"Ohms" - Deftones New Album

Visionz · Dec 30, 2020, 06:36 AM

For some reasons, I agree about the production, but I'm not gonna lie, I love the album!..... especially where they are at and WHEN they are at!!! But let's not nitpick, bud. If you are going to sit here and run a thing like this around this band, if you haven't liked things for SO LONG....what do you like V?
I mean it seems you enjoy Deftones, but you haven't really expressed any enjoyment for at least 90% of the material they have released for maybe a decade or more? I mean why do you come here and run this thing when you only act like you are so for this band? I could be reading you wrong, but seriously, it's like you have these high standards for this band that you run this board for. What do you like V? You seem to be stuck on Pink Maggit (2000) which is my fav too.... but what drives you to stay on here every day or every other day,? If you're not into any of this, then what does this all mean? And fuck anybody who wants to suck his dick.... what's the deal, V?
I guess I have a hard time understanding why some people return to the site every day year after year but don't seem to enjoy most of the band's material they are talking about. I thoroughly love this band. There are things of course that aren't perfect, but I really like this band enough to come here at my age and talk about them and engage in conversation, or at least try. But it's because of my love for this band since 1998, that I try to find some kind of conversation here that I come here but I find that a lot of times, it's all about who's camera or connections are bigger, I dont care. But there you go

Visionz · Dec 30, 2020, 07:56 AM

Quote from: Vesanic on Dec 30, 2020, 07:29 AM...

Thats grrrrreat to hear that u also enjoy Ohms..... but when I met the band at Gusoline Alley in Royal Oak Michigan USA in 2012, they didn't seem like the type of guys who cared about making any of us happy. It was the third time meeti g most of the band ,and each member simply lead me to believe the music they were making was the music they were simply making and that they wanted to make just like we have all been led to believe..... There is no secret to any of this hiding songs/not playing songs, etc from what ive heard anyways( got to drink with them once in Royal Oak) honest people they were/are i suspect

Visionz · Dec 30, 2020, 08:09 AM

Quote from: Vesanic on Dec 30, 2020, 08:06 AM...

NICE!!! Thats exactly what i feel... i dont have anyone in my personal life to ruin that or make it better besides this board. I love that and thank you.

LG95 · Dec 30, 2020, 02:08 PM

Quote from: Vesanic on Dec 30, 2020, 07:29 AM...

Motherfucker still ain't into Urantia?

A PICTURE PERFECT STRAAAAAAAAAAANGE

sing blue silver · Dec 30, 2020, 06:02 PM

Hey, good to see this place still exists after all these years.

Ohms is a top tier album imo. Only song I can't really get into is Ceremony. Not feeling the "it's an illuuuuuuusion" part. This Link Is Dead and Radiant City are fucking bangers though. Also Urantia for the riffage.

Inkblades · Dec 30, 2020, 06:15 PM

Terry's production on Ohms is a bit "dirty", more Adrenaline and S/T than the "big slickness" of Around the Fur and White Pony. I know nothing about music production, mind you, just going by what my "ear gut" tells me.

Draken · Dec 30, 2020, 06:19 PM

Urantia is great but it's not a song I can loop over and over like their other songs. That opening riff gimmick gets old kinda quick.

I agree about the production, though I still feel that Terry was the right choice for producer. The man is like a 6th band member to Deftones. I think not being able to mix the entire album together in the same room might have had an effect on the end result. Genesis just feels off to me, it's probably the drums not slapping like they should as some of you have said. Idk why modern production doesn't favor hard hitting drums they way they used to... I feel the same disappointment in Failure's new music. Just listen to Small Crimes from their Magnified album and then listen to Distorted Fields from their 2018 album afterward and you'll see what I mean. Those drums need to hit you deep in the chest...

and Ves, I feel you on a lot of what you said. It's amazing how everyone has their own personal connections to the art form, it makes it deeply personal and unique to us. That's why it's fascinating to me how everyone here gravitates to different songs and sounds that the same band produces.

I feel the same way about Chi, doesn't mean I don't love some of the Sergio era stuff though. It's just not the same anymore, the dynamic has changed. His spirit isn't in the music because now it's Sergio, and Sergio does a fantastic job, they really couldn't have found a better replacement. (Though you can never replace someone like Chi, same as you can never replace any of them.)

Oh and I just want to thank you Ves again for running DeftonesLive. Good stuff man. I too hope to hear a better setlist from these guys, especially one with Pink Maggit.

E-Money · Dec 30, 2020, 08:15 PM

Quote from: LG95 on Dec 30, 2020, 02:08 PM
Quote from: Vesanic on Dec 30, 2020, 07:29 AM...
Motherfucker still ain't into Urantia?

A PICTURE PERFECT STRAAAAAAAAAAANGE

Haha exactly!! I have to give V shit all the time for it! I'm grateful for this band and the friendships I've made over them ! Even tho I've never met V In person, we have shared so much music over the years and had hundreds of hours of conversation about our favorite band! And I'm super grateful for that!

I feel the same Way. The drums just don't punch like I was expecting. Still really like the record and definitely wish chino played more guitar on it. To me my favorite jams are when Chino and Steph both play guitar.

But that Urantia Chorus is a beauty!!😉🙌🏻

secretbandinsider · Dec 31, 2020, 06:21 AM

The problem with Urantia and Pompeji is that upon frequent listens, those tracks fall by the wayside. They just don't hold up to repeated playing like the rest of the album does. And I don't really like the production on this album either. It's not bad, but I feel like Date produced this album like it was an old version of Deftones, while the band has kind of modernized since then leaving a bit of a weird disconnect there. Great album though, a strong 8/10

LG95 · Jan 01, 2021, 05:19 PM

Quote from: secretbandinsider on Dec 31, 2020, 06:21 AM
And I don't really like the production on this album either. It's not bad, but I feel like Date produced this album like it was an old version of Deftones, while the band has kind of modernized since then leaving a bit of a weird disconnect there.

I disagree with this. I don't think this is produced like any of his other Deftones albums. It's more raw, less drum-heavy, more live sounding.

mandalay · Jan 06, 2021, 01:41 AM

I can completely understand why V is somewhat disillusioned with the band's work following Cheng's death. It's simply not the same band for many reasons and in many ways. They are much safer now. And it's not that Cheng was the source of the band's edge/mystique, or that they wouldn't have progressed this way should that accident not have occurred. It's impossible to nail down the change to one particular reason, but safe to say it's not the same band in many ways.

That said, I still find their past works - particularly WP, ST, some of SNW, and Eros era material - absolutely enthralling, especially live footage from 1999-2004. That connection is so deep and, after 20 years of being a fan, will never be dulled. And it's what keeps me coming back here as well.

As far as Ohms, I'm frankly surprised so many are in love with album. I certainly don't need WP, ST, or older material rehashed and duplicated. But what I've come to expect from the band are interesting, new ideas/riffs, profound lyrics, unique melodies, and unmistakable depth. I didn't find any of those things on this record. Instead, I found some contrived/lazy riffs, uninspired or cringey lyrics, and a band phoning it in with a producer who are all past their creative peaks.

It KILLS me to say these things about a band I love so dearly, but if something doesn't click with me personally, then that's my opinion. Of course, everyone has their own, and no opinion is right/wrong, but some are more shared than others, which can shut out dissenting ones. I will say the riff on "Radiant City" is pretty badass, but after at least 100 listens to Ohms since release, I still can't hear any of the songs in my head when trying to recall them. For me a forgettable record, but truly happy it resonated with so many others.

And in no way does my experience with Ohms at all put a dent in my appreciation for the band I grew up on and with many years ago.

Draken · Jan 06, 2021, 02:23 AM

how dare you formulate your own opinion

Inkblades · Jan 07, 2021, 02:00 AM

I know the lyrics are "I drink the poison right from your hands", but I hear it as "I drink the poison right from your ass" every single time.

mandalay · Jan 08, 2021, 05:01 AM

Great write-up, V, and thanks for sharing. I agree the outro of Pompeji is pretty damn interesting and moody. I honestly think it could have opened the record. It feels a bit tacked onto the end of Pompeji. As far as the outro of Spell, nothing makes me cringe more than the visual of Zach Hill and whatever other hipsters they recruited to snap their fingers in the studio. I can just picture it, and now I can't listen to it lol.

976-EVIL · Jan 08, 2021, 07:05 AM

Quote from: Inkblades on Jan 07, 2021, 02:00 AM
I know the lyrics are "I drink the poison right from your hands", but I hear it as "I drink the poison right from your ass" every single time.

LOL! Thanks dude, you just ruined the song for me...

Inkblades · Jan 08, 2021, 08:22 PM

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

sing blue silver · Jan 12, 2021, 02:38 PM

Quote from: Vesanic on Jan 06, 2021, 02:58 PM...

I've been coming to the same conclusion about their post-Chi material. None of it has ever lived up to the run they had from ATF to SNW but I do still get that same Deftones feeling from a lot of it. It's a bit less mysterious and etherial and a little more polished and radio-friendly but it still has a lot of the elements I enjoy from the early records.

I do love Ohms quite a bit but I do think the return of Terry Date wasn't what I'd hoped. Some of those elements he brought to the production were missing (the huge drums, the full sounding guitars, Chino's crooning, etc.) so I was a bit underwhelmed by that. However, at least it was competently mixed and mastered so it doesn't sound like Gore (I love Gore but that mix is atrocious).

I didn't think you'd like Ohms for some reason but I'm glad to hear you've been changing your perspective and expectations with their more recent output.

Maybe I'll start coming back to these boards more often again. I've been out of the Deftones fan scene for quite some time.

rainnyx4 · Jan 12, 2021, 11:03 PM

There's a whole lot of nostalgia and fetishization of this band among the fanbase. Yes, Chi was an awesome dude and Terry Date has been involved with some of their best work, but I hardly think it's accurate to say this band has fallen off post-Chi and that they need Date to get their best sound. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading some interview that stated Stephen was the main songwriter for much of their career. That he wrote most all of the strings which includes the bass (until Chino came along), and had a hand in some of the drums and keys as well. I'm sure Chi wrote his share of good stuff and there's a certain intangibility to his presence that must be acknowledged and must have had an effect on the vibe of the band and the writing. But to say that this band is somehow not as good without Chi and with Sergio is kind of nuts. Sorry, but I believe Sergio to be the better technical player and writer. In fact, without Sergio, I think this band may have had to call it a day. From what we've heard of Eros, it didn't sound that interesting, and I think the band agrees today. Stephen's writing has fallen off quite a bit in my opinion and a lot of the more interesting stuff I believe is coming from Sergio. KNY, and to a lesser extent DE, were new creative peaks for the band and were done without Chi or Date. They clearly don't require Date to make great stuff. Stephen has been the weakest link on these last two. Dude needs to smoke less weed and go back to the 7-string at least. Leave the bass playing to Sergio and start writing more progressive stuff. I'm not asking for Tool or Oceansize, but something between their current sound and that would be the way to go.

laurapalmer · Jan 13, 2021, 04:02 AM

Quote from: rainnyx4 on Jan 12, 2021, 11:03 PM
Stephen's writing has fallen off quite a bit in my opinion and a lot of the more interesting stuff I believe is coming from Sergio. Stephen has been the weakest link on these last two. Dude needs to smoke less weed and go back to the 7-string at least. Leave the bass playing to Sergio and start writing more progressive stuff.

I agree with these statements completely

LG95 · Jan 13, 2021, 07:13 PM

I think the way they write songs has evolved which means Stef's work tends to be more textural than before, especially on the last two records. Like TSOM for example supposedly originated from Abe and Sergio, and they built it from there. It feels like a Stef song because it's dark and sludgy but he's really just jumping aboard someone else's idea and expanding it. The title track is more an example of Stef's riffing and unsurprisingly it's because the song originated from him.