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| "7 Words" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional single by Deftones | ||||
| from the album Adrenaline | ||||
| B-side | "Teething" | |||
| Released | September 30, 1995 | |||
| Studio | Bad Animals (Seattle) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:44 | |||
| Label | Maverick | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Deftones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "7 Words" on YouTube | ||||
"7 Words" is a song by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on September 30, 1995, by Maverick Records as the first promotional single from their debut album, Adrenaline (1995). Written by the lead vocalist Chino Moreno, the song expresses teenage anger toward law enforcement. Musically, it has been described as choppy, chunky, and aggressive, and is noted for its dynamic drumming and funk metal groove. The song's title refers to the phrase "you have the right to remain silent," and its lyrics have been described as expletive.
Originally created as part of an electronic press kit, the music video for "7 Words" was filmed in Sacramento on a modest budget and features footage from local venues and locations. The track received positive attention upon release and is frequently cited as one of the band's best by critics. It has also remained a fixture in Deftones' live performances for decades.
Background and composition
[edit]"7 Words" by Deftones has been described as choppy and chunky, delivering an angry[1] and energetic sound.[2][3] Amy Sciarretto of Loudwire contended that Adrenaline's "crunchy, harsh style was best represented by '7 Words'".[2] Gregory Adams of Revolver wrote that the song "sets off something primal in our cavefolk brains" and referred to it as a "twitchy funk-metal groove".[3] Written by the lead vocalist Chino Moreno when he was 16 years old, the song expresses teenage anger toward law enforcement, reflecting the perspective of a young skate-punk of color. Its title refers to the phrase "you have the right to remain silent," a core part of police procedure.[4] A Billboard writer noted that the song's lyrics "include all the words your mother taught you to avoid".[1]
In "7 Words", Abe Cunningham's drumming presents a dynamic and varied approach. The song begins with a snare-based, marching-style pattern that accents the rhythm guitar part beneath Moreno's spoken-word vocal. In the second verse, Cunningham shifts to a more traditional kick, snare, and hi-hat arrangement, maintaining the rhythmic theme but introducing new textures. He further develops this by emphasizing the hi-hats, punctuating transitions with flams that lead into the kick-driven chorus. During the halftime breakdown, he slows the tempo and incorporates frenetic fills, adding variety and maintaining interest without simply repeating the same groove across sections. The drumming showcases a different side of Cunningham's style compared to the more consistently cranked snare sound heard throughout Adrenaline.[5]
Release
[edit]"7 Words" was released on September 30, 1995, by Maverick Records as the first promotional single from their debut album, Adrenaline.[1][3] The accompanying music video for the song was filmed in Sacramento in 1995. Originally intended to serve as Deftones' electronic press kit, the video was produced on a budget of $12,000. According Cunningham, the final result turned out well enough that the band decided to use it as an official video. It features footage shot at the Cattle Club, a well-known local venue, as well as various locations around the city, capturing a distinctly Sacramento atmosphere.[6]
Reception and legacy
[edit]"7 Words" was received positively upon release, with a writer for Billboard stating, "For those who prefer their rock on the foul-mouthed side, the Deftones deliver."[1] Retrospective reviews to the song have remained positive, with some considering it among Deftones' best songs.[2][4][7] Sciarretto ranked it as the band's third-best track, calling it "the most well-crafted, moshpit-inducing, singalong-inciting of the bunch", and noting that "no matter where you are or what you are doing, it will make you jump."[2] Sam Law in Kerrang! ranked the song fifth, describing it as a "top-of-the-class cut that endures a quarter-century down the line."[7]
"7 Words" has also remained a consistent feature of Deftones' live performances.[7] Adams ranked it as their third-best song performed live, noting that it "occupies a special place in Deftones' hearts", which has contributed to its frequent inclusion in their concert setlists nearly 30 years after its release.[3] Uproxx's Ian Cohen ranked "7 Words" as the band's 21st-best song and similarly observed that it "continues to show up in Deftones setlists", suggesting that even by 2020, the band's commitment to performing it had not changed.[4]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from AllMusic and Adrenaline's liner notes:[8][9]
Deftones
- Chino Moreno – vocals
- Stephen Carpenter – guitar
- Chi Cheng – bass
- Abe Cunningham – drums
Technical
- Deftones – producer
- Terry Date – producer, engineer, mixing
- Ulrich Wild – engineer
- Tom Smurdy – assistant
- Ted Jensen – mastering
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Flick, Larry, ed. (September 30, 1995). "Deftones: 7 Words". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 39. p. 87. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Sciarretto, Amy (September 4, 2012). "10 Best Deftones Songs". Loudwire. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Adams, Gregory (November 6, 2024). "Fan poll: Top 5 live Deftones songs". Revolver. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c Cohen, Ian (November 29, 2020). "The Best Deftones Songs, Ranked". Uproxx. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ Williams, Stuart (July 25, 2022). "Five songs drummers need to hear by Deftones". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Deftones: The Stories Behind The Videos". Blabbermouth.net. October 4, 2005. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ a b c Law, Sam (June 26, 2020). "The 20 Greatest Deftones Songs – Ranked". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "Adrenaline – Deftones". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ Adrenaline (liner notes). Deftones. US: Maverick. 9 46054-2.
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