When one thinks about West Coast rock strongholds, the city of Sacramento does not spring instantly to mind. California�s capitol city many never rang along-side the likes of L.A. or Seattle in terms of being a music industry mecca. But if the Deftones have anything to say about it, by the time they�re through laying down their brand of hard-hitting, punk-tinged riff-rock, at least their home port won�t be regarded as merely another bastion of conservative Republican politics. For vocalist Chino Moreno, guitarist Stephan Carpenter, drummer Abe Cunnigham and bassist Chi Cheng the release of the debut disc, Adrenaline, signals not only their emergence on the rock world, but also the maturation of the entire Sacramento music scene.

"Sacramento has a pretty happening music community," Carpenter said. "There are a lot of killer bands, but the bad part is that we�ve only got one place � the Cattle Club � where you can really play. I know that some musicians have left the area looking for places where they�ll have more opportunity. But maybe the fact that we�re out there will spur some other groups in Sacramento to stick around and wait for their chance."

Patience is just one of the virtues shown by the four life-long friends who comprise the Deftones. For four years the band survived on little more than persistence and the small paychecks provided by their day jobs. Try as they might, their demo tapes usually landed on deaf ears - at least at the record labels. Major bands like L7, KoRn and Quicksand, many of whom had heard the Deftones� tapes or caught their club act, gave the group and opening slot on their tours, knowing that their quirky, heavy attack would draw quick and positive responses from fans. But still the major labels passed on the Deftones�and passed�and passed�until finally, Maverick Records � the Madonna-owned label that handles Candlebox, among others � decided to step in and give the Deftones a chance.

"We just saw not reason to give up," Carpenter explained. "We were playing live, and some great bands were telling us to stick with it. The fact that those bands gave us a chance to go on tour with them also gave us a lot of confidence. After all, there were a lot of signed, major label acts they could have chose to play with � but they chose us. During that whole period, we were also making demo tape after demo tape, hoping that somebody at a label would listen to it. Obviously, someone at Maverick finally did."

The band quickly moved into the studio with noted producer Terry Date (whose previous credits include work with Soundgarden and White Zombie) to lay down the 11 tracks that comprise Adrenaline. From the hyper energy of "7 Words" to the more controlled powers of "Lifter," the disc has managed to capture all the kinetic force that the Deftones have made their on-stage trademark. While certain comparisons to the likes of Jane�s Addiction or Smashing Pumpkins can be made � groups, by the way, the �Tones cite as primary influences � it seems that this is one rock and roll act that has quickly established their own unique stamp. With Moreno�s passionate vocals leading the way, the Deftones have created a rock-solid foundation for what promises to be a long and eventful career in the rock and roll circus.

"One of the best things we have going for us is our dynamics," Moreno said. "There�s never too much of anything. It�s not like there�s a real heavy song and then immediately after a real soft song. We have what we like to consider a real distinctive sound that blends together a lot of different sounds. I guess that happens because when we�re on stage we like to keep things moving along. We don�t like to get things all pumped up, then have to tone it way down. That same kind of energy flow is what keeps this album pumping along."