When Chino Moreno and Deftones took the stage Sunday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., to the hypnotic guitar intro of “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away),” the crowd roared across four packed levels of seating.

The immediate shock of energy as Moreno’s longing vocal fry cut in proved two things: Deftones can still execute an electrifying, high-quality live set and fans still care deeply, even though the band hasn’t released an album since 2020.

Formed in Sacramento in 1988 and often dubbed the “Radiohead of metal,” Deftones broke into the mainstream with 1997’s Around the Fur. Fronted by Moreno, the group has maintained cross-generational appeal thanks to their innovation and consistent output, blending elements of hardcore metal, shoegaze and alternative rock.

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The night kicked off with opening sets from Fleshwater and The Mars Volta — the latter playing its upcoming progressive rock album in a live debut — before Deftones took over.

The band followed the opener with another of its biggest hits, “My Own Summer (Shove It),” crashing in with its ominous two-note drum intro. The transition between tracks felt seamless, from the reverberating outro of the previous song to a jagged, down-tuned riff lurching forward like it was dragging along the ocean floor — thick, sludgy and unsettling.

With that setup, Moreno unleashed vocal chaos. As the riff doubled down and inverts itself he traded the hypnotic low pitch for a full-blown scream, one that translated shockingly well in a live setting.

And the crowd was all in. From the floor to the nosebleeds, fans were on their feet, headbanging and singing along.

For a genre where vocals shape the sonic atmosphere, the band more than delivered. Every instrument was mixed with perfection, discernible yet cohesive — all made to elevate the vocal performance rather than drown it out.

The setlist itself was another point of great execution. Deftones opened with its two most recognizable songs in a bold, unconventional move that set the tone for an unpredictable and exciting run of tracks.

What followed was a dynamic mix of the band’s signature yearning sound and heavy, dreamy guitars on tracks such as “Diamond Eyes” and “Digital Bath” — both of which sounded tearful and weightless — contrasted with all-out metal cuts including “You’ve Seen the Butcher,” driven by a menacing guitar chug.

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The emotional peak came halfway through the show with “Sextape.” Its simple yet iconic six-note intro drew another deafening roar from the diversely aged crowd. Onstage, it glowed like a slow-burning memory, swimming in both melancholy and longing. The soft, looping guitar motif was both introspective and intimate.

At this point, the crowd’s voices began to blend in with Moreno’s. Everyone seemed to crave something collective and full of passion, rather than just passively watching their favorite band.

The back half didn’t lull, but the run of three final tracks were woven into each other beautifully. “Hole in the Earth” simmered into “Change (In the House of Flies)” as a part of the show’s climax to show a mirror of Deftones’ unique blend of intense, angry metal and mesmerizing beauty in the form of rock chords and melodies.

The pre-encore closer was “Genesis” from Ohms — a recent cut that still nods to the band’s early sound, though Deftones has never strayed dramatically from  original style.

After a brief, half-hearted break, the band returned for three encore songs: “Minerva,” “Bored” and “7 Words,” arguably the most raw and hardcore-infused track of the entire setlist.

Deftones has not only preserved its repertoire across decades, but continues to deliver a  well-crafted live performance. The band’s sound remains both refreshing and cathartic, and on Sunday, a new wave of fans packed Capital One Arena to witness a living, breathing display of uniquely styled, finely honed rock in motion.