Pablo Picasso famously said "learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist".
This philosophy is precisely how Sacramento art-rock outfit Deftones have approached the craft of songwriting in their 30-year-plus career, flirting creatively with multiple genres while being an authentic powerhouse quintet.
They employ experimental sound design, harmonising brutal metallic riffs and screaming vocals with pulsating rhythms, beautiful shoegaze guitar distortion, wall of sound ambience, and melancholic melodies executed emotively by frontman Chino Moreno.
Last year Deftones released their tenth studio album 'Private Music', demonstrating what it takes to consistently raise your artistic standards with each new record while delivering great performances on a world tour in support of it, always giving audiences a truly unforgettable experience.
For those witnessing a Deftones concert for the first time, it would be best described as a hybridity of intense musical performance alongside immersive video installations, creating a dreamlike escape while introspectively allowing yourself to feel sorrow and euphoria all at once.
The crowd are in equal measure able to be consumed by the visceral nature of the band's compositions and feel like it's a spiritual gathering where life is celebrated in all its turmoil and possibilities.
Deftones' first Australian headline tour in nearly a decade was met with immense demand, requiring double shows in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, starting with a completely sold-out affair at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena (2 May).
Supporting Deftones were New York indie rock hipsters Interpol and Melbourne's punk-rock outfit Ecca Vandal.
As early comers settled down, Ecca Vandal, alongside her guitarist/ producer and drummer, hit the stage at 7pm sharp, spilling their guts with high-energy rock jams, giving the punctual mosh-pitters something to dance and get raucous to.
Like Deftones, Ecca Vandal's music does not fit into neat music categories, choosing to forge a sonic path of rock excellence with electronic, hip hop and soulful beats chock-full of bite and attitude. The songs she performed on the night were all tracks from her soon to be released sophomore album, 'Looking For People To Unfollow' (that drops 22 May).
Arriving after their performances at Coachella only a few weeks ago, Ecca's reputation as a live act is second to none. Her music brings back the alternative rock idiom that defined the '90s alongside contemporary influences, and is part of a new wave of counter-cultural artists emerging in the 21st century.
Up next were Interpol, who are known for their garage-rock tunes channelling the sleaziness of the New York underground music scene of the early '00s.
Wearing black jackets and sunglasses onstage, a fuse-blowing amount of almost-blinding strobe lights was deployed that felt more like an assault on the senses rather than complementing the performance.
To the disappointment of the crowd, Interpol's live act did not reach the energy levels of Ecca Vandal and a sense of boredom and passivity quickly became very noticeable as people stood still and dare I say, unmoved.
Doom scrolling on social media may have been a more appealing alternative to watching a band playing very lethargic compositions that didn't really live up to their indie credentials.
[Ed's note: To be fair, when this tour was announced, Interpol certainly were an odd choice as running tour mates with Deftones, and IMO deserve their own headline tour for their fans to attend, myself included.]
Deftones arrival onstage was however met with great enthusiasm, opening their set with their angsty '90s anthem 'Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)', as black birds flew in mass on the video screen installation creating a black gothic atmosphere.
The down-tuning of the guitar is a stable part of Deftones musical vocabulary and was omnipresent on the brilliant song 'Diamond Eyes' as guitarist Stephen Carpenter deployed a menacing fretwork crunch while bright pink shards of light and diamonds flew across the screen, heightening the sonic drama.
This was only the beginning of an unbelievable display of music and visuals slamming onto the stage in raw, untamed unison. A varied set list of old and new Deftones songs gave the chance for younger fans to get onboard while keeping the older and long-time devotees happy.
Whatever the age of the audience, everyone was jumping or headed to the mosh pit, taking in all the moody, dark and blissful compositions Deftones are revered for.
Each song was like a painting conjured in someone's twisted mind, whether it was a recent song like 'My Mind Is A Mountain' forging cult-like visuals of people meditating while on fire; or the haunting number 'Around The Fur' where Carpenter's heavy, abrasive riffs and Moreno's soothing yet ugly vocals combine as one (while on-screen a young woman is photographed by a crowd of paparazzi as she cries black ink).
The song 'Sextape', with its psychedelic, Pink Floyd-inspired bassline gave the audience a breather from the metallic riffs for a gentler ride of slow, crashing waves on-screen, once again proving why Deftones music doesn't fit easily into a single genre.
One of the highlights of the night without a doubt was 'Change (In The House Of Flies)', a song that rivals the unholy guitar chords of any Black Sabbath composition. Chino sang with underworld‑level intensity, while a golden sun rose and grew larger behind him, reaching a crescendo moment and transcending into pure metallic darkness.
A Deftones concert would not be complete without playing the most adrenaline-induced song they've ever written, 'My Own Summer (Shove It)'; another timeless anthem with one of the most titillating guitar riffs that builds and releases tension, a total crowd pleaser for sure and one that Chino openly introduced with a sincere "this one is for you guys".
Finally to end yet another incredible show, the band went all the way back to their debut album by playing '7 Words', a youthful, rebellious and angry track that was a precursor to an entire generation of nu-metal bands that emerged in the late '90s and early '00s.
Unquestionably a night to remember. Deftones is an art-rock band that thrives in a live setting and feed off the energy from the audience. The music is both nightmarish and surreal, and the performance and visual presentation captured this in a spectacular way.
It was a like a vivid dream you wish you never wake up from.
