Music

Review: Deftones pull out all the stops in London

There’s something for everyone as Deftones and AFI play London’s Alexandra Palace.

Leading up to Deftones’ headline performance at London’s Alexandra Palace, discussion about the setlist was rife among the band’s huge fanbase. Up until now on their European tour, they have surprised gig goers with some seriously deep cuts, taken from their increasingly legendary back-catalogue. Simultaneously celebrating last year’s release of Gore, the Californian alternative metal band do not disappoint come London.

AFI open proceedings in the vast venue, offering a comparably short set spanning their equally iconic history. Fronted by a reinvigorated Davey Havok, it marks a long-awaited return by the acclaimed sunshine state natives. With enough clout, and more than enough material, to hold their own as a headline band, their eleven songs provide a glorious snapshot of their ever-evolving style. From the rawer The Days Of The Phoenix to their recent Aurelia single, they are on top form. It bodes extremely well for their imminent appearance on the Download Festival main stage.

AFI - Aurelia

Deftones prove similarly masterful. Staple live favourites My Own Summer (Shove It) and the haunting Change (In The House Of Flies) sit among a wealth of surprises. There are two songs from the seldom-aired Saturday Night Wrist, as well as an appearance by b-side and The Crow soundtrack feature Teething. It’s all rounded off by an increasingly rare and suitably thunderous Back To School.

With vocalist Chino Morino recovering from a recent foot injury, there are no signs that he’s in any way affected. He bounds around the stage with his characteristic energy, swaying from his guttural screams to the intricate delicacies of their mellower moments with ease. A particularly eerie rendition of Passenger and the sprawling Sextape envelop the space in the type of beautiful haze only Deftones can achieve.

Deftones - Sextape [Official Music Video]

AFI will be appearing at Download Festival this summer. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.co.uk. Deftones are playing shows in Dublin on the 9 and 10 May 2017, with tickets available here.