Deftones — Koi No Yokan

“shapes and colors are all I see”

Koi No Yokan, is a Japanese term which symbolizes the premonition of love, or the idea that to love that isn’t immediate, but rather totally inevitable.

Rejuvenated after the release of Diamond Eyes with the addition of bassist Sergio Vega to the lineup, the California- based alternative metal band add Koi No Yokan to its consistent discography that spans across two decades. Deftones have no more to prove in the musical landscape, however, they continue to complete their distorted metallic sound that also blends elements of dream pop and shoegaze. Sonically, Deftones successfully create an atmosphere that touches upon the different feelings of love.

Lyrically, this album continues with frontman Chino Moreno’s style of subtly mentioning the object or story he is trying to describe. This ambiguous way of wording adds to the already multi-layered atmosphere created by the sharp contrast of chugging riffs compared to the soft electronic sampling and dreamy vocals.

“Swerve City” starts the album with a very strong riff with a punchy feeling that contrasts from the soothing main verse, which sets a tone for the whole album.Which, furthers into the lush and infectious “Romantic Dreams” that repeatedly mentions ‘I’m hypnotized by your name/I wish this night would never end’ suggesting Chino’s infatuation with the person he is with.

“Leathers” begin with dreamy guitars which soon explodes into harsh vocals that pushes this song into the climatic chorus. “Poltergeist” features heavy down tuned riffing from Stephen Carpenter, as Chino vents his disgruntled thoughts to a person that seemingly does not listen; a track filled with anger and despair.

Tracks like “Tempest”, and “Rosemary” are highlights of this album as they are the embodiment of the idea of building up an atmosphere and flowing freely within it with heavy guitars and dreamy vocals. “Rosemary” is built up with an undeniable riff that leads up to Chino simply singing ‘ Stay with me/As we cross the empty skies’ until the eventual guitar breakdown creating moments of chaos but suddenly leading to absolute peace at the end “Tempest” builds up in a similar way but in a more heavy manner with chugging guitars that feel heavy but peaceful which gives a feeling that the vocals are bursting into a calm storm of riffs.

“Goon Squad” screams the love and passion Chino has for his fans and his own work. This aggression and passion is carried on by Carpenter’s consistent riffing on the track. “What Happened To You?” caps off the album with distorted guitars gliding through the track creating an atmosphere of floating in air, with lyrics of reminiscence of the past-bassist, Chi Cheng, that was in a coma during the recording process.

Deftones have continued its evolution of sound while not losing the best parts of their past. Evolving from its early nu-metal roots to the later alternative metal with increased electronic textures from turntablist Frank Delgado bringing out the melodic side of the group. Koi No Yokan successfully combines all the elements from the past and culminates into yet another piece that cannot be ignored in the Deftones discography.