Thursday 08/03/07 Deftones, Mnemic @ Carling Academy, Liverpool

With the mammoth task of getting an eager crowd ready for one of the most mind blowing bands to grace the stage, one could forgive a support act for not getting the crowd moving, and throw some kudos their way for not getting bottled off the stage. Denmark’s Mnemic, however, owned the stage, assaulting the crowd with their own brand of “Fusion Future Metal”. This hard hitting metal act pushed the sound system to almost breaking point whilst every ear in the room was almost bleeding from the reverberations bouncing around the room. Although not everybody hooked onto their vibe, Mnemic weren’t taking any shit off no one. With new single ‘Passenger’ about to hit our airwaves, they’ll be a band to look out for.

The mood was tense, the mosh pit aching to get going, and Chino’s platform had been set up…it was time. As the Sacramentians entered the stage with a nod and Abe’s opening snare beat fired up ‘My Own Summer (Shove It)’ it was if Deftones had never played the UK before - the crowd went wild, voices screamed to larynx bursting effects and the band dodged the sweat pouring from the ceiling. Deftones were in superb form, unstoppable as they powered on. Fan Favourite ‘Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)’ would have won the award for most people singing in one place as the crowd nearly ripped off the roof. It was sheer glorious terror.

With Chino’s voice in top form putting those whispers amongst the crowd as to whether he had lost his voice (due to the lack of screaming on new album ‘Saturday Night Wrist’ ) to rest. Carpenter’s guitars were vicious as ever as the band threw themselves at tracks like ‘Hexagram’ the rarely played live ‘When Girls Telephone Boys’ and the ever triumphant ‘Korea’. With Chi, swinging his bass like a battle axe throughout the ever brilliant ‘Nosebleed’ whilst Chino looked upon his crowd as if it were a kill, Deftones held the room in the palm of their hands and they knew it. No one would have cared if they had packed up after a few tracks as each one was a classic, even slower tunes like the awesome ‘Beware’ and ‘Digital Bath’ that saw Chino pick up rhythm guitar duties, got the crowd singing along.
Sadly, the inevitable promotion of the new album one liners came out more than any thank you’s or crowd interaction, but the band didn’t need to try and make friends with anyone, especially with a loyal crowd such as this drooling over every note. After wrapping up the gig with ‘Hole In The Earth’, ‘Feiticeira’, ‘Bored’ and the vitriolic ‘Around The Fur’ the band skipped the contrived encore leaving of the stage antics, and provided some background fill music whilst Chi and Chino caught their breath and a cigarette, before coming out to play ‘Change (In the House Of Flies)’ and gig closer in the form of the legendary ‘7 Words’, only to disappear into the night until they grace Liverpool’s fair stages again.