Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (Black Vinyl)

Now reaching veteran status as one of the few 1990's-born nu-metal acts to remain vital, Deftones offered up their fifth full-length with "Saturday Night Wrist". With legendary control-room master Bob Ezrin on board, the album finds the band ambitious and inspired, truly putting their best foot forward. "Mein" features a haunting guest vocal from System Of a Down's Serj Tankian, while the brilliantly titled instrumental "U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R, A, B, Select, Start" shows that Deftones were maturing as writers and players. Elsewhere, "Pink Cellphone" intertwines spoken vocals with loops and samples, creating a disturbing soundscape. Vocalist Chino Moreno continues his legacy of vocal extremes - from clean melodies to ripping screams - best evidenced in "Rapture." "Xerces" is a luscious ballad, while "Rats! Rats! Rats!" and "Combat" have the grooving bombast that the group's fans have come to expect and love.