Deftones return with new album ‘private music’
The band return with a new record after 5 years.
Photo: Jimmy Fontaine
After a half-decade wait since the previous album, Ohms, GRAMMY Award-winning Deftones return with their new masterpiece private music.
In the time between then and now, the band have played some of their biggest shows in their history and finally return on tour in the UK in 2026 after a mini tour covering Halifax, Cornwall and London this summer.
Formed in Sacramento, California, the band have made a name for themselves with albums like Around the Fur and White Pony.
The stylistic storytelling throughout the album, paired with the iconography of a snake on the album cover, represents the beginning of a new life and, therefore, a new era for the band.
The album is a refreshing take on their discography, with singles my mind is a mountain and milk of the madonna showing fans the habitual heavy metal side of the album. However, fans should be excited for the remaining songs yet to be heard, some of which follow a more experimental and alternative route with drummer Abe Cunningham’s rhythmic differences being the backbone for this collection of songs and setting the album apart from others this year.
A turning point in the album is midway through with the song i think of you all the time, which feels like a rare glimpse into the softer side of Deftones. This love song feels like a continuation of Sextape from their 2010 album Diamond Eyes, as well as reminiscent of Teenager and Cherry Waves with the soft guitar and vocals.
One of the lyrics from this song — “All of my life you’ve been the same, all of our days, you will never change” — is a line that caught my attention the most and stayed in my mind throughout the whole album.
Perhaps this song — seventh on the album — is a turning point for the storyline; maybe the writer is coming to a realisation that, although you may love them, without the change, they will never grow. Linking to the snake on the front cover, the song helps to connect the theme of change and growth throughout the album due to the following song, milk of the madonna.
Sharing this single as the most recent release for the album was a smart move from Deftones, as they are aware that this is the genre fans know and love from the band. It is a safe song to build atmosphere and excitement for this anthology.
Chino Moreno is vocally incredible on this album, with his voice seemingly getting younger and younger each passing year. The dreamy, yet heavy attacks in the music give the effect of whiplash, whilst listening to the album in full, a complete experience in its own world.
Fans can expect similarities between older records too, with inspiration being pulled from previous albums by the band throughout their music. With producer Nick Raskulinecz returning to the band after his work on Diamond Eyes (2010) and Koi No Yokan (2012), it feels like a conclusion to an era fans are unaware of yet.
The final song, departing the body, is a strong 90-second opening but may lose fans towards the end. It doesn’t feel like the correct ending to an album this well anticipated by its audience. It is incredibly Diamond Eyes-esque, however with this abrupt ending to the album, it could lead fans to expect more of this tone.
All currently released singles for this album are quintessentially Deftones: heavy and broody. And, although fans can expect something similar to this for the rest of the record, be ready for a younger, more experimental album at heart.
private music is out August 22nd via Reprise Records. Pre-order here.