Deftones – White Pony (2xLP)

Deftones’ White Pony arrived in 2000 as the band’s third album and the record that pushed them decisively beyond their nu-metal roots. Instead of simply amplifying the attack of their earlier work, Deftones opened the music up: heavy riffs sit alongside atmospheric textures, electronic detail and a more spacious, moody sense of dynamics. That shift matters because it explains why this album still stands at the centre of the band’s catalogue rather than reading like a period piece from the turn of the millennium.

The songs underline that change without losing intensity. “Digital Bath” and “Change (In the House of Flies)” show how Chino Moreno’s voice could move from a whisper to a howl inside arrangements that feel sleek rather than blunt, while “Passenger” brings in Maynard James Keenan for one of the album’s most memorable collaborations. Across the record, Deftones balance abrasion with dreamlike atmosphere, giving the material a depth that set them apart from many of their contemporaries.

White Pony was also a genuine step forward in recognition: AllMusic identifies it as the band’s best-known album and home to their signature song, while “Elite” won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance. For listeners coming to it on vinyl, the two-LP sequencing suits the album’s contrasts especially well, letting its denser, more textured production unfold with room to breathe.

Features

• 2LP edition
• 10th anniversary edition
• Heavyweight vinyl
• Gatefold sleeve
• Maverick release
• 2010 reissue

Reviews

• White Pony explicitly indulged in BDSM, blow, and bloodsport while making good on the original promise of nu-metal to revitalize rock – Pitchfork

Genre: Metal

Review