Deftones

Released in 1997, Around the Fur is the second studio album by Sacramento’s Deftones, a band that helped define the late-’90s alternative metal and nu-metal landscape. Building on the raw aggression of their debut Adrenaline, this album demonstrates refined songwriting, dynamic range, and an increasing willingness to explore atmosphere and melody without sacrificing intensity.

From the opening riff of My Own Summer (Shove It), listeners are plunged into punchy, downtuned guitars, aggressive rhythms, and visceral vocals. The album balances heavy, riff-driven tracks like Mascara and Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) with more textured, moody pieces that showcase the band’s developing sonic identity. Chino Moreno’s vocals fluctuate between whispered introspection, melodic singing, and intense screams, adding emotional depth to the sonic aggression.

Guitarists Stephen Carpenter and bassist Chi Cheng provide dense, layered riffs and grooves that maintain a balance between technical heaviness and melodic accessibility. Drummer Abe Cunningham delivers precise, dynamic drumming that complements the band’s shifting tempos and moods. This interplay results in a sound that is both crushing and atmospheric, laying the groundwork for Deftones’ signature blend of heaviness and ethereality.

Tracks like Lhabia and Rickets reveal the band’s willingness to experiment with ambient textures and dynamic tension, hinting at the more experimental directions they would pursue on later albums like White Pony. Lyrically, the album deals with themes of alienation, desire, and emotional turbulence, delivered with a raw honesty that resonates with listeners.

Produced with a stronger, clearer sound than their debut, Around the Fur manages to capture the raw power of Deftones’ live energy while polishing their sonic palette just enough to highlight nuance and subtlety. It’s aggressive but not one-dimensional, blending brute force with atmosphere, and aggression with introspection.