By the end of the 20th century, rock music had evolved significantly from its blues roots. Grunge had come and gone, and both new and established bands were exploring fresh sounds influenced by metal. This led to the rise of alternative metal and nu metal, genres that mixed heavy metal with alternative music and styles like hip-hop, funk, and industrial. Bands like Faith No More and Pantera hinted at this shift, but it was in the mid-’90s and early 2000s that alternative metal truly exploded, with groups like Korn, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park hitting the mainstream. Among them was Deftones. Their first two albums gained them a loyal following, but it was their third album, *White Pony*, that solidified their place in alternative metal.
*White Pony* was released in June 2000 through Maverick Records. Recorded a year earlier in California, it showcased a more complex sound than their earlier work. Deftones incorporated elements from trip-hop and hardcore into their alt-rock style. While it was a bit less heavy, *White Pony* quickly became a hit with fans and critics alike. Reviewers praised its mix of aggressive and softer passages, with one giving it an 8/10 rating and noting that Deftones were positioning themselves as a major force in American rock.
The album’s success was reflected in its sales. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and sold 178,000 copies in its first week. It achieved Gold certification in September and eventually went Platinum, with total sales around 2 million in the U.S. and Canada.
The singles from *White Pony* played a big role in its popularity. The first single, “Change (In the House of Flies),” was released in May 2000 and featured all band members collaborating, with frontman Chino Moreno playing guitar alongside lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter. This track became Deftones’ most successful single, earning 4x Platinum certification.
