My Mind is a Mountain: Dissecting Deftones' Newest Single

Released last week, Deftones graces us with new music. The Album “Private Songs”, said to be released in August of this year, headed off with the newest single, my mind is a mountain. Today, just 5 days later, sees the official music video posted to Deftones' YouTube (link below). This all coming 5 days before Front man Chino Moreno’s birthday on July 20th.

First, if you have not heard Deftones’ latest release, my mind is a mountain, start here on the band’s official youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqZrI9JE6Q

I remember about a year ago, when I purchased my tickets to their 2025 North America tour. Rumors spread that the group was working on a new project reminiscent of their White Album. Arguably the most notable in their discography. A wave of childhood glee washed over me. It was as if I had just been told that there would be a new Gospel coming, and I had re-invigorated my faith. That day is here, at least the teaser is, and that feeling has not diminished.

My mind is a mountain. Wonderfully put for the times that we are faced with. Unmoving, but ever changing. Adapting to the environment it creates, spreading life and flourishing wherever it lands. Mountains are historically a major support structure, with many cultures deriving deities from these massive land formations. Chino channels this energy into empowering his own vision of his fate. Nowhere to go but up.

The cold escapes

My heart is drenched (Through)

Fate comes pouring down, trip out

Negative space in cycles

Been caught in our radar

We've been waiting here, patiently

Locked in this state, clocking our time

First impressions of this opening verse: a reflection on the state of our past. Deadlocked in a state of longing. What do you want and why haven’t you taken it? Chino shares this glimpse into his mind as if he is asking us, where is the passion? Fate comes pouring down, trip out.

The storm remains

And my heart's entrenched

(New) Fate explores me now, trip out

Why do we bathe in this psyche?

Remain calm in our mental

We display it in our patience

Locked in this stage, plotting our time

Feel this pain as he weeps, what are we doing here? Almost as a massive call to action, we are begged to begin again. Fate explores me now, trip out. The phrase “trip out” repeats through these verses. It sits with me as a description of how we must break away. Almost accidentally we discover the meaning of our paths. Fate comes pouring down, trip out.

Now wе sail (To)

The storm implodes (Now)

Exploring your fate

Now wе sail, starting now (Behold)

We begin to feel the drive of who we were. The dreams we forgot, the stories we never told. No more dreams, no more hoping, no more waiting. The tone shifts greatly towards a movement. Not one defining trait to be heard, just the beckoning call of someone who sees a fire slowly dimming itself. As if a guiding light at the top of a mountain grows weary. Time isn’t running out, but it is certainly not stopping. Exploring your fate. This line is so straightforward and simple, but the simple sentence is far from that. Exploring your fate is such a universal experience, but no two fates are the same. Only you can begin this journey, but you don’t have to do it alone. Now we sail, starting now.

Negative space in cycles

Destroying our mental

Remains in our conscious

Constant

The closing verse is a reminder that everything you’ve faced and felt does not dissipate. It will remain. Whether it be outside forces or your own doing. That doubt, that lack of motivation, the urge to give up and lay down. You will never be able to break free of that cycle if you remain stagnant.

I will close this analysis with a short poem. I hope it speaks to you as much as it does to me.

Like a mountain, my mind will stand firm.

Holding up the sky and the sun while I yearn.

The few who traverse may never see the peak

But none who stand tall face failure and weep.

My mind is a mountain, unchanging and true,

The valley below, the sun shining through.

Discover your true meaning, ascend the peaks of your mind. If you don’t discover your own fate, who else will?

If you want to keep this drive going, check out Unraveling by Muse. Similar message with a little more love.