In a stunning revelation that has sent shockwaves through the alternative rock and metal communities, Deftones has announced the release of a long-lost, previously unreleased album set to drop after 33 years of anticipation. Fans of the band are brimming with excitement as this long-awaited project is finally seeing the light of day.
The album, titled Elysium, was recorded during the early 1990s, just after the band’s formation. However, despite being hailed by the band members as their “most ambitious work,” it was never released due to a combination of creative differences and label pressures at the time. Over the years, Elysium became the stuff of legend, with rumors swirling about its existence and content, but no official confirmation was ever given.
Now, three decades later, Deftones has revealed that the album will officially drop in the spring of 2025. Frontman Chino Moreno, who has been a vocal advocate for the project’s eventual release, spoke about the emotional significance of Elysium in a recent interview.
“It’s strange to think about how close we were to never hearing these songs at all,” Moreno said. “Back then, we were just trying to find our sound, and the world wasn’t ready for it. We weren’t ready for it. But now, after all these years, we feel it’s the right time. Elysium is a snapshot of who we were in those early days, and it’s a part of our story that deserves to be shared.”
The Lost Record
Elysium was initially recorded in the band’s early lineup, before the world had discovered Deftones’ trademark blend of heavy riffs, atmospheric textures, and haunting melodies. The album’s sound, according to Moreno, is raw and experimental, capturing the band’s early struggle to define its identity. Songs like “Shattered Sky” and “Faded Echoes” were described by early listeners as heavy yet ethereal, combining elements of post-hardcore, shoegaze, and industrial metal in ways that were ahead of their time.
For years, only a few rare demos and bootlegs had made their way into the hands of hardcore fans. However, with the band’s growing legacy and their success over the years, Elysium became a topic of constant speculation. The music community had almost given up hope that the album would ever surface in any official capacity. But in a surprising turn of events, Deftones’ longtime producer Terry Date uncovered the original master tapes in a storage facility earlier this year, setting in motion the album’s eventual release.
What to Expect from Elysium
With Elysium, fans can expect an album that is at once a precursor to Deftones’ later, more refined sound, and yet still deeply experimental. The band has teased a few tracks from the album, including “Darker Skies” and “Velvet Grief,” which reflect the raw, gritty nature of Deftones’ early days while showcasing elements that would later evolve into their signature atmospheric style.
“The core of this album is the energy of young, hungry musicians trying to figure out who they are,” guitarist Stephen Carpenter said in a statement. “There’s an aggression and passion to these songs that we still carry with us today. It’s a time capsule of our beginnings.”
For longtime Deftones fans, Elysium represents more than just new music—it’s a piece of the puzzle that was always meant to be found. For newer listeners, it’s a chance to experience the foundational sounds that would eventually influence generations of bands and listeners alike.
A Legacy Continued
The announcement of Elysium comes at an exciting time for Deftones, as the band is nearing the release of their highly anticipated follow-up to their 2020 album, Ohms. While Deftones remains one of the most influential bands in modern rock and metal, Elysium is a reminder of their beginnings and the long road they’ve traveled to become the genre-defining force they are today.
As the band gears up for their 2025 tour, fans are eager to see how Elysium will be integrated into Deftones’ setlists, with speculation already swirling around which tracks will be featured in their live performances. The mystery and excitement surrounding the album’s release only adds to the anticipation of what will likely be one of the band’s most iconic moments in their storied career.
With the release of Elysium, Deftones continues to prove that their creativity knows no bounds—and after 33 years, their masterpiece is finally ready to be heard.
Stay tuned for updates and track releases as we approach the official release date.
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