Hexagram (song)
Encyclopedia
"Hexagram" is a song by alternative metal
band Deftones
and the second single from their eponymous fourth album
. The song failed to chart on the Modern and Mainstream rock charts in America and charted at a low #68 in the UK, which could be seen as a testament to its non-commercial sound. The album art for the single is titled "Bandaged Love" by Ashley Macomber.
"Hexagram" could be considered one of Deftones' most brutal songs and certainly one of their most intense singles. This is largely attributed to Chino Moreno
's extremely raw and long-drawn screaming which virtually exceeds the limits heard in other Deftones material, matched by the interlocking of heavy guitar riffs and aggressive drums backed by somber synthesizer
keys.
for "Hexagram" shows excited fans entering a building to watch a live performance of the song. As such, the majority of the video focuses on this performance, with small exceptions like a shirtless, incapacitated Moreno
lying on the floor during the moody bridge
. Audio for the video is entirely off the studio recording until the very end which features live crowd noise. Many shots during intense screaming revolve around other band members, as such intense vocal performances would be impractical in an actual live setting.
In contrast to the single's minimal radio play, the "Hexagram" video found significant rotation on the more underground
-oriented Headbangers Ball
and Uranium
in late 2003.
is, or how toothless Linkin Park
is".
band War From A Harlots Mouth
recorded a studio cover of the song.
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
band Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
and the second single from their eponymous fourth album
Deftones (album)
Deftones was well received by critics earning an aggregate rating of 74 on Metacritic. The music website Sputnikmusic gave it a perfect score and praised the band for have returned to their heavy sound without leaving behind their experimental side, lauding also Moreno's abstract lyrics and the...
. The song failed to chart on the Modern and Mainstream rock charts in America and charted at a low #68 in the UK, which could be seen as a testament to its non-commercial sound. The album art for the single is titled "Bandaged Love" by Ashley Macomber.
"Hexagram" could be considered one of Deftones' most brutal songs and certainly one of their most intense singles. This is largely attributed to Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
's extremely raw and long-drawn screaming which virtually exceeds the limits heard in other Deftones material, matched by the interlocking of heavy guitar riffs and aggressive drums backed by somber synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
keys.
Music video
The black & white music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Hexagram" shows excited fans entering a building to watch a live performance of the song. As such, the majority of the video focuses on this performance, with small exceptions like a shirtless, incapacitated Moreno
Chino Moreno
Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer and contributing guitarist of Deftones. He is also a member of the side-project bands Team Sleep and Crosses....
lying on the floor during the moody bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
. Audio for the video is entirely off the studio recording until the very end which features live crowd noise. Many shots during intense screaming revolve around other band members, as such intense vocal performances would be impractical in an actual live setting.
In contrast to the single's minimal radio play, the "Hexagram" video found significant rotation on the more underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
-oriented Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball is a music television program consisting of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV2, MTV Australia, MTV Two , MTV Adria , MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV...
and Uranium
Uranium (TV series)
Uranium is an American television program about heavy metal which aired on Fuse TV in the early 2000s. After establishing herself as the host of MMUSA's Tastemakers program, Juliya Chernetsky, along with network producers, created Uranium as an outlet for the broad range of heavy metal subgenres...
in late 2003.
Reception
In reviewing Deftones, Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes that "Hexagram", the album's opener, "hits hard—harder than they ever have, revealing how mushy StaindStaind
Staind is an American rock band that was formed in 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts. For 16 years, the band consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki...
is, or how toothless Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
is".
Cultural references
In 2010 mathcoreMathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
band War From A Harlots Mouth
War From a Harlots Mouth
War from a Harlots Mouth is a German metalcore band from Berlin, formed in 2005. Consisting of vocalist Nico, guitarists Simon and Daniel, bassist Filip, and drummer Paul, the band is noted for a distinct musical style consisting of infusing many different genres into their songs, such as math...
recorded a studio cover of the song.
Track listing
All tracks written by Deftones.- "Hexagram" – 4:09
- "Bloody Cape" – 3:36
- "Lovers" – 4:11