Live Review + Gallery | Deftones @ OVO Hydro, Glasgow

Deftones | Drug Church | Denzel Curry

OVO Hydro, Glasgow

13th February 2026

Photography by Evan McGill

Evan McGill

I’m Evan, a 19 year old concert photographer based and raised in Glasgow. Being from Glasgow, I’ve always been around music from a young age, either going to concerts with my parents as young as 5 or playing a variety of instruments throughout my childhood. Photography has also been a passion for many years and to combine both together and music has been nothing but great.

Deftones return to Glasgow for the first time since 2017, for their first of two huge Scottish shows

Last week, Deftones made their return to Glasgow, following their new album ‘Private Music,‘ released last August.

Opening the bill was Drug Church, who came out punching with their loud riffs, shouty choruses and that scrappy chaotic energy that works perfectly in a big arena. The band got the crowd moving early, setting the tone for the rest of the night.

Denzel Curry was the next support. The Florida rapper is an incredible performer known for his intense vocal style and live energy and was an unexpected but brilliant support. After being a fan of Denzel for many years this being my 4th time seeing him live. Though maybe a surprising choice, Denzel Curry wasn’t as rogue a support act as you may expect, especially having featured on Knocked Loose’s latest single ‘Hive Mind’ and finishing his set with Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Bulls on Parade’.

Deftones took to stage at 9:15, with the OVO Hydro in complete darkness and suspense. A low hum of anticipation, turned into a full roar on the sight of the band taking the stage. No big speech, no introduction, just straight to it. Frontman Chino Moreno sounded unreal, never perfectly polished, just raw and real. As his voice flowed between soft and fragile and screaming, the roof of the Glasgow Arena could have easily blown off.

The crowd were fully engaged, singing and feeling every word with complete emotional commitment. The heavier moments were sheer chaos: the floor moving, jackets and drinks flying. The crowd mirrored the movements of a wave; not one person was still. In a way that only Deftones can, you’re pulled right back to Earth with their slower atmospheric sounds.

The production was simple: dark lighting, big washes of colour, strobes when it got aggressive, moody and massive – a perfect embodiment of their sound.

After the encore, when the house lights came on, everyone had that same dazed look on their face: red, sweaty and a smile that says they’ll never forget what they just witnessed.