Deftones
22 vinyl records found
Deftones are a Sacramento metal band that started in the nu metal wave of the mid-1990s but carved their own path toward atmospheric, experimental territory by the 2000s. If you're after records that balance heaviness with texture and space, their catalog rewards repeated spins on wax.
About Deftones
Formed in 1988, Deftones emerged from Sacramento with Chino Moreno's distinctive vocal delivery anchoring their sound from day one. Early albums like Adrenaline and Around the Fur placed them in the nu metal conversation, but their restless approach to songwriting and willingness to absorb influences beyond metal set them apart. By the time White Pony arrived in 2000, critics recognized something different: a band more interested in dream pop atmospherics and post-hardcore texture than the mechanical heaviness dominating their peers.
Moreno's vocal approach draws inspiration from singers like Robert Smith, David Gahan, and Morrissey, and his lyrics favor evocative, sparse language that leaves room for listener interpretation rather than spelling things out. This sensibility, combined with Stephen Carpenter's guitar work and Frank Delgado's textural keyboard and turntable contributions, creates records that feel both substantial and spacious. The rhythm section, anchored by drummer Abe Cunningham and bassist Chi Cheng until his 2008 car accident, provided the foundation for albums like Diamond Eyes, Saturday Night Wrist, and Koi No Yokan that deepened their experimental approach.
The band's work extends into side projects, with Moreno fronting Team Sleep and Carpenter collaborating with members of Fear Factory and Cypress Hill in Kush. Collectors tracking Deftones vinyl will find The Groove Hunter monitoring 20 editions across titles including Around the Fur, White Pony, Diamond Eyes, Saturday Night Wrist, Koi No Yokan, Deftones, Adrenaline, and Private Music, giving you a solid reference point for pressing variants and reissues.
