Deftones Drops! New Album private music review!

Deftones have been a staple in many of my playlists since I first discovered them at the very beginning of 2023. I remember my first time hearing a Deftones song. I was 12, sitting in my guitar class. I hadn’t put much thought into the genre of hard rock back then. My guitar teacher put “My Own Summer” on the screen, and I was blown away by the song. Around the Fur remains one of my favorite albums of all time.

In July, Deftones released the first teaser for the lead single, “my mind is a mountain,” from their new album, private music. The single was released on July 10th on all streaming platforms. Being such a fan of their music, I listened to it as soon as I could. I have to admit, I was hoping for something resembling their earlier albums-- but that doesn’t mean I was disappointed. In fact, I’m glad it wasn’t equivalent to the chugging riffs of Adrenaline or the screeching vocals of Around the Fur. The entire album elicits an indie rock vibe, and while the album’s sound is a far cry from their formative years, I could still feel the early Deftones spirit buried underneath the shoegaze exterior. The ninth track of the album, “cut hands,” is a pleasant callback to their debut album, Adrenaline, with its nu-metal reminiscent lyrics and rhythm, but it still rings true to the core indie/shoegaze theme. After listening to the entire album for the first time when it completely came out on August 22nd, 2025, I found myself quite enjoying it, despite it not being my usual genre of music. I would say my favorite track is “i think about you all the time,” mainly because when reading about this album, I came across an interview with front man Chino Moreno, in which he stated,

“I remember getting up in the morning, walking down the street, jumping in the ocean, coming back in my swim trunks and sitting there in my bare feet with the guitar and just start playing,” (C. Moreno, Apple Music interview, 2025), which really stuck with me because it made the song feel more genuine and from the heart. While the album is quite good, it could never live up to the standards set by Deftones in the mid-'90s. Adrenaline and Around the Fur were absolute masterpieces of their time, and I doubt they could be replicated today.

Chino Moreno performing with Deftones at River City Rockfest in San Diego, 2014 (Credit: Ralph Arvesen)

All in all, I would give Deftones’ private music an eight out of ten. The indie rock sound of most of the album makes it feel a lot less heavy than other Deftones material, but it was still enjoyable to listen to. However, the two-and-a-half-year production time seems excessive for the content provided. So, while I enjoyed the album, I would’ve liked more content. That said, I think you all should listen to this new album and support the artist!

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My name is Brody Beck. I’m a sophomore here at Poudre. This is my first year with the Poudre Press. I’m a huge music nerd, and I adore attending local shows. When I graduate, I would like to go on to higher education to become an audio engineer at a recording studio and perhaps pursue my own interests in creating music.