DEFTONES - KOI NO YOKAN

Deftones are reliable in many ways; a regular but not too intrusive release schedule, a slow and enjoyable evolution and forever making with the heavy stuff. Their seventh LP follows the trend of brutal noise clashing starkly with ambient atmospherics that just want to make you go a bit mad. Koi No Yokan is served well by opener ‘Swerve City’, a whirling dervish with a call-and-answer vocal chorus. It might stand as one of their all-time best tracks. Although the band will still miss the recovering Chi Cheng on bass, his replacement, Sergio Vega, has contributed more during the recording process. A fresh dynamic has allowed Deftones to further fortify both their niche and technique. Vega’s bass on ‘Poltergeist’ is a distorted reminder of the power this group can wield. Koi No Yokan is an excellent record from a group that consistently improve and refine at all times.