When you measure up the string of groups who have participated in the Music in High Places series, then Deftones seem even more out of place. Quite simply, the band couldn't be more negatively charged to what the concept of this program stands for.

Make no mistake, Deftones are a powerhouse in the movement of 'nu-metal'. One of the pioneering bands of the genre, Deftones have officially survived the elimination process of marketing, genre trends and fickle teens without compromising a single thing that made them exceptional in the first place. In other words, they survived the mainstream by never really participating in it.

Not to imply that Deftones don't deserve the attention of a program like Music in High Places, it's just the wrong kind of situation to place them in. Throughout the programme, the band seems consistently out of place with the surroundings (some passing comments from the band members even further confirming this), and as a result the whole thing seems like a big joke.

Basically, the program shows the band on a whirlwind tour of Hawaii, trekking through lava fields, walking along beaches and receiving information about the areas from tour guides - which is all well and good if it weren't for the fact that the band constantly look like they would rather be drinking.

Despite the cover claims of an unplugged performance, only half of the program is acoustic and only two of these songs are here in their entirety. The rest of the performance has been taken from an impromptu live gig the band held for a handful of locals.

While the creators of the program are clearly trying to make praise of the band's live brutality, the outweighing of this footage over the acoustic material ends up being highly annoying. Not only is much of the live performance lacking in quality (the band is clearly run down, tired and generally suffering from a fairly poor sound mix), but much of the acoustic performance that remains is rather rudely interrupted by footage from the gig. Sure, the acoustic material is clearly rough around the edges, but that's the charm of it.

The band certainly have their moments during the unplugged performances, yet the creators still insist on jarring the viewer back into the live footage. Even if it is some sort of ham fisted statement on the band's unplugged abilities (there are many sly dialogue cuts that insinuate this), it is executed with the professionalism of a poorly disguised fox in a chicken coup.

That said, fans of the band should certainly enjoy this performance - but then again, it's not like they have much choice, as this is the only visual release they have so far.

The track listing is as follows:

Headup
Knife Party
Digital Bath
One Weak
The Boy's Republic
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
Around the Fur
Feiticeira
Change (In the House of Flies)

The overall video quality for Deftones Live in Hawaii is certainly consistent with the Music in High Places series. It is generally clear and free from any noticeable problems throughout.

With a considerable production crew, a large amount of the local scenery has been lovingly captured on digital video, with some particularly stunning footage of active lava fields.

The only major problems with the footage are the conditions that it was shot in. Rather than the sunny paradise Hawaii is assumed to be, much of the footage was shot with grey skies above, high wind levels and an abundance of rain. This results in a transfer that looks fine generally, but is all too often under-lit and slightly pale.

The only other remaining problem is the occasional lapse in focus. When working with video, one tends to expect these things, but a higher level of quality control would have been desirable.

Of course these are problems inherent within the footage itself, rather than anything to do with the authors of the DVD. To their credit, the show is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic ratio that goes far in making up for the faults that were built into the footage.

While the entire program is available in 5.1 surround, I can't recommend this as being the most desirable track to listen to. Much of the performance sounds extremely unnatural due to some odd mixing choices. The stereo track is, in comparison, much more appropriate in this case, as it provides a far more solid representation of the band's live sound.

There is a generous amount of extras on offer here, with the featurettes and extra interview footage adding up to at least a good 40 minutes.

The major additions are the two Featurettes, "Behind the Scenes" and "Getting There". The first contains some interesting, mildly amusing footage of the overall production and interviews with the crew, while the second is a candid trek with the band throughout their experience making the program and travelling around Hawaii.

Around ten minutes of extra Location Footage is also provided. Mostly raw outtakes, there are some new shots of worth within, however much of it is simply extended or rehashed shots contained within the final program.

Two Interview reels show the band in a relaxed state, reflecting on the overall experience of making the program. The first is with the entire band, minus front man Chino Moreno, and is a fairly amusing document of their overall disinterest in what they are doing. Likewise the second interview reel with Chino Moreno, who subtly suggests the whole thing might be a little bit cheesy.

A Music Only feature allows the viewer to select just the performance sections from the program, while several rather cringeworthy Promo Spots from the band advertise the Music in High Places series.

Last of all, a generously detailed Biography outlines the Deftones' musical history.

Music in High Places - Deftones Live in Hawaii is, unfortunately, not the most flattering representation of the Deftones. The band appears fairly run down throughout the whole experience, and as a result, much of the live footage is somewhat disappointing. However, fans that have been gagging for a visual release from the band should find the program generally satisfying.