It starts with that riff. It’s not heavy in the way a jackhammer is heavy; it’s heavy like a humid night before a massive thunderstorm. When Change (In the House of Flies) hit the airwaves in the summer of 2000, it didn’t just put Deftones on the map for the "TRL" crowd—it effectively killed the nu-metal label that had been suffocating the band for years.
Honestly, it’s a weird song. It’s a five-minute slow-burn about metamorphosis and voyeurism, and yet it became their biggest commercial hit. Chino Moreno’s vocals shift from a breathy whisper to that signature jagged scream, and the whole thing feels like you're eavesdropping on something you shouldn't be seeing.
People still argue about what it means. Is it about a literal fly? Is it about a relationship decaying? Or is it just the sound of a band finally finding their soul?
The White Pony Shift: When Everything Changed
Before White Pony, Deftones were often lumped in with the red-baseball-cap-and-shorts crowd. They were the "alternative" kids in the nu-metal scene, sure, but the industry still expected them to deliver Adrenaline part three. Instead, they went into the studio with producer Terry Date and decided to lean into their love for The Cure and My Bloody Valentine.
Change (In the House of Flies) was the anchor for this new identity.
Stephen Carpenter’s guitar work on this track is a masterclass in restraint. He’s a guy who loves eight-string guitars and meshuggah-level riffs, but here, he plays a haunting, ringing melody that leaves massive amounts of space. That space is filled by Abe Cunningham’s drumming, which is arguably some of the most influential percussion in modern rock. It’s funky but dark. It swings.
The band was falling apart and coming together all at once. Tensions were high. They were living in a house in the Hollywood Hills, partying way too hard, and trying to figure out if they were a metal band or a trip-hop band.
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That Creepy Metaphor
The lyrics are deeply uncomfortable if you actually sit down and read them. Chino Moreno has mentioned in various interviews, including a notable deep dive with Kerrang!, that the song is about watching someone change and taking a sick kind of pleasure in pulling their wings off.
"I took you home / I fed you / I felt and I tamed you / And then you were gone."
It’s a metaphor for how we can destroy the people we love by trying to "fix" or "change" them into something that suits us better. It’s possessive. It’s predatory. It’s also incredibly catchy, which is the Deftones' secret weapon. They make the macabre feel like a lullaby.
The Sound of 2000 and the Legacy of the "Fly"
You couldn't escape this song. It was everywhere. It showed up in the movie Little Nicky, of all places, and later in the cult classic Queen of the Damned. It became the blueprint for "moody" rock. Without this track, you don't get the atmospheric layers of bands like Loathe or Sleep Token today.
Basically, Deftones proved that you could be "heavy" without tuned-down chugging.
One thing most people forget is that the song wasn't a sudden fluke. It was the result of a band pushing back against their label, Maverick. The label wanted a "hit," and the band gave them a five-minute epic about insectoid transformation. It’s a miracle it worked.
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Production Secrets
Terry Date’s production on the track is legendary among gearheads. The snare drum sound alone has been debated on forums for two decades. It has this "crack" that cuts through the thick wall of Frank Delgado’s turntables and ambient pads.
If you listen closely to the bridge, the layers of sound are dizzying. There’s a buzzing, literal fly-like synth noise that vibrates in the background. It’s subtle. It’s the kind of detail you only notice on the 50th listen with good headphones.
Most bands would have buried that in the mix, but Deftones let it breathe.
What Most People Get Wrong About Change (In the House of Flies)
A common misconception is that this song is a ballad. It's not. A ballad implies a certain level of sentimentality. Change (In the House of Flies) is far too cold for that. It’s an observation. It’s clinical.
Another myth is that the song was written quickly. While the initial "jam" happened fast, the polishing of the atmosphere took forever. The band was experimenting with more than just instruments—they were playing with the physical space of the studio.
They wanted it to sound like a house. A big, empty, slightly haunted house.
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Why It Still Works in 2026
It’s been over a quarter-century since White Pony dropped, yet this track doesn't sound dated. Why? Because it doesn't rely on the production gimmicks of the early 2000s. There’s no scratchy DJ solo. There’s no forced "rap-rock" bridge.
It’s just raw, atmospheric tension.
The "Fly" song, as many casual fans call it, remains the gateway drug for the band. You hear it, you get hooked by the mood, and suddenly you’re listening to Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan at 3:00 AM. It’s the perfect distillation of their "beauty and the beast" dynamic.
Chi Cheng’s bass line (rest in peace) provides the floor for the whole track. It’s simple, steady, and grounding. Without that solid foundation, Chino’s vocal gymnastics would just float away into the ether.
How to Truly Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to experience the song the way it was intended, stop listening to it on your phone speakers.
- Find a Lossless Version: Grab the FLAC or a high-quality vinyl rip. The compression on standard streaming kills the "air" in the recording.
- Watch the Music Video: Directed by Liz Friedlander, it captures the hedonistic, "party at the end of the world" vibe that inspired the album. It’s grainy, dark, and perfectly suits the track.
- Listen to the Acoustic Version: Deftones released an acoustic take that strips away the distortion. It’s even creepier. It proves that the song is built on a solid melodic structure, not just loud guitars.
- Compare it to "Passenger": To see the range of White Pony, listen to "Change" and then "Passenger" (featuring Maynard James Keenan). You’ll see how "Change" acts as the emotional center of an otherwise chaotic record.
Deftones didn't just write a hit; they created a vibe that hasn't been replicated since. Change (In the House of Flies) is a reminder that rock music can be sophisticated, terrifying, and beautiful all at the same time. It’s the sound of a band refusing to stay in the box the world built for them. They grew wings, and then they invited us to watch them fly.