Deftones just unlocked a whole new level
PRIVATE Music feels like a luminous dreamscape and an evolved manifesto all at once.
I’m calling it: Private Music is a five star, 10/10 masterpiece, standing shoulder to shoulder with Around the Fur, White Pony, Diamond Eyes, Saturday Night Wrist, Koi No Yokan, and everything in between. It’s like everything they’ve done over the years condensed into one album, heavenly and emotionally rich, marked by the same restless energy and cathartic beauty I’ve always loved.
The white snake artwork isn’t just mesmerizing, it’s symbolic. It weaves through the lore of this new chapter, a visceral symbol of rebirth and temptation, slithering its way from the shadows into the light. Dark and hypnotic, but also seductive and fresh, it’s classic Deftones, but in a new skin.
Private Music, bathed in dreamy guitars, haze, and atmosphere, leans heavier into shoegaze than previous albums, yet it never abandons the visceral grit teeming in Deftones’ early sound. The heaviest track on this record, “cut hands”, serves as a ruthless reminder that Deftones can lunge for the jugular at their will.
Then there are songs like “milk of the madonna,” whose beat and riffs echo a similar pulse to “Mein” from Saturday Night Wrist, a callback longtime fans will immediately notice. It’s that balance between ethereal shoegaze and raw heaviness that makes this record feel both familiar and revitalized, evolving yet rooted in everything that’s made Deftones untouchable. From “my mind is a mountain” to “departing the body”, this record delivers pure transcendence.
MISSY’S RATINGS
As a standalone album, Private Music is flawless; within the Deftones catalog, it may not reach the untouchable heights of White Pony or Diamond Eyes, but it stands amongst their finest work, a testament to the band’s enduring brilliance. In terms of replay value, it’s perfection, zero skips, simply mood and atmosphere unfolding in layers that only deepen with each listen. This is Deftones proving yet again why they remain one of the most consistent bands in existence, keeping us OG fans anchored while inviting new generations into their universe.
Final Thoughts
Private Music is a record that feels both ethereal and crushing, shoegaze-drenched yet sharp with the grit of their roots. As a fan, it’s everything I hoped for, a luminous and transformative listen that stands proud among their greatest works while still carving out its own space.
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