Deftones - Private Music (August 22nd, 2025) Album • Page 52

It's funny, I was just thinking last night how interesting it would be to hear them do something quieter again, like the verses from "Digital Bath." It seems they've settled in the middle somewhere after self-titled; still riffy, but definitely more alt-rock-adjacent than the heavy (and eventually, experimental) vibes they were doing on those first four-five records. I'm glad I have Deftones records for whatever mode I'm feeling depending on the day.

 

100 percent. I think they are at their best when they make songs like Lovers, Battle Axe, Lhabia, etc., but I’m not mad about this newer style.

 

update: FINALLY got shipping for this

 

They are rebroadcasting https://www.privatemusic.tv/ for anyone who missed it. Starts in a few minutes.

 

Saw someone online who ordered the limited edition numbered copy and it wasn't numbered. Seems to be a lot of issues on the store end of things. Response to customers hasn't been great.

 

yeah, responses have been standardized but a little rude

 

Cut Hands is pretty heavy by modern Deftones standards

 

Yeah, they definitely have heavier newer tracks. It's more of an atmosphere thing for me though. Battle Axe has no harsh vocals or breakdowns, but it feels heavier than just about anything they've done since, if that makes sense. Same with Lovers. Even something like Birthmark, in standard E tuning, feels heavier.

 

I love super heavy stuff as much as the next guy, but I kind of like the way they've done heavy stuff since, say, KNY more than how they used to do it on self-titled and earlier

 

I do miss the “danger” of a track like Hexagram or WGTB or Rats popping up on an album. The ferocity of those songs melted my brain back in the day.

Fortunately, they still toss us a bone every once in a while with songs like Gore and Cut Hands. The guys are in their fifties now and probably have a lot less natural motivation to make complete ragers. Thankfully there’s still a lot of aggression and dissonance musically on the new album.

 

I think Deftones are at their best when they have a foot in both camps and are heavy and dreamy

That’s why I fuck with songs like Cherry Waves, Romantic Dreams, Ohms and Infinite Source

 

Listen, they switch command. Just because they can!

 

This Link Is Dead was pretty heavy too, one of my faves on Ohms. Radiant City to a slightly lesser degree as well

 

Yes, This Link Is Dead was the biggest grower for me on Ohms but I love it now. It's got a thread of existential dread in it that the rest of the record doesn't have that makes it pretty unique. Cut Hands feels like a slightly more refined version of it. I think I like the Cut Hands chorus better though.

 

After countless listens, I have some more unsolicited thoughts on PM:

- I think it’s one of their most consistent albums from track one to track eleven.

- I think it’s most similar to Around the Fur. It’s like they took a stab at making that album again 30 years later. It’s bright and melodic, energetic, a little weird and throwback, and still plenty aggressive.

- Currently, I’d probably rank it third in their discography behind KNY and WP.