Finding similar bands to Deftones is kind of a fool’s errand if you're looking for an exact carbon copy. Chino Moreno’s whisper-to-scream range and Stephen Carpenter’s eight-string, gravity-heavy riffs created a vacuum in the late 90s that nobody has quite filled the same way. It's that "horny and heavy" vibe. You know the one. It’s the contrast between a lush, shoegaze atmosphere and a rhythm section that wants to cave your chest in.
Most people start looking for alternatives because they’ve played White Pony or Around the Fur until the digital files are practically wearing thin. But here’s the thing: most "nu-metal" recommendations are a total miss. If you like Deftones, you probably don't just want more down-tuned guitars. You want the mood. You want that specific, ethereal tension.
The Hum Connection: Where the Space-Rock Meets the Metal
If you ask Chino Moreno who his biggest influences are, he isn't going to name Korn or Limp Bizkit. He’s going to talk about Hum. Specifically, their 1995 masterpiece You'd Prefer an Astronaut.
Listen to the track "Stars." Hear that massive, wall-of-sound guitar tone? That is the DNA of the Deftones sound. Hum pioneered the idea that you could be incredibly heavy without being "aggressive" in a traditional macho way. It’s scientific. It’s cold. It feels like floating in a void while a star explodes next to you.
Honestly, it’s criminal how many people overlook Hum when searching for similar bands to Deftones. While Hum leans more into the "space-rock" territory, the sheer textural density of their music is the blueprint for tracks like "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)." If you haven't spun their 2020 comeback album Inlet, stop what you’re doing. It’s heavier than most metal records released that year, yet it feels like a warm blanket of distortion.
Loathe and the New Wave of British Heavy
If you want a modern band that actually understands the "sexy-spooky" dynamic, it’s Loathe. Their 2020 record I Let It In and It Took Everything is basically the spiritual successor to Saturday Night Wrist.
They aren't just copying the homework, though. They’re adding a chaotic, metallic hardcore edge that Deftones rarely touches. "Two-Way Mirror" is the song everyone points to because it sounds like a lost Diamond Eyes b-side, but the way they transition from that into dissonant, ear-bleeding screams is where they find their own identity.
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They use Baritone guitars. They use weird, shimmering synth pads. They understand that the silence in a song is just as important as the breakdown. Kadeem France’s vocal delivery mirrors Chino's ability to sound vulnerable one second and absolutely terrifying the next. It’s the closest any modern band has gotten to capturing the lightning in a bottle.
Is it Shoegaze? Is it Metal? The Rise of "Deftones-Core"
Lately, there’s been this explosion of bands that the internet has lovingly (or mockingly) dubbed "Deftones-core." It’s a specific blend of 90s alt-rock, shoegaze, and post-hardcore.
Moodring is a great example here. Their album Stargazer is drenched in that purple-hued, late-night atmosphere. It’s sleek. It’s polished. It’s very clearly influenced by the Koi No Yokan era of production where everything sounds expensive and massive.
Then you have Thornhill. Their album Heroine caused a bit of a stir because it leaned so heavily into the Deftones aesthetic that it felt like a tribute. But man, the execution is flawless. They moved away from their metalcore roots to embrace a more cinematic, theatrical sound. It’s got the breathy vocals. It’s got the soaring choruses. It’s the kind of music that feels like it should be playing in a smoke-filled club in a vampire movie.
- Narrow Head: More on the grunge side, but the guitar tones are spot on.
- Fleshwater: If you want the raw, unhinged energy of Adrenaline.
- Holy Fawn: This is "Loud-Gaze." It’s pretty, then it’s deafening.
- Whirr: Pure texture. No screams, but the "vibe" is identical.
The Side Project Rabbit Hole
Sometimes the best way to find similar bands to Deftones is to look at what the members do when they aren't in the main band.
Crosses (†††) is the obvious first stop. It’s Chino plus Shaun Lopez from Far. It’s much more electronic and 80s darkwave-inspired. If your favorite Deftones songs are "Lucky You" or "Teenager," this is your gold mine. It strips away the aggression and doubles down on the mood.
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Team Sleep is another one. It’s much more experimental, leaning into trip-hop and lo-fi beats. It feels like a fever dream. It’s less about "riffs" and more about a hazy, druggy atmosphere.
And don't sleep on Palms. This was Chino fronting the instrumental members of Isis (the post-metal band, not the other thing). It is sprawling. The songs are long. It’s basically post-metal with Chino’s soaring vocals over the top. It’s what Sunbather-era Deafheaven might sound like if they went pop.
Why Failure Matters More Than You Think
You cannot talk about the Deftones sound without mentioning Failure. Their album Fantastic Planet is a cornerstone of 90s alternative music.
Ken Andrews is a sonic genius. The way he approaches guitar layers influenced a generation of musicians. Failure isn't "heavy" in the sense of palm-muted chugs, but they are heavy in their composition. The bass lines are thick and distorted, taking up the space where a rhythm guitar usually sits. This freed up the guitars to do weird, spacey textures—sound familiar?
"The Nurse Who Loved Me" (later covered by A Perfect Circle) is a masterclass in songwriting. If you dig the more melodic, structured side of Deftones, Failure is a mandatory listen. They have this cynical, detached cool that fits perfectly into that same playlist.
Narrowing Down the "Vibe"
Let’s be real: Deftones fans are picky. You’re likely looking for one of three things:
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The Heavy Grooves
If you like the way Stephen Carpenter makes a seven-string guitar sound like a literal tank, check out Vildhjarta. Okay, they are way more technical (Thall), but the weight is there. For something more grounded, Glassjaw is the answer. Worship and Tribute has that same jagged, rhythmic sophistication.
The Ethereal Atmosphere
If you’re here for the "Digital Bath" vibes, go for Slowdive. They are a straight-up shoegaze band from the early 90s. Deftones actually covered their song "Cherry-Coloured Funk" (originally by Cocteau Twins, but the influence is a circle). It’s all about the reverb. It’s about getting lost in the sound.
The Emotional Volatility
Quicksand is the bridge. Sergio Vega, who played bass for Deftones for years, comes from this band. They have that post-hardcore bounce. It’s urban, it’s gritty, and it’s undeniably cool. It lacks the "dreamy" elements, but the energy is a perfect match for the Around the Fur era.
The Misconception About Nu-Metal
A lot of people group Deftones with bands like Slipknot or Mudvayne. While they shared festival stages (and Ozzfest '99 was a time to be alive), the comparison usually stops at the "loud guitars" part.
Deftones escaped the nu-metal "death sentence" because they weren't afraid to be feminine. They weren't afraid to be pretty. Most similar bands to Deftones fail because they try too hard to be tough. The magic of Deftones is the vulnerability. It’s the sound of someone crying in a mosh pit.
If you want that emotional complexity, check out Greg Puciato’s solo work. The former Dillinger Escape Plan frontman has a massive range. His album Child Soldier: Creator of God jumps between industrial, synth-pop, and crushing metal. He captures that same "anything can happen" unpredictability.
Actionable Next Steps for the Deep Dive
- Start with "Two-Way Mirror" by Loathe: It is the single most effective "gateway drug" for Deftones fans.
- Listen to Failure's Fantastic Planet from start to finish: Do not shuffle it. The flow of the record is part of the experience.
- Explore the "Shoegaze" tag on Bandcamp: Look for bands using "heavy shoegaze" or "nugaze" tags. You’ll find underground gems like Glare or Holy Fawn that are currently pushing this sound forward.
- Check out the Side Projects: If you haven't heard Crosses, start with their self-titled debut album. It’s the perfect late-night driving music.
- Go back to the source: Listen to The Cure’s Pornography or My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. You can hear the echoes of these records in every single Deftones album.
The search for similar bands to Deftones usually leads to a realization: Deftones isn't just a band; it's a genre. But by following the threads of shoegaze, post-hardcore, and space-rock, you can find the music that shares their soul, even if they don't share the same distortion pedal.