Deftones redefine spiritual depth and emotional vulnerability on ‘private music’

Recommended Tracks: “i think about you all the time,” “~metal dream,” “departing the body.”
Artists You May Like: Chevelle, Team Sleep, Linkin Park

Five years after Ohms, Deftones are back in full swing with their tenth studio album private music.

Established in Sacramento, California in the late 80s, band members Chino Moreno (lead vocalist), Stephen Carpenter (lead guitarist), Abe Cunningham (drummer), Frank Delgado (turntablist), and the late Chi Cheng (bassist) were childhood friends before writing original music together as a collective. Forming the band Deftones, they took the underground Sacramento rock scene by storm, breaking musical barriers with creative rebellion and an assertive sound.

As the nü-metal pioneers grew in popularity, the cherished rock band achieved memorable milestones. The Grammy-nominated, award-winning Deftones continue to raise the bar by proving to their fans how time is of the essence. With private music, fans are finally granted the opportunity to dive into the spiritual rollercoaster of their evolved sound.

“i think about you all the time” immediately puts the listener in a euphoric state, describing what it means to love your significant other unconditionally. Similar to their seventh studio album Koi No Yokan (which translates to “premonition of love” in Japanese), “i think about you all the time” brings the listener back to the beginning, back to what it feels like to fall for someone.

From verse 1, listeners immediately hear the adoration coupled with the atmospheric sound of guitar strings: “We sail inside of your warship / You sing your refrain and I’m out of my mind.” In a metaphorical sense, sailing into someone’s mind symbolizes having the privilege to understand your partner on a deeper, more spiritual level. In the same vein, the refrain and outro tie into dual harmony: “Riding your wave / wrapped in your calm / And your arms over my head / In your wave / kept me, kept me calm / With your arms over my head.” Surpassing physical intimacy while having unwritten understandings, “i think about you all the time” is the embodiment of being in love with someone’s internal bliss.

The three-minute song “~metal dream” is characterized by experimental riffs throughout. It wraps the listener into a cocoon of their own thoughts. As the song begins, the listener is embraced with the opening verse: “Strap into your gown and jewels, deep into the heart of the abyss / Searching for a solace recreated far beyond of what exists / Sink inside a velvet tomb, floating out of time as we embrace / Deeply enthralled in your grasp.”

Instantly, listeners are pulled into a psychedelic trance of self-discovery. Although “~metal dream” captures the meaning of craving spiritual growth, love is also a recurring theme: “In your dreams, all we see are the gold-drenched days laid ahead / Off we sleep, and soon, we’ll sink in perfect pose together / In your dreams, all we see are the gold-drenched days laid ahead / Off we sleep, and soon, we’ll sink in perfect pose forever // forever.” Here, the chorus ends “~metal dream” on a high note; feeling like a dream you would never want to wake up from.

With private music coming to a close, “departing the body” is an astounding shift from what we normally hear from Deftones. Catching fans by surprise, listeners are greeted by the change in Chino Moreno’s voice. From the start, the haunting 50 seconds of stillness before he sings “There’s a room we hang in space / it’s clear, cold,” showcases the silence that comes before stepping into a new beginning. Almost like going through the final waves of acceptance, “departing the body” provides us with closure when experiencing the intricacies of love and spirituality.

Since the release of private music, Deftones are taking the charts by storm. Additionally, Deftones will hit the road this year for the second leg of their North American tour with Fred Salban (touring bassist), who joined the band officially in 2022 after the sudden departure of former band member Sergio Vega in 2021. Tickets are available to purchase here.