Long since distanced from their early nu-metal roots, Deftones are these days a far more intriguing proposition: a metal band more than happy to dip their toes into the ambient and experimental genres. Gore is the groups first album since the death of bassist Chi Cheng in 2013, though those looking for some sort of direct reckoning with his passing will likely come away unfulfilled. Instead the preoccupation here is with tone and atmosphere, with the band continuing to explore the tension between Chino Morenos soulful croon and opaque, koan-like lyrics, and Steven Carpenters pile-driving guitar work.

Theyre a rare metal band who understand that heavy neednt necessarily mean oppressive: the smothering walls of noise on the likes of brooding opener “Prayers/Triangles” are intended to seduce rather than assail. Which makes the moments of naked aggr