Review: Private Music by Deftones
Intro / Summary
On the latest episode of the podcast, we went in depth on the new Deftones record. This review was summarized from the podcast transcript. You should definitely listen to the episode to get a true flavor for the discussion.
Deftones are thirty years into their career, and somehow they’re bigger now than they’ve ever been. Private Music, released in early 2025, is the latest proof that this band has found a rare second life. They’re still playing NBA arenas, still winning over new generations, and still putting out records that feel vital. This one isn’t about obvious singles like “Change (In the House of Flies)” or “Be Quiet and Drive.” Instead, Private Music is a full-album experience. It’s moody, heavy, melodic, and best enjoyed from start to finish.
Andrew’s Take
For me, Private Music is an upper-echelon Deftones record. I’m not putting it up there with Adrenaline or the self-titled, but I’d slot it right alongside Diamond Eyes and Saturday Night Wrist. It flows beautifully, the kind of album you can live inside from beginning to end. Standouts for me are “Infinite Source,” “Ecdysis,” and “Departing the Body.” That last one is a perfect closer, and the opening vocal part shocked me because I didn’t even realize it was Chino. Supposedly, he tracked it quietly at home because his family was in the house, and the producer decided to keep it.
The biggest surprise is just how good Chino sounds now. He’s objectively a better singer than he was in the ’90s, which almost never happens with aging rock vocalists. Sobriety seems to suit him, and you can tell he’s more connected to the music than ever. I love that they’ve become an “album band” in this stage of their career. It’s less about singles and more about cohesive statements, and Private Music nails that lane.
Craig’s Take
I like Private Music a lot. It sounds like Deftones in all the best ways, and it just feels good to have this record in my life. But I’m with Andrew, this is a great Deftones record. I don’t know that there are any obvious setlist staples here yet. A song like “I Think About You All the Time” stands out to me because it’s softer and more melodic, but it’s not going to get a crowd moving. That said, these songs will blend into their live show and probably find their place that way.
Compared to Ohms, I think this one flows better front to back. I still love “Genesis” and the title track from Ohms, but that record gets a little lost in the middle. This one hangs together. And sure, I’ll probably pull back some of my glowing praise in a few years once the shiny-new-thing effect wears off, but right now I’m happy to have new Deftones. Even when I nitpick, it’s only because I hold this band in such high regard. I’ve been with them through every album, and I don’t detest a single one. Private Music won’t be the record I reach for every time, but when I do, it’ll make me glad to be a fan still.