On August 22, the famous alternative metal band Deftones released “Private Music,” which stands as their tenth studio album. After a five-year break since their last album “Ohms,” Deftones made a comeback with a brand new metal album. With 11 tracks, “Private Music” is the second-shortest album in their entire discography. Even with its recent release, this album managed to place fifth on the Billboard 200, further proving the band’s success and talent.
The lead singer, Chino Moreno, personally wrote all of the lyrics featured in “Private Music,” exploring the dark and emotional themes of inner turmoil, community, love, self-discovery, and spirituality. With a heavy and gritty, yet dreamy and ghostly sound, Deftones takes listeners through an emotional journey full of pain and euphoria. Here are four tracks that especially highlight the band’s amazing lyricism and unmatched sound.
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“Cut Hands” (Explicit)
“Your eyelids getting heavy
Not pulling me out of my grace
You feel no longer steady
But not wanting to give up
You’re running out of pennies
Not pulling me off my plane”
In “Cute Hands,” the chorus describes the experience of being around someone who is emotionally exhausted and is struggling to be in control of their internal conflict. This “other person” is entering a mental state of struggle and desperation, but the main narrator is setting a clear boundary so that the other person’s mental state will not drag them down into the same level of negativity. This is one of the heaviest tracks on the whole album, displaying the deep frustration that may come from trying to help or deal with someone in this state of mind.
“Departing the Body”
“Racing through the light
Today, we’re gonna taste beyond
Enchanted by what lies
What awaits our future”
This album often refers to spiritual cycles and transformation connected to oneself, beyond the mere physical state of the body. This verse describes the beginning part of the cycle in which one is hopeful for the transformation they are about to go through and who they are about to become. This track has an ethereal, dreamlike sound, tapping back into their well-known heavenly shoegaze sound. This allows listeners to feel for themselves the spiritual transformation that Moreno describes.
“I Think About You All the Time”
“Riding your wave
Wrapped in your calm
And your arms over my head
In your wave
Kept me, kept me calm
With your arms over my head”
This verse describes a literal wave of emotion in a rocky relationship. The narrator is fully submerged in the waters of this other person, being consumed yet also protected by their companionship. Depending on how one views it, this song could be representative of a completely toxic relationship that has its ups and downs (like a wave), or a loving companionship that sails through every conflict. This song has a dreamy, yet dreary sound with a skin-tingling beat drop in the middle, reminiscent of many of the band’s old classics.
“Ecdysis”
“The flames are alive
Reclaim their audience
These rains are divine
Reclaim their environment
A new phase arrives”
Ecdysis is the process in which reptiles shed their old skin. In a similar way, this verse describes the often painful process of personal transformation and rebirth. This track uses natural disasters as symbolism for hard truths and changes being made to oneself. This song has an intense sound, layering synth, distortion, and loud drums bringing the intense journey of self discovery to life.
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Upon finishing this album, there is no doubt that Deftones has been consistent with their exceptional songwriting and instrumentals, even after all these years. As they dive deep into unique topics, fans and casual listeners of “Private Music” are able to enter a whole new world of experiences and find comfort in the fuzzy guitars and deep lyrics. This album is just another great example of the band’s talent and well-deserved popularity.
