Deftones (iPhone QUICK)

Unlike most metal guitarists focused on riffs and solos, Stephen Carpenter uses low-tuned, 7/8-string guitars to create shifting tectonic plates of sound. His playing is more about drone, dissonance, and crushing sustain than technical flash. When combined with Chino's ethereal vocals and Frank Delgado's turntables/synths, the result is a unique "beauty and the beast" dynamic.

They emerged from the 90s Sacramento nu-metal scene with Adrenaline (1995) and Around the Fur (1997), alongside Korn and Limp Bizkit. But they quickly abandoned the genre's rap-rock and agro-posturing. Instead, they leaned into dreamlike atmospherics, whispered vocals, and crushing, shoegaze-inspired guitar walls. They're heavy, but the heaviness serves mood, not mosh pits. Deftones

Here’s a quick take on why they're so fascinating: Unlike most metal guitarists focused on riffs and