Throwback: 10 Best Metal Albums Of 2000
6. Deftones - "White Pony"
If anyone asks for a Deftones album recommendation, chances are "White Pony" is the one that instantly springs to mind. The third studio album from Deftones marked a significant growth in the band's sound, size and fanbase.
Probably the most instantly recognisable single from the album, and a staple of rock club nights around the globe still to this date, is Back to School (Mini Maggit). It's hard to believe today that the track is 20 years old, with the timeless riffs and classic vocal drones from Chino Moreno. Despite ticking all the boxes for MTV airplay, that doesn't mean it was without bite and the punchiness being aired on prime-time radio influenced many a pre-teen to delve further into Deftones' offerings.
Not everyone got White Pony at the time, though. In interviews, frontman Chino Moreno muses over the fact that bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn were selling six million copies of an album whilst "White Pony" hadn't earned even a tenth of that. As with a fine wine, though, White Pony has matured well and continues to capture the hearts of newly-inducted metalheads through the years.
Truly experimental for its time, it draws influence from a multitude of genres from new wave to electronica, post-rock and alternative metal. A true masterpiece and a turning point in the band's career.