by Maverick Records. The majority of the album was produced by Terry Date, while a hidden track titled "Fist" was produced by Ross Robinson. [2]
Stephen Carpenter, Abe Cunningham and Chino Moreno were high school friends. All three went to Sacramento's C. K. McClatchy High School together, and participated in the city's skateboarding scene. [3] Carpenter was a fan of heavy metal; Moreno was interested in hardcore punk bands such as Bad Brains as well as post-punk and new wave bands such as Depeche Mode and the Cure. [4] When Moreno learned that Carpenter was a guitarist, he set up a jam session with Cunningham, who played drums. The trio began playing regularly in Carpenter's garage around 1988. [3] They recruited bassist Dominic Garcia some time after, and the band became a four-piece. [5] When Cunningham left Deftones to join Phallucy, another band from Sacramento, Garcia switched instruments and became the band's drummer. [5] [6] Chi Cheng filled the void as bassist, and the band recorded a four-track demo soon afterwards. Cunningham then returned to the band on drums, replacing Garcia. [3]
Regarding the recording, Cunningham said, "At the time we did the first record – which I really like and think is good – you can tell the band was really young. We'd been playing most of those songs for quite a while, and we were just so happy to be making a record that we didn't really think a whole lot about making the songs better". [7] Moreno felt that Adrenaline was recorded "really fast", [8] and he performed all his vocals live with the band in the room using a hand-held Shure SM58 microphone. [9]
Although not specifically credited in the album's liner notes, it was stated that Frank Delgado contributed to the songs "Minus Blindfold" and "Fireal". He was later credited on Deftones' subsequent album Around the Fur as a guest, followed by becoming an official member in 1999. [5] [10] [11]
Musically, Adrenaline has been described as nu metal, [12] [13] [14] post-hardcore, [15] [16] alternative metal, [17] and rap rock. [18]
"7 Words" was released as the first promotional single from the album in 1995. It was followed by "Bored", issued as the second promotional single in 1996. Music videos were released for "7 Words" and "Bored". The song "Engine No. 9" was also featured in the film Law Abiding Citizen . [19]
Deftones performed heavily throughout North America to support the album, going on tours with Handsome, Korn, [20] White Zombie [21] and Super 8 (whose vocalist helped discover Deftones). [22] They also opened for Kiss on their Alive/Worldwide Tour. [23]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [24] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10 [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [25] |
| Kerrang! | [26] |
| Los Angeles Times | [27] |
| MusicHound Rock |  [28] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [29] |
Adrenaline was praised for its new, innovative sound, with critics initially comparing it to a diverse range of acts such as Helmet, Nine Inch Nails, the Cure, Korn, Nirvana, and the Smashing Pumpkins. [30] In his 1995 review, Kerrang! 's Paul Brannigan felt the album's sound "falls between Quicksand and Tool", and said Deftones "explode from atmospheric croons into buck-mad rages". He wrote, "Excellent production from Terry Date allows the crisp guitar on 'Lifter' and '7 Words' to shine", and that "Bored" and "Nosebleed" are "just as blunt and angry, slabs of guitar crashing down on swirling, hypnotic rhythms." Brannigan rated it 4 out of 5 stars, saying it was "Impressive." [26] In 1995, Jon Wiederhorn of Pulse! stated that "Adrenaline pitches between gloom-saturated melodies and explosive riffs, lashing out like a sleep-deprived paranoiac awakened by noisy neighbors. The rhythms are crisp and crafty and the vocals resonate both fury and sensitivity in a way that's similar to, but far more blatantly metallic than Nirvana". [30] Critic Katherine Turman wrote for Car Audio magazine in January 1996, "If this is what heavy metal is evolving into, it's a damn good thing". [30]
Giving the album 3 out of 4 stars in her 1996 review, Los Angeles Times critic Sandy Masuo praised the album's nuance and blend of musical extremes and various influences: "On the outside, Sacramento's Deftones are all pummeling rhythms and high anxiety, but delving further into the music turns up some surprising nuances: traces of post-punk pop, tinges of rap, a pinch of industrial grit. Chino Moreno rants, sobs, croons and even works some Middle Eastern overtones into his vocals, while Stephen Carpenter's guitar shifts from coarse outbursts to crisp Helmet-ine precision. A bracing blend of extremes". [30] In his 1996 review, Tomas Pascual of Livewire magazine similarly noted the album's subtle yet diverse musical influences and the juxtaposition of loud and heavy with soft and melodic: "There are many bands these days that lay claim to a diverse section of influences. But no one band is as subtly boisterous about their eclectic mix as are Deftones. [...] Deftones' course is piloted by vocalist and frontman Chino Moreno, who expresses his smooth, melodic lyrics emotionally one minute before giving way to abrasive, maddened screams the next. Backed by the serene and apocalyptic guitar of Stephen Carpenter, this Yin-Yang formula keeps Deftones' debut Adrenaline progressively contagious". [30]
In a retrospective AllMusic review of the album, Daniel Gioffre wrote, "Unlike many of their contemporaries, Deftones are very controlled even in the midst of chaos", adding, "Throw Abe Cunningham's surprisingly sophisticated drumming into the mix, and you have a band that possesses a far greater degree of nuance than most others that work in the genre". [24] While he noted that "there is a bit of sameness in Chino Moreno's whispered vocal melodies, which drags the record down a bit", Gioffre ultimately states that "[o]n later albums, the band's progressive tendencies become more developed, but the more straight-ahead material on Adrenaline does not disappoint. A promising debut." [24] In the book The Rough Guide to Heavy Metal, author Essi Berelian wrote that the album "still stands as one of the best examples of nu-metal". [31] Writing for MetalSucks in June 2009, Carlos Ramirez noted that the wide range of musical influences in both Adrenaline and Around the Fur helped to establish the band in the underground music scene prior to their larger commercial breakthrough with their third album, White Pony : "[Deftones'] first two albums, Adrenaline (1995) and Around the Fur (1997), were both chock full of bombastic guitars, new wave-kissed vocal lines, and post-hardcore informed arrangements, and their wide-scoped sound helped the Sacramento, CA band find audiences in various facets of the underground music scene". [32] In critic Tim Karan's 20th anniversary assessment for Diffuser , he wrote: "For those who were swept up in the burgeoning nu-metal movement, 'Adrenaline' was a landmark, life-changing release. But Deftones never really were a true nu-metal band -- this album is more like hardcore-influenced post-hardcore than 'Nookie' -- and it only scratched at the surface of the experimental metal Deftones would soon step into". [15]
While the album was initially unsuccessful, extensive touring and word-of-mouth promotion built the band a dedicated fanbase and helped Adrenaline to sell over 220,000 copies. [33] When asked what he attributed the album's success to, bassist Chi Cheng responded, "One word: perseverance. We've been together for almost eight years, on the road for two and we do it with honesty and integrity – and the kids can tell". [34] The album was certified gold by the RIAA on July 7, 1999, in recognition of 500,000 units sold. It was eventually certified platinum on September 23, 2008, in recognition of 1,000,000 units sold. [35]
All tracks are written by Deftones
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bored" | 4:06 |
| 2. | "Minus Blindfold" | 4:04 |
| 3. | "One Weak" | 4:29 |
| 4. | "Nosebleed" | 4:26 |
| 5. | "Lifter" | 4:43 |
| 6. | "Root" | 3:41 |
| 7. | "7 Words" | 3:44 |
| 8. | "Birthmark" | 4:18 |
| 9. | "Engine No. 9" | 3:25 |
| 10. | "Fireal" | 6:35 |
| 11. | "Fist" (hidden track) | 3:35 |
| Total length: | 47:06 | |
Note
Credits taken from the CD liner notes.
Deftones
Technical
| Chart (1996–2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [36] | 23 |
| US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard) [37] | 46 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) [38] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [35] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Deftones is an American alternative metal band formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. They were formed by frontman Chino Moreno, lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter and drummer Abe Cunningham, with bassist Chi Cheng and keyboardist and turntablist Frank Delgado joining the line-up in 1990 and 1999, respectively. The band's experimental nature has led some critics to describe them as "the Radiohead of metal".
Camillo "Chino" Wong Moreno is an American musician who is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project groups Team Sleep, Crosses, and Palms.
White Pony is the third studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on June 20, 2000, through Maverick Records. It was produced by Terry Date, who produced the band's first two albums, Adrenaline (1995) and Around the Fur (1997). Recording sessions took place between August and December 1999 at Larrabee Sound Studios in West Hollywood and The Plant Recording Studios in Sausalito, California.
Around the Fur is the second studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 28, 1997, by Maverick Records. The songs "My Own Summer " and "Be Quiet and Drive " were released as singles with accompanying music videos. The album was certified gold by the RIAA in 1999, and was later certified platinum in 2011.
Abraham "Abe" Benjamin Cunningham is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the alternative metal band Deftones.
Stephen "Steph" Carpenter is an American musician, known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the alternative metal band Deftones.
Deftones is the fourth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on May 20, 2003, by Maverick Records. The album features a strong change in musical direction from the band's previous albums, ranging from some of their heavier compositions to moody trip hop and shoegaze influences. It was also the band's last release to be produced by Terry Date until Ohms in 2020.
B-Sides & Rarities is a compilation album by alternative metal band Deftones, consisting of a CD and a DVD. The CD compiled previously released and unreleased B-sides, while the DVD featured multimedia content, including a complete videography. It was released in 2005 by Maverick Records.
Saturday Night Wrist is the fifth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on October 31, 2006, by Maverick Records. Despite early contributions that were later scrapped, it marked the departure of Terry Date, who had produced the band's first four albums. It was also the last Deftones album with bassist Chi Cheng, as well as the last album of his career and his lifetime, prior to being involved in a serious car accident in 2008, which put him in a coma. He eventually died five years later from cardiac arrest.
"Hole in the Earth" is a song by the American alternative metal band Deftones. The song was released as the first single from their fifth album, Saturday Night Wrist, and appeared as the album's opening track.
"My Own Summer (Shove It)" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones, released in 1997 by Maverick Records as the first single from their second album Around the Fur. It was Deftones' first charting single, reaching number 29 in the UK Singles Chart. The song also features backing vocals from bassist Chi Cheng, in the chorus. The song has been described as a defining track of the nu metal and alternative metal genres.
Eros is the working title of an unreleased album by American alternative metal band Deftones, with tentative release dates in 2008 and 2009. The band spent time recording the album from April to November 2008 at The Spot in Los Angeles. The November 2008 car accident of bassist Chi Cheng forced the band to initially hold off on releasing the album, however, and they later shelved the album indefinitely in a creative decision to move forward. With Cheng in a coma, Deftones recruited former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega and released Diamond Eyes instead in 2010. In the years that followed, the band has had mixed feelings about finishing and officially releasing Eros at some point down the road. The recording sessions of this album marked the first time in five years, since their self-titled fourth album, that Deftones had worked with Terry Date.
Diamond Eyes is the sixth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on May 4, 2010, by Reprise Records. It was the first album to feature bassist Sergio Vega, who replaced original bassist Chi Cheng. An album tentatively titled Eros was originally intended to be the band's sixth full-length release following Saturday Night Wrist (2006), but was not finished due to Cheng entering a coma after a serious car accident that occurred in November 2008, eventually resulting in his death in 2013. The band continued on with Vega as his replacement, and the release of Eros was put on hold in favor of Diamond Eyes in June 2009.
"Diamond Eyes" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones, and the title track of their sixth studio album, Diamond Eyes. It was the first single released from the album. It was the second single recorded without bassist Chi Cheng, due to a coma induced by an automobile accident in November 2008. Former Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega played bass on the single as well as the entire Diamond Eyes album.
"You've Seen the Butcher" is a song by the American alternative metal band Deftones. It was the fourth and final single released from their sixth studio album, Diamond Eyes (2010).
Koi No Yokan is the seventh studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on November 12, 2012, by Reprise Records. Its title is a phrase from the Japanese language "恋の予感", translating to "premonition of love".
"Swerve City" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones. It is the opening track on their seventh studio album, Koi No Yokan (2012), and was released as a single on March 30, 2013, where it peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks. Belching Beaver released a limited edition IPA beer named after the song in 2019.
Gore is the eighth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on April 8, 2016, by Reprise Records. Its release was met with critical acclaim, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200; it is the band's fifth album to debut within the chart's top-ten and is their highest-charting since their 2003 eponymous album.
"Prayers / Triangles" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones, appearing on their eighth studio album Gore. The song was released as the lead single from the album on February 4, 2016.
Ohms is the ninth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on September 25, 2020, through Reprise Records. The album was produced by Terry Date, making it their first collaboration since the unreleased Eros and the final with bassist Sergio Vega who departed from the band in early 2021. The album was preceded by the release of two singles: "Ohms" and "Genesis". The song "Ceremony" was later released as a single. Ohms received acclaim from critics. The opening track "Genesis" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance and the closing track and title track Ohms was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
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