Live Review: Deftones - Crystal Palace Park, London 29/06/2025
A persisting presence in the alternative landscape, Nu-metal masters Deftones perform a career-spanning show to 25,000 at Crystal Palace Park.
After cancelling their Glastonbury set two hours before showtime, London was waiting on tenterhooks if their headline date in the park would follow suit. But turns out - they were just saving themselves for us.
Thanks to the work of TikTok - not to mention the Chino thirst traps - and Y2K Revival, Deftones have enjoyed a healthy resurgence in recent years. Knowing no bounds, their deeply-rooted influence stretches beyond mere age brackets. With the likes of 'Around the Fur' (1997) and 'White Pony' (2000) doing the rounds again amongst more than one generations' angst. Not just forty-somethings embracing their youth of yesterday but kids listening to My Own Summer perhaps for the first time this Summer and making it a part of their soundtrack going forward.
Timeless. A fitting title for a band who have stayed ever-present and loyal to making defining works of music, Deftones' career has spanned over thirty years of relentless intoxication of damaging riffs and cathartic vocals - with three platinum albums in tow.
Now, the band celebrate in the way they only know how to. A date under the open sky in the Capital to 15,000 metalheads - 15,000 reasons as to why Deftones should earn a headline slot at next years' festival run.
The days' proceedings wasn't to be scoffed at either. A healthy bill of some of the greatest and most exciting alternative bands saw the rest of the country turn green with envy at such a stacked offering of cutting music.
The soulful tones of Qendresa eased us into the day with velvety R&B sways in the fully scorched afternoon sun. Born out of the downtown LA's noise scene, HEALTH quickly followed with their industrial slabs of angular riffs, Cyperpunk-esque techno beats and avant-garde soundscapes - a perfect accompaniment for the likes of Max Payne 3.
Next up were High Vis - one of the most exciting to emerge from the post-punk quarter with their raw honesty and working-class continuance that has seen them captivate audiences since their tenure in 2016. Knowing no bounds, their latest record, "Guided Tour" pilfers through hardcore punk, indie rock and baggy in a raw soar of power and trauma.
Before too long, we had Weezer. Fresh from their wee visit to Worthy Farm, a nostalgic trip of alt-rock hysteria ensued as they played all their firm fan favourites in the blazing heat - "Island in the Sun" was amongst them, including "Beverly Hills" with the pleasant adaptation of "Living in Crystal Palace" for the ending. Fuelled up on the sugar rush, the crowd were now finally ready for the cataclysmic devastation that is the headliner.
It can be said that Deftones weren't here to mess about. Perhaps making up for the misdoing of cancelling a pivotal fixture on the touring calendar at Glastonbury, a nineteen-track setlist of the ages was conformed, defining every pinnacle moment of their discography. Featuring the biggest of hits for those fairly new aboard the bus to those deepest of cuts for those who have been here since the start, the band hardly pause for air diving into different eras, different feelings and thoughts of contemplation.
A blistering start, the band were in no mood to delay their hardest hitters til the encore. The mighty onslaught 'Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)' transitioning into 'My Own Summer (Shove It)' was biblical - an early sign that we were perhaps not all prepared for what they were about to bring. Their record from 2008 also got a major look-in with emphatic 'Diamond Eyes', tetchy working-out 'You've Seen the Butcher' and tender 'Sextape', all receiving an outrageously glowing reception.
The hazy shoegaze dearest of 'Digital Bath' from noughties' own White Pony also went down a storm, a perfect teetering between tenderness and havoc. With Chino's voice sounding as sharp as ever with Carpenter's heavy riffs reaffirming the importance of his involvement with the band, Deftones have never sounded so good.
The existential crash of 'Hole in the Earth' was a true devastation, almost fitting to what with the aircrafts gliding overhead. Nearing the end of the set, those true fanatics were in for a truly special encore as the night ended with both 'Bored' and '7 Words', two cult-classics derived from their 'Adrenaline' debut back in '95.
A truly full circle moment for a band who started their journey more than 30 years ago, it shows the true power of music remaining eternally perpetual. But only if the music itself is good enough to stand the test of time. If those 15,000 people in that field are anything to go by - well I think you know the answer to that already.
One of the most influential alternative presence with a back-catalog that never seems to fade away into obscurity, Deftones have been trailblazing the gloomy sphere of shoegaze and nu-metal for the better part of three decades. Entering the world of dissonance with hard riffs and dreamy melodies is never an easy feat to do and do well. This band from Sacremento are true artisans to the craft.
Words by Alex Curle
Photo Credit: @Radfilmstudios
