I'm not one of the Gore haters, I thought that album was decent for what it was and still enjoyed the majority of the tracks with a few standouts. That said, I always knew it was a bit of a departure and not among their best.
Ohms, however, feels like a real return to form. They are firing on all cylinders, every member is contributing, it sounds unmistakably like Deftones with more than a few curveballs thrown (which in and of itself is very Tones). Each song kept me interested in where it was going, and the album was a really well sequenced beginning to end listening experience. The album has no skips, although for me it might be lacking that one standout "epic" track. But each song has its own interesting journey and you still feel fulfilled when it's over. The Spell of Mathematics is probably my current favorite. It kind of feels like the You've Seen the Butcher of this album for me with those super low sludgy riffs in a laid-back, sexy groove.
Also, Terry Date's production has to be mentioned. I thought the production might have been the real star of this album. It's so balanced! I hear elements of White Pony, SNW, Diamond Eyes and KNY here, mixed with something new. This album sounds like the product of a very experienced band and a very experienced producer who know what the f*** they're doing.
Really impressive that a band can remain so consistent and still sound this inspired on their 9th album. What a breath a fresh air it is to get this in 2020.
