In retrospect, it’s not that hard to understand why DEFTONES’ debut from 1995 does not seem to get just as much love from the fans as their later albums. The band’s signature sound gestalted on 1997’s “Around the Fur” and matured even further on “White Pony” (2000), turning the band into one of the brightest stars of the nu-metal movement. Their aptly titled debut, “Adrenaline,” released on October 3rd, 1995, via Maverick Records, was a tad more violent affair altogether. At the time of its release, however, it sounded very fresh and innovative, a bit underground, even, blowing the minds of those with an acquired taste for a bit of sonic violence with a new edge. On their debut, DEFTONES were trying to break out on the nu-metal scene while being recognized as something not really done before. So, yes, they already had quite a unique sound in the making, but it had not yet matured into its full splendor. That said, even in its embryonic stage, it sounded like a force to be reckoned with, no doubt. That’s why older fans cannot help but feel rather nostalgic about the debut; like they say, once a person experiences a shift in consciousness, they cannot return to the former, more limited state of being. As mind-blowing as the later installments in DEFTONES‘ discography turned out to be, the band could blow our GenXers’ minds only once with a shot of adrenaline (sic!) like this. Sure, I’m as biased as you could be when it comes to reviewing seminal albums from the 1990s, but I haven’t listened to this album in ages, to be honest. So, let’s see how it holds up 30 years later…
The album kicks off with an unfazed mission statement, an uncompromising punch in the face, entitled “Bored.” Now, 30 years later, it’s nigh impossible to imagine the impact this song, let alone the album as a whole, had on the metal demographic of twenty-somethings who had spent their delicate, flannel-clad teenage years with grunge. Rather than being a direct continuation, the first wave of nu-metal kept the angst and sprinkled it with some downtuned riffs, and while Chino Moreno does sound a bit like Jonathan Davis of KORN, here and there on this debut, his unconventional, trademark moans made this particular endeavor really stand out from the rest.
That said, half of the debut’s appeal stemmed from the beefy and bouncy guitar riffs, courtesy of Stephen Carpenter. His tone preferences here seemed to lean toward the somewhat dry chugging of post-hardcore, as best demonstrated in songs such as “Minus Blindfold” and “Nosebleed.” Compared to, say, KORN‘s riffages from the same time period, DEFTONES favored the angry chugging at this point rather than the percussive bounce. “7 Words” is probably the most nu-metal song in this selection, considering the bounciness factor, and even this riffer does evolve into a post-hardcore-ish chuggathon in its middle section. That later hallmark of their sound, the druggy and atmospheric shoegaze bliss, has not yet arrived, which is why this debut sounds so aggressive and almost punk rather than moody and withdrawn like those later albums.
That said, not every track on this debut is a non-stop, adrenaline-driven punch-up. “Birthmark” is a slow-tempo riffer that resonates with a faint aura of grunge in its verses. Then, “Engine No.9” could have almost slipped by undetected on FAITH NO MORE‘s “King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime” album from the same era, albeit I’m sure Mike Patton‘s screams would have probably sounded way more demented than Chino‘s angsty outbursts here. Toward the end of the album, the angst is toned down a notch, with “Fireal” resonating thick with the air of that mid-1990s indie-rock sound – y’know, SONIC YOUTH and the like – and the closer, “Fist,” unfolding, in retrospect, like a nice song bridging the debut and the more convoluted angst to follow on “Around the Fur.”
In a way, DEFTONES‘ debut was their “Pablo Honey” – their future works would evolve on an awe-inspiring trajectory quite similar to RADIOHEAD, whose debut was a strong entry into the scene, but still, in no way did it prepare you for the brilliance of their later albums. Even with its feisty, unpolished approach, “Adrenaline” does have its jagged charm still 30 years later.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Bored
- Minus Blindfold
- One Weak
- Nosebleed
- Lifter
- Root
- 7 Words
- Birthmark
- Engine No. 9
- Fireal
- Fist
Lineup
Chino Moreno – vocals
Stephen Carpenter – guitars
Chi Cheng – bass, backing vocals
Abe Cunningham – drums
Label
Maverick Records
