Although four years have passed since 2016’s Gore, this band have never taken longer to come out with a new set of tracks – not including the still-unreleased Eros, which would have been their sixth album if not for the tragic passing of original bassist Chi Cheng. On top of an already formidable collection of characteristics, Deftones are nothing if not persistent. Classic tracks like “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)”, “My Own Summer”, “Diamond Eyes”, “Change (In the House of Flies)” and “Minerva” are almost spiritual experiences, cryptic puzzles to be deciphered through countless hours of dedicated listening.

Vocalist Chino Moreno’s moans and heavily obfuscated lyrics remain enigmatic, even a quarter of a century after Deftones’ debut Adrenaline dropped in 1995 guitarist Stephen Carpenter’s carefully woven chord progressions and gritty yet harmonically clear tones are immediately recognisable and the band’s backline roots everything in bone-breaking grooves and electronic soundscapes. Like any genuinely timeless band, Deftones have gradually evolved while maintaining an abundance of unique traits. The band’s ability to attract diverse crowds of equally die-hard admirers has also helped them withstand the test of time, even as trends like nu-metal, metalcore, emo and djent ensnared a long list of bandwagon-jumpers.

Inviting an apparently random cast of characters, from Gojira to Chvrches and Megan Thee Stallion of “WAP” fame, proved more than a little controversial – but Deftones fans come from all walks of life.

Deftones’ longevity is of course largely due to their massively diverse palette of influences, reflected in the lineup selected for their own festival series, Dia De Los Deftones.

Top deftones albums