Deftones – Adrenaline (Vinyl LP)

Raw nerves, downtuned guitars and barely contained aggression - the sound of Deftones before they learned to hold anything back.

Released in 1995, Adrenaline is the debut studio album from Sacramento's Deftones, capturing a band developing the volatile, distinctive sound that would eventually make them one of alternative metal's most influential acts.

Where later records would explore dreamy atmospheres and experimental textures, Adrenaline is all sharp edges and restless energy. Stephen Carpenter's crushing guitar riffs collide with Abe Cunningham's explosive drumming, while Chi Cheng's bass provides a heavy, elastic foundation. At the centre of it all is Chino Moreno, whose vocals veer between tense whispers, rhythmic delivery and full-throated screams.

Tracks like Bored, 7 Words and Engine No. 9 showcase the band's early intensity, blending hardcore punk aggression with groove-heavy metal riffs and the rhythmic experimentation that would become a defining feature of the emerging nu metal scene. There's a sense of barely controlled chaos throughout — music that sounds as if it's being pushed to its absolute limits.

The album was produced by Terry Date, whose work with bands including Pantera and Soundgarden helped shape the sound of heavy music in the 1990s. His production captures the band's force without sanding away the roughness, allowing the riffs, drums and vocals to hit with maximum impact.

Although Adrenaline initially received modest commercial attention compared with the band's later releases, relentless touring helped build Deftones a devoted following. It laid the foundation for Around the Fur and, eventually, the more atmospheric direction of White Pony.

This is Deftones at their most primal: abrasive, physical and full of the restless energy of a band finding its voice.

Essential for fans of alternative metal, hardcore, nu metal and the heavier roots of 1990s alternative music.