Sensual and mellow haven't been adjectives associated with aggro band Deftones--until now. The quintet's third outing finds their aural punch softened and deepened, lending songs such as "Digital Bath" a sultry, layered edge. More Tool than Pantera in its sonics, White Pony, in fact, includes a collaboration with Tool/A Perfect Circle singer Maynard James Keenan in the haunting "Passenger." Fans of the band's earlier, harder albums will still find some satisfaction in these developments. "Elite" boasts chunky riffing and metal/rap leanings, while "Korea" is anguished and edgy. More striking, however, are songs like the quirky, futuristic, fervent "RX Queen" and the gentle "Teenager." If you're in the mood to mosh, 1995's Adrenaline and '97's Around the Fur are better choices. For a different Deftones journey, however, delve into this diverse, dynamic, and heady album sans preconceived notions and let White Pony take you on a wondrous ride. --Katherine Turman