10 Most Essential Deftones Songs

This track, taken from 2003’s self-titled fourth album showcases the softer side of the band. It’s the most melodic song on the record it’s taken from, and was its lead single.

The fact that Deftones chose an eponymous moniker was strange given it was their fourth album and they were into their 15th year as a band. It wasn’t a move borne out of lack of ideas though. The band had many different titles in mind, but none seemed to fit. Frank Delgado explained the decision to simply choose Deftones as a title: “We spent a lot of time on this record. We changed a lot of different things in our camp, as far as business and management and things like that, so it was pretty much a new leaf for us.”

Though Minerva is sweeping and majestic, and its accompanying video mirrors that, the shoot for it was another story. Filmed in the middle of California’s Colorado Desert, complete with sandstorms and freezing temperatures, it took 22 hours to make, and the band have gone on record saying how much they hated the experience (though not the final video).

Whatever you think of Deftones, one thing they can’t be accused of is not being prepared to suffer for their art.