You’ve Got to Hear This Country Reimagining of Deftones’ ‘Passenger’ - It Actually Works

Australian country phenom Tori Forsyth has released her keenly awaited cover of Deftones’ ‘Passenger’, featuring pedal steel guitar from Zach Bryan band-member, Reed Connolly.

Okay, we know what you're thinking. A countrified version of ‘Passenger’?! What?! How?! While we would've initially assumed a steel-backed rendition of this ‘80s metal anthem would never work, it doesn't take long before Forsyth proves us wrong.

Forsyth's enchanting, hazy vocals glide across the stripped-back instrumental, with the ‘Aces and Eights’ singer-songwriter casting a brand new light on the Deftones classic. Gone are the angsty, aggressive electric guitars and fiery hook, with Forsyth instead giving ‘Passenger’ a refreshingly intimate, pared-down ambience.

The cover was captured in Clarksburg, West Virginia, with Forsyth recording her take on ‘Passenger’ during a momentous five-week stint touring and writing in Appalachia. After performing at a number of highly respected country and Americana festivals - including Laurel Cove and Sleeping in the Woods - Forsyth returned Down Under for her sold-out run of shows across Australia with Wade Forster.

The introduction of Connolly, who remains a cornerstone of Zach Bryan's band, gives Forsyth's rendition of ‘Passenger’ an unmistakably - and unashamedly - country feel.

This surprising new release continues the momentum behind Forsyth, following the arrival of her widely lauded third studio album, All We Have Is Who We Are, last Spring. The ‘Grunge Country’ trailblazer stands proudly at the forefront of Australia's blossoming alt-country scene, with Forsyth combining traditional country elements and evocative lyricism with a grunge-rock-leaning, punk-infused sensibility.

Accompanied by an official music video, which is also out today (Thursday, December 4th), Forsyth's performance of ‘Passenger’ solidifies the ARIA-nominated artist as one to watch in 2026, as she brings her sound across the Pacific to the US.

Forsyth's positioning in the country music landscape is a testament to the genre's rapid evolution, as it embraces a blurring of lines between rock, hip-hop, folk and more.

This bold new creative direction from Forsyth marks the first taste listeners can get from her eagerly anticipated next project, and we're keeping our fingers crossed 2026 will bring more in this innovative vein - and hopefully a fourth full-length album...

Tori Forsyth's cover of ‘Passenger’ is out now on all platforms