Deftones – Around the Fur (1997): The Breakthrough

Around the Fur is the album that broke Deftones wide open. Released on 28 October 1997 via Maverick Records, their second album built on the raw energy of Adrenaline and delivered something sharper, heavier, and more melodically adventurous. It went platinum in the US and established Deftones as one of the most exciting bands in heavy music.

Background & Recording

Produced by Terry Date — who would go on to helm White Pony — Around the Fur was recorded with a clear sense of purpose. The band had spent two years touring relentlessly behind Adrenaline and arrived in the studio tighter, more confident, and with a batch of songs that pushed their sound in new directions.

Chino Moreno's vocals became a defining feature of the record — his ability to shift from whispered intimacy to full-throated screaming within a single bar gave the album an emotional unpredictability that set Deftones apart from their nu metal contemporaries. The guitar work of Stephen Carpenter was equally distinctive, favouring atmosphere and texture over sheer aggression.

Tracklist

  1. My Own Summer (Shove It)
  2. Lhabia
  3. Mascara
  4. Around the Fur
  5. Rickets
  6. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
  7. Lotion
  8. Dai the Flu
  9. Headup (feat. Max Cavalera)
  10. MX

Key Tracks

My Own Summer (Shove It) was the lead single and remains one of Deftones' most recognisable tracks — its stop-start riff and Moreno's explosive vocal performance made it an instant classic. Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) is the album's emotional heart: a slow-building, dreamy track that showcased the band's melodic range and has since become one of their most beloved songs, finding a new audience through social media in the 2020s. Headup, featuring Sepultura's Max Cavalera, is a ferocious closer that remains a live favourite.

Legacy

Around the Fur is the record that made White Pony possible. It proved that Deftones could write songs with genuine emotional depth without sacrificing heaviness, and it built the fanbase that would make their third album a landmark. For many fans, it remains their favourite — rawer and more immediate than what followed, but pointing unmistakably towards it.

Shop Deftones Merch

Officially licensed Deftones merchandise — including Around the Fur designs — is available now at Wonderhaul.

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Further Reading