Deftones' Birmingham Concert Highlights a Remarkable Resurgence
At the BP Pulse Live in Birmingham, Deftones opened their UK tour to a packed 15,000-capacity venue, a testament to their soaring popularity. Frontman Chino Moreno has noted the band is "literally bigger than we've ever been," with Spotify monthly listeners skyrocketing from two million to 17 million between 2020's Ohms and last year's Private Music. This surge defies simple nostalgia, positioning the alt-metal veterans as a contemporary force in music.
TikTok Virality Drives a New Generation of Fans
The reason for Deftones' dramatic commercial revival, with a certain inevitability, is TikTok virality. Their setlist in Birmingham was liberally peppered with tracks ubiquitous on the social media app, from opener Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) to encore Cherry Waves. Fan forums speculate on why younger listeners have alighted on the band, with theories ranging from emo rappers sampling their music to a phenomenon dubbed "hornycore," attributed to Moreno's "sexual tones" and appeal.
This viral impact was visible in the diverse Birmingham crowd: grizzled metalheads in battle jackets rubbed shoulders with tweenage goths, many accompanied by parents, undermining any parent-scaring qualities of their makeup and pentagram-adorned attire. The blend of generations highlights Deftones' cross-generational appeal.
A Sound That Transcends Nu-Metal Roots
Performing in front of a giant screen showing trippy clips from Jodorowsky's Holy Mountain, Deftones demonstrated why their renaissance feels like a just reward. While tagged as nu-metal 25 years ago due to brawny, pit-inciting riffs and hip-hop-influenced rhythms, they have always possessed a wider musical bandwidth and different emotional temperature.
Tracks like Change (In the House of Flies) feature flanged basslines and effects-laden guitar, echoing the 80s oeuvre of Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Cure. On songs such as Cherry Waves and Infinite Source, guitars arrive in blurry waves of distortion, reflecting the band's deep familiarity with My Bloody Valentine's Loveless. This influence seems prescient, as hazy-sounding music across genres today traces back to My Bloody Valentine, making Deftones shoegaze revivalists before the revival.
Melancholy and Reflection Over Temper-Tantrum Angst
The overall mood of Deftones' music is oddly reflective and melancholy, rather than temper-tantrum angst. Moreno's voice in recumbent mode, floating above the melee on tracks like Hole in the Earth or Locked Club, feels wistful rather than sexual. This emotional depth has been maintained over time, with no noticeable dip in musical quality when shifting from beloved old songs to newer material like those from Private Music.
Moreover, their sound never feels vintage or nostalgic. There's nothing beyond their confidence to suggest Deftones are nearly 40 years from their formation in 1988. If a new band emerged with this quality and songwriting, they would likely achieve exceptional success. Ultimately, Deftones' renaissance may stem from younger fans embracing something that sounds like the present, not a myth of the past.
Deftones continue their UK tour, with upcoming shows including the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on 13 February, promising more performances that blend raw power with introspective beauty.
