Live Review: Deftones w/ Karnivool @ Brisbane Riverstage
Deftones have been busy this year. From releasing their highly anticipated 8th studio album ‘Gore’, to a massive worldwide tour, you’d think that coming into the end of the year they’d be worn out. However, you certainly wouldn’t know it, going by the epic performance they delivered in Brisbane.
Before the alternative metal juggernauts took the stage, punters were treated to Aussie icons Karnivool. Barely stopping to address the crowd between songs, save for a “y’all keen for Deftones?”, the band blistered through a diverse and engaging support set. Mainly drawing from their 2009 effort ‘Sound Awake’ with tracks Simple Boy, Goliath, Deadman, and the epic New Day, Karnivool also gave a sneaky preview of things to come with a brand new track! Rounding things off with a track or two from their other albums, Karnivool were a solid and entertaining opening act for the behemoth that was to come.
The song features some crazy, demonic sounding vocal effects during the bridge, and as soon as vocalist Chino Moreno began with them the crowd was immediately transfixed on the singer.
A quick change over ensured no one was left waiting too long, and before we knew it the stage lights dimmed and a sampled version of Pink Floyd’s Welcome to the Machine heralded the start of the Deftones’ set. Wasting no time after the final chord of the sample, the band strutted on stage and blasted into what has to be one of the most intense opening set of songs witnessed. Diamond Eyes was crushingly heavy, followed up by the groovy and emotional Digital Bath, then Kimdracula, and riff party Rocket Skates.
Deafening cheers rose from the crowd when the band finally took a breather, with some light banter filling the void before introducing Australian crowds to some new material. Acid Hologram was an interesting first taste of ‘Gore’ material live, and for most of the song the crowd seemed a little distracted and disengaged. The song features some crazy, demonic sounding vocal effects during the bridge, and as soon as vocalist Chino Moreno began with them the crowd was immediately transfixed on the singer. Chills ran up everyone’s spines, with a young punter beside me saying “that is the scariest f*cking thing I’ve ever heard”.
Moreno then grabbed a guitar and started the slow-burning Tempest. After a sombre and droning first verse, a massive chorus lift woke the crowd up and got fists pumping into the air. Moreno clearly relishes the songs he gets to play on guitar, with more than a few “yeah mother*ckers” thrown in with glee.
Still on guitar, Moreno urged the crowd to start jumping before slamming straight into Swerve City. A definite crowd pleaser, with a chorus just begging to be sung along to. Deafening “whoa-ohs” resounded over the rolling Riverstage hill, with movement through the crowd not contained to just the mosh pit. This led into Be Quiet and Drive, arguable one of Deftones’ greatest songs. Emotional and relentless, the crowd soaked up every last bit of energy the band were pouring out throughout this and the next two songs: Headup and My Own Summer (Shove It). With the mileage that these songs have, it could be easy to assume the band is just going through the motions playing them live. Not the ‘Tones; each song is all-or-nothing, and it shows.
The band then tore through some deeper cuts, including Rosemary, Prince, then some new releases Hearts/Wires and Gore, before Moreno was back on guitar for a brooding and heartfelt rendition of their 2003 stadium-filler Change (In The House of Flies). Few songs from their catalogue hit the emotional intensity and heartbreak that Change does, with many of the punter’s eyes closing for the song and loudly singing along with Moreno through the soaring chorus, “I watched a change in you/It’s like you never had wings/Now you feel so alive/I have watched you change”.
Once the “one more song” chant started, the band barely even bothered walking off stage. Sitting coolly in the wings of Riverstage, grinning ear to ear, the band readied themselves for not one, but two encore tracks.
Closing the main set was Knife Prty; a perfect choice. Almost a balladic pop song, the song balances soft verses and massive sing-along choruses with a fine expertise. Moreno used this song to demonstrate his versatility and considerable vocal ability by letting loose some insane falsetto singing during the bridge. Afterwards, the crowd erupted in praise and celebration of the masterwork they had just been privy to.
Once the “one more song” chant started, the band barely even bothered walking off stage. Sitting coolly in the wings of Riverstage, grinning ear to ear, the band readied themselves for not one, but two encore tracks. Taken from their debut Adrenaline, which was yet to receive any recognition, the band blitzed through Bored and Engine No.9, two mosh-heavy, nu-metal vibing tracks that ended the night on a chunky and uplifting note. The band clearly squeezed out every last bit of energy into the encore, ensuring fans got a special and memorable ending to their evening.
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