History has made legends, and one of those legends, Deftones, continues to forge their own path in the world of Alternative Metal. Coming together in Northern California in the late ’80s, Deftones experimented regularly, trying to find a sound all their own. Doing just that, their 1995 debut album Adrenaline showcased their potential.
However, while their debut did not find commercial success, it did form the band a dedicated following. An essential part of the new Alternative Metal movement that was taking shape in the mid-’90s, Deftones became a leader in the style, putting out the impressive Around the Fur in 1997, before the massive White Pony in 2000.
Continuing to grow from here, Deftones never truly settled on one sound, and over the last twenty-five years, since White Pony, they have experimented with different styles from album to album. In fact, some would say 2003’s self-titled album was vastly different than White Pony. The same could be said for each album, including 2012’s Koi No Yokan, and more recently 2020’s Ohms. A journey filled with many interesting twists and turns, now in 2025, Deftones return with their tenth overall studio album, Private Music.
Released on August 22, 2025, through Reprise and Warner Records, Private Music marks their first studio album in five long years. With a lot happening in that time, one of them being Lead Vocalist Chino Moreno’s exploration with Dark Electronic project Crosses, it could be debated that the lapse in time finds Deftones sounding reinvigorated. With Moreno still up front, the classic lineup of Stephen Carpenter on lead guitar, Abe Cunningham on drums, and Frank Delgado on keyboards is joined by Bassist Fred Sablan on these recordings. At the same time, renowned Engineer Nick Raskulinecz handles the production.
An excellent mix, what makes Private Music so special is the songwriting and passion put into it all. Full of energy and memorable melodies, the opening of the single “my mind is a mountain” excels with a heavy drum section, and the ever-growing vocals of Moreno are prominent, letting you know that the song is more about the vocals, along with the music.
From here, other standouts include “ecdysis,” which begins with interesting guitar and synth sounds, showcasing the band’s experimental side well. The lyrics also stick out with the first chorus, “A symbol of our plague, shakes our bones awake, Descending through our Brain, inside these winds.” It is on this track that Moreno’s choice of words makes you want more as you begin to understand what he is singing about.
Later on, “i think about you all the time” slows down tremendously and really drives the meaning home as the music swells and picks up with lyrics “All of my life, We’ll never change, All of our days, show me the way.” However, the album’s closer, “departing the body,” is enough to send the shivers out as it begins low and synthy, then builds up into a low guitar with Moreno almost speaking, “There’s a Room, We hang in space, It’s clear, cold.” Giving vibes of 2003’s “Minerva,” it is a great conclusion that hangs on an experimental sound.
Overall, Deftones’ Private Music from start to finish is something to relish. As alluded to, the sound is ever-evolving and experimenting, and this album is no different. That being said, the sound of Moreno’s voice and the underlying synth-theme, with their heavier Metal sounds, is something that keeps the fans coming back for, which is why Cryptic Rock gives Private Music 5 out of 5 stars.
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