After months of cryptic teasers and mysterious visuals, Deftones have finally unveiled details of their long-awaited 10th studio album, private music, set for release on August 22, 2025. This marks the band’s first full-length project since 2020’s Ohms, ending a five-year drought and kicking off a bold new chapter for the alt-metal pioneers.
Fans began piecing things together earlier this year as Deftones dropped cryptic projections at shows and posted abstract, unsettling imagery across their social platforms. The digital breadcrumbs sparked widespread speculation—and now the rumors are confirmed: private music is real, and it begins with the brooding debut single, “my mind is a mountain.”
The track wastes no time plunging into familiar yet evolved territory. With Chino Moreno’s ethereal vocals buried in a storm of crushing guitars and cinematic ambiance, “my mind is a mountain” captures that unmistakable Deftones balance of weight and atmosphere. The hypnotic pulse, emotional tension, and textured production signal a return to form, while pushing into deeper, more experimental terrain.
private music also introduces fans to a slightly reshaped lineup, featuring Fred Sablan (formerly of Marilyn Manson) on bass—his first recorded appearance with the band following Sergio Vega’s departure in 2021.
Behind the boards once again is Nick Raskulinecz, the producer who helped sculpt two of Deftones’ most beloved records: Diamond Eyes (2010) and Koi No Yokan (2012). His return suggests a revival of that lush, immersive production style that defined the band’s sonic peak.
Here’s the official private music track listing:
- my mind is a mountain
- locked club
- ecdysis
- infinite source
- souvenir
- cXz
- i think about you all the time
- milk of the madonna
- cut hands
- ~metal dream
- departing the body
With this album, Deftones appear ready to dive deeper into the surreal, emotional, and uncompromising soundscapes they’ve spent decades mastering. If “my mind is a mountain” is just the beginning, private music may stand as one of their most atmospheric and adventurous efforts yet.
