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Alternative Metal · Shoegaze · Sacramento, CA

Deftones

Deftones built one of heavy music’s most distinctive sounds: huge low-tuned riffs, dreamlike atmosphere, sharp rhythm changes, electronic textures and Chino Moreno’s voice moving from whisper to scream in the space of a few seconds.

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Formed
1988
Origin
Sacramento, CA
Albums
10
Genre
Alt Metal
Latest Album
Private Music
Background

About Deftones

Deftones formed in Sacramento, California in 1988 around childhood friends Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham. They arrived during the same decade that would later produce nu metal, but the band always felt stranger than the scene around them. Carpenter’s massive guitar tone gave the music its physical impact, while Moreno brought a sense of vulnerability, danger and sensuality that set Deftones apart from more straightforward heavy bands.

Adrenaline introduced their raw early style, but Around the Fur was the real leap. My Own Summer (Shove It) and Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) captured the collision that would define the band: violent riffs, floating melodies, frustration, beauty and atmosphere all in the same frame. By the time Frank Delgado became a full member, the electronic and textural side of Deftones was becoming just as important as the heaviness.

White Pony changed everything. Released in 2000, it pushed Deftones beyond nu metal into something more abstract, erotic, dreamy and experimental. Change (In the House of Flies), Digital Bath, Knife Prty and Elite showed a band using space as much as volume. The album’s reputation has only grown, becoming one of the most influential heavy records of the 21st century.

The band’s later history has been marked by reinvention and loss. Bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in a 2008 car accident and died in 2013, with Sergio Vega later joining for a long era that included Diamond Eyes, Koi No Yokan, Gore and Ohms. In the 2020s, Fred Sablan entered the fold on bass, and Private Music arrived as Deftones’ tenth studio album — another reminder that few heavy bands have aged with as much mystery, taste and influence.

Ranked

Top 10 Deftones Songs

Ranked by songwriting craft, atmosphere, cultural impact, live legacy and how well each track represents a key Deftones era.

01
Change (In the House of Flies)
White Pony
The definitive Deftones song: slow, haunted, sensual and heavy without needing constant aggression. Change is built on restraint, atmosphere and one of Chino Moreno’s most magnetic vocal performances. It opened Deftones to a wider audience while fully preserving their strangeness.
2000
02
My Own Summer (Shove It)
Around the Fur
That opening riff is one of the great 90s alternative metal moments. My Own Summer is lean, ugly and hypnotic, with a chorus that floats above the weight instead of simply shouting back at it. It remains the best gateway into the heavier side of classic Deftones.
1997
03
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
Around the Fur
One of Deftones’ most emotional early songs and the clearest sign that they were never just another heavy band. Be Quiet and Drive turns escape into texture: distorted guitars, aching melody and a chorus that feels like leaving your body.
1997
04
Digital Bath
White Pony
Digital Bath is Deftones at their most seductive and unsettling. Abe Cunningham’s drum groove is elegant, Frank Delgado’s textures add humidity and Chino’s vocal sounds almost too intimate. It is a perfect example of the band making heavy music without relying on obvious heaviness.
2000
05
Sextape
Diamond Eyes
Sextape is one of the band’s most beautiful songs: oceanic, glowing and almost weightless. It shows why Deftones are loved by listeners far outside metal circles. The song is soft by their standards, but the atmosphere is enormous.
2010
06
Diamond Eyes
Diamond Eyes
After the tragedy surrounding Chi Cheng, Diamond Eyes sounded like a rebirth. The riff is huge, the chorus is radiant and the band sound focused rather than broken. It is the best introduction to the modern Deftones era.
2010
07
Minerva
Deftones
Minerva is one of the band’s most shoegaze-adjacent anthems. The guitars feel like a wall of light rather than a weapon, and Chino’s vocal gives the song a strange, devotional quality. It is heavy, but in a completely different way from the early material.
2003
08
Knife Prty
White Pony
A deep fan favourite that captures the dangerous glamour of White Pony. Knife Prty is strange, narcotic and violent in mood, with Rodleen Getsic’s guest vocal turning the middle section into something genuinely unnerving.
2000
09
Rosemary
Koi No Yokan
Rosemary is Deftones in widescreen: patient, spacious and emotionally overwhelming. The song builds like a slow-motion storm, showing how strong the band became at stretching atmosphere across longer forms without losing intensity.
2012
10
My Mind Is a Mountain
Private Music
The first major glimpse of Private Music showed a band still able to sound both familiar and unstable. My Mind Is a Mountain has the weight, atmosphere and strange emotional pull that define late-era Deftones, while pointing toward the album’s leaner modern focus.
2025

For the full ranking see the best Deftones songs guide.

Discography

Deftones Albums: Where to Start

Key albums with honest notes on who each one is for.

1995
Adrenaline
Start here if: you want the raw beginning
The debut is aggressive, restless and much less atmospheric than later Deftones. 7 Words and Bored show the early sound before the band’s dreamier identity fully emerged.
1997
Around the Fur
⭐ Best starting point: heavy classic era
The best entry point into early Deftones. My Own Summer, Be Quiet and Drive and the title track capture the band’s mix of aggression, atmosphere and emotional unease.
2000
White Pony
⭐ Best starting point overall
The essential Deftones album. Change, Digital Bath, Knife Prty and Passenger pushed the band into artier, more atmospheric territory and cemented their legacy.
2003
Deftones
Start here if: you want the dark self-titled era
A heavy, murky and underrated album with Minerva, Hexagram and Bloody Cape. It is less immediate than White Pony but full of atmosphere.
2006
Saturday Night Wrist
Start here if: you want the messy cult favourite
A difficult but fascinating album shaped by tension and experimentation. Hole in the Earth, Cherry Waves and Beware are the key tracks.
2010
Diamond Eyes
⭐ Best starting point: modern era
A focused and emotionally powerful comeback album. Diamond Eyes, Sextape and Rocket Skates make it one of the easiest modern Deftones records to recommend.
2012
Koi No Yokan
⭐ Best starting point: atmospheric Deftones
One of their most balanced albums, blending heaviness, romance, space and precision. Rosemary, Tempest and Leathers are key tracks.
2020
Ohms
Start here if: you want late-era heaviness
A strong late-career album with Terry Date back producing. Genesis, Ohms and Ceremony show a band reconnecting with weight and atmosphere.
2025
Private Music
Start here if: you want current Deftones
The latest studio album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz with Deftones. My Mind Is a Mountain and Milk of the Madonna introduced a lean, atmospheric new chapter.
History

Deftones: Key Moments

1988
Formation in Sacramento
Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham form Deftones in Sacramento, building a heavy sound that would later become much more atmospheric and experimental.
1995
Adrenaline introduces the band
Adrenaline establishes Deftones as a raw, intense alternative metal band, with Bored and 7 Words becoming early fan favourites.
1997
Around the Fur defines the early sound
Around the Fur gives the band their first major classics, including My Own Summer and Be Quiet and Drive.
2000
White Pony changes their legacy
White Pony pushes Deftones beyond nu metal into experimental, atmospheric and sensual territory. It becomes one of the defining heavy albums of its era.
2001
Grammy win for Elite
Elite wins the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, giving the White Pony era official recognition.
2008
Chi Cheng accident
Bassist Chi Cheng is seriously injured in a car accident, changing the band’s future. He remained in a semi-comatose state until his death in 2013.
2010
Diamond Eyes begins a new era
Diamond Eyes arrives with Sergio Vega on bass and becomes one of the band’s strongest modern records.
2012
Koi No Yokan expands the atmosphere
Koi No Yokan refines the modern Deftones sound, balancing heaviness, romance, patience and space.
2020
Ohms reunites with Terry Date
Ohms brings producer Terry Date back and reconnects the band with a heavier, more classic-feeling sound.
2025
Private Music arrives
Private Music becomes Deftones’ tenth studio album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz and Deftones, and featuring Fred Sablan on bass.
Test Yourself

Deftones Trivia Quiz

Five questions — how many can you get right?

Where to Start

Best Deftones Songs by Listening Mood

Not sure where to begin? Use this as your entry point.

First song ever
Change
Heavy classic
My Own Summer
Emotional escape
Be Quiet and Drive
Seductive atmosphere
Digital Bath
Dreamy modern era
Sextape
Rebirth anthem
Diamond Eyes
Epic slow build
Rosemary
Current Deftones
My Mind Is a Mountain
Questions

Deftones FAQs

When did Deftones form?
Deftones formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. The band was founded by Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter and Abe Cunningham.
Who are the current members of Deftones?
The current line-up is Chino Moreno on vocals and guitar, Stephen Carpenter on guitar, Abe Cunningham on drums, Frank Delgado on keyboards and samples, and Fred Sablan on bass.
What is Deftones' most famous song?
Change (In the House of Flies) is often considered Deftones’ most famous song. My Own Summer, Be Quiet and Drive, Digital Bath, Sextape and Diamond Eyes are also among their best-known tracks.
What is the best Deftones album to start with?
White Pony is the best starting point overall. Around the Fur is best for their heavier 90s sound, while Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan are ideal for the modern atmospheric era.
Who was Chi Cheng?
Chi Cheng was Deftones’ longtime bassist and a key part of their classic sound. He was seriously injured in a 2008 car accident and died in 2013. His legacy remains central to the band’s history.
What is Deftones' latest album?
Deftones’ latest studio album is Private Music, released in 2025. It includes songs such as My Mind Is a Mountain and Milk of the Madonna.
Can I play a Deftones guessing game online?
Yes — RockHeardle includes Deftones tracks. You can also try Metal Heardle for heavier songs.