Hexagram (song)

{{Original research|date=September 2011}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Hexagram

| cover = Hexa4.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Deftones

| album = Deftones

| B-side = Lovers

| released = {{start date|2003|8|26}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771|title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock|magazine=FMQB|access-date=October 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771|archive-date=March 22, 2013|url-status=dead}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Alternative metal{{cite magazine|last=Hart|first=Josh|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/magnificent-seven-10-greatest-seven-string-guitar-songs-all-time|title=Magnificent Seven: The 10 Greatest Seven-String Guitar Songs of All Time|magazine=Guitar World|date=May 14, 2013|access-date=September 18, 2021}}

| length = 4:09

| label = Maverick

| writer =

| producer = Terry Date

| prev_title = Minerva

| prev_year = 2003

| next_title = Hole in the Earth

| next_year = 2006

}}

"Hexagram" is a song by American alternative metal band Deftones. It was the second single released from their eponymous fourth studio album. The cover art for the single is a work titled "Bandaged Love" by artist Elliott Rae.{{cite web|url=http://www.kavigupta.com/artists/macomber/am_images.html|title=Kavi Gupta Gallery - Ashley Macomber|access-date=October 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821101030/http://www.kavigupta.com/artists/macomber/am_images.html|archive-date=August 21, 2007|url-status=dead}}

Music video

{{More citations needed section|date=November 2023}}

The black-and-white music video for "Hexagram" showed excited fans entering a building to watch a live performance of the song. As such, the majority of the video focused on this performance, with small exceptions like a shirtless, incapacitated Chino Moreno lying on the floor during the moody bridge. Audio for the video was taken entirely from the studio recording until the very end, which featured live crowd noise.

In contrast to the single's minimal radio play, the "Hexagram" video earned significant rotation on the more underground-oriented Headbangers Ball and Uranium in late 2003.

Reception

In reviewing Deftones, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "Hexagram", the album's opener, "hits hard—harder than they ever have, revealing how mushy Staind is, or how toothless Linkin Park is".{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r641315|pure_url=yes}}|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=Deftones – Deftones|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 18, 2010}} Betty Clarke of The Guardian negatively criticized Moreno's rough vocals on the song for its melancholic nature.{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Betty|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/jun/04/artsfeatures.popandrock|title=The Deftones {{!}} Music|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 4, 2003}}

Cover versions

In 2010, German metalcore band War from a Harlots Mouth recorded a cover of the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalkaoz.com/interviews/50-war-from-a-harlots-mouth-simon|title=War From A Harlots Mouth - Simon|website=Metal Kaoz|date=February 4, 2011|access-date=November 15, 2023}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Deftones

| title1 = Hexagram

| length1 = 4:09

| title2 = Bloody Cape

| length2 = 3:36

| title3 = Lovers

| length3 = 4:11

}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
Chart (2003)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Scotland (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20030928/41/|title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=September 28, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

|align="center"|72

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20030928/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 100|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=September 28, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

|align="center"|68

scope="row"|UK Rock & Metal (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-singles-chart/20030928/111/|title=Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=September 28, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2022}}

|align="center"|11

References