DEFTONES - Ohms
Definitely DEFTONES
Written by: Darcy Moore - Sense Music Media
DEFTONES return to the stage for their ninth studio album - Ohms. OG DEFTONES followers will likely welcome the new LP with open arms, and the return to collaboration with producer Terry Date will have fans licking their lips. Date last worked with the band when he produced what’s widely considered to be the DEFTONES benchmark masterpiece, White Pony. So naturally, with the recent two albums being 4.5 years apart, and returning to school with Date, expectations were high and excitement was rife.
Ohms delivers what the band is known for and has built a reputation on. Striking juxtaposition between lead guitarist, Stephen Carpenter and lead vocalist, Chino Moreno - two sides of different coins - helps create a larger fanbase. Equally though, they pay for an enigmatic and defined sound which leaves listeners often belonging to one of two camps. Camp Carpenter, for his gnarled, gritted melody and deep guitar styles, and Camp Moreno for his romantic and chimerical vocal style. Even when he scratches the high-screams, it sustains raw prowess.
As a former singer in a past life, I find myself belonging to the latter camp, and Chino fits in perfectly to the puzzle of quintessential names in the genre like: Maynard, Davis, Lee, Australians own Ian Kenny, Clint Boge and others of the ilk that just make it look fucking easy. So where does Ohms fit in that space? Well, let’s talk about it.
To be completely honest, this album confused me. It may be a grower (as most are) but i’m not sure how I feel about the bookended first and last tracks in reflection of the album as a whole. Genesis, a stunning and attention grabbing opener, and title track Ohms, are both sharply produced, exciting songs, but they leave the middle tunes a little left to be desired. I’m uncertain of the conceptual development here and maybe my ignorance will be my downfall, but it felt like a B-side sandwich with perfectly toasted bread.
However, and stay with me here, this album does deliver a treat. The accompanying visualisation clips that were released alongside the songs are perfectly suited. Beautiful, lo-fi styled music videos. Let me take you across my favourites so far: Pompeji takes the viewer and listener underwater to watch clips of dreamlike marine life. Jellyfish swimming with Chino’s “Oooooohhoooo” chorus, mixed with distorted guitars and hollowed snares are all married in an infrared, digital hypnosis in exemplary DEFTONES style. It takes me back to the 2010 album Diamond Eyes. Equally intriguing is the song Urantia, which has me recalling RADIOHEAD’s House of Cards video. It’s a really wonderful thing.
This album has some absolute heavy hitters. Songs mentioned before and others such as: Headless and The Spell of Mathematics will find their place in the “Shit yeah! I love that song” legacy.
The album is iconically scratchy, heavy and nuanced. The accompanying videos lend weight to the LP and help boost Ohms above what it would have been to support the album as a whole. Absorbing both visual and sonic landscapes.
The Verdict
This is definitely a DEFTONES record. Clearly stapled with bang-on sounds they master and iconically helm. From vocals to drums, this album will find a home in the band’s belt notches. It’s just not “My” DEFTONES record, and that’s OK. Having said that, this hasn’t lost my attention and I cannot wait for their live shows, for this album to grow on me and to hit play on the day of the release of their tenth record - just please be sooner than 4 years.
3/5
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DEFTONES on Spotify
