Deftones is a rock band from Sacramento, California formed in 1988, consisting of Chino Moreno (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Stephen Carpenter (lead guitar), Chi Cheng (bass guitar) Frank Delgado (keyboards and turntables) and Abe Cunningham (drums and percussion). Their sound has been described as ranging from alternative metal and dream pop, to progressive rock.
Critics have often praised them as one of the more unique rock bands of recent years for their innovative, atmospheric music; as Johnny Loftus writes, "Rock critics usually reserve a special place for Deftones above or at least away from the rest of the turn-of-the-century metal movement [...] Deftones have always seemed more curious, more willing to incorporate traditionally revered sounds like dream pop or D.C. hardcore into their northern California alt-metal."