Deftones - Mohegan Sun 2022

Deftones brought their dark, atmospheric version of alternative metal to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on May 19, 2022. The band was joined by Gojira and VOWWS, making it a particularly heavy night of music.

The show was part of Deftones' Spring Tour 2022, supporting their 2020 album Ohms. The band took the stage around 9 p.m. and played for roughly 95 minutes, giving the Mohegan Sun crowd a set that moved comfortably between crushing heaviness and the band's more atmospheric material.

The set opened with “Genesis” following the taped “Pompeji” intro, immediately putting the emphasis on the newer Ohms material before launching into “Rocket Skates” and “Prayers/Triangles.” From there, the set became a tour through Deftones history, with “Royal,” “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away),” “My Own Summer (Shove It),” “Digital Bath,” “Knife Prty,” “Beware,” and “Sextape” all making appearances.

One of the biggest strengths of the performance was the balance between aggression and atmosphere. “My Own Summer” and “Rocket Skates” delivered the heavier side of the band, while “Digital Bath,” “Sextape,” and “Rosemary” showed why Deftones have always stood apart from straightforward metal bands.

The final stretch was especially strong. “Change (In the House of Flies)” led into “Ohms,” before the encore brought out “Lotion” and “Engine No. 9.” The latter even incorporated Cypress Hill's “How I Could Just Kill a Man,” giving the finale an unexpected twist.

With Gojira providing an equally punishing opening set, the entire night had a distinctly heavy feel. For Deftones fans, though, the main attraction was watching Chino Moreno and the band move effortlessly between crushing riffs, hypnotic textures, and some of their most recognizable songs.

The Mohegan Sun show was a strong example of why Deftones have remained so durable. More than two decades into their career, they could still deliver the aggression expected from a metal show while retaining the strange, atmospheric quality that made their music so distinctive in the first place.