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Background: November 2008: Chi Cheng, bassist for the Deftones, is seriously injured in a car accident and falls into a coma.


While the events mentioned above are extremely catastrophic and would lead to many bands disbanding, the Deftones, who have been together for 20 years (since '88), held strong. Postponing the release of their finished album Eros, the band re-grouped, added Sergio Vega (ex-Quicksand bassist) to the line-up, and went back into the studio to make another album.


The end result: Diamond Eyes.

Track-By-Track Breakdown:

1. Diamond Eyes: The title track and opener, is heavy. My Own Summer-heavy. Chino Moreno, who has been up and down vocally since White Pony, comes out swinging on this one, with calm verses and choruses, and screeching breaks. Of course, the rest of the band is on point as well. Stephen Carpenter comes with a very heavy guitar riff that pushes the song along, and Vega goes in with his bassline. Gripping opener.
2. Royal: The heavy dynamic continues. Chino channels his Bad Brains influences, and again, layers it with smooth crooning, reminiscent of Around The Fur and White Pony. Chino's scream at the end is icing on an already appealing cake.
3. CMND/CTRL: The drums drive this track along with guitar riffs punching in every 2 bars, and then the song doesn't subscribe to standard rhythms at all...it stutters and goes back to the previous riff. Hits hard, with screaming vocals and harmonic choruses.
4. You've Seen The Butcher: The intro grabs you, with the Mesuggah-lite riff intro, and then everyone else comes in and Chino croons smoothly, a nice change of pace from the past 2 songs. A sign of future things to come...
5. Beauty School: I'm really feeling this track, because it's very reminiscent of Mascara, one of my personal favorite tracks by the band...but enough gushing. A nice, mellow guitar sound, with awesome drumming to start it off, and then...Chino delivers with the killer opening line "I like it when you take off your face, put away your teeth, and take a swing at me." Imagine how awesome that sounds. I feel this could be the 3rd single from this album, unless....
6. Prince: This song becomes the 3rd single, and it would seem likely. It just has the "radio single" feel to it, which isn't a bad thing. It's a great thing. Back to the song: the bassline grooves and draws you in, as Chino once again rises to the top, with his smooth vocal whisper-singing and screaming.
7. Rocket Skates: The 1st single. Addictive, heavy, grooves hard, and Chino channels his inner H.R. at times, hitting hard as they ever hit. Let’s be honest, how can you resist not screaming along “GUNS…RAZORS…KNIVES!”
8. Sextape: And now, we calm it down, with a love song, that just may be the other single from this album, because it just has that “Radio friendly” vibe to it. But for what’s it worth, this is a calm, moody, love song in the vein of Change (In The House of Flies). Slow drums, a quiet yet powerful guitar riff and an awesome humming bassline give Chino a platform to croon on and take you away with a song that would sound very much in place on a Cure album.
9. Risk: Just like that, the mood is back to brooding, and heavy again, with this track. I’m not too sure what to say, it’s standard Deftones fare… but there is a major highlight, when Chino sings “I will save your life”. Just fills you with hope…
10. 976-EVIL: Dreamy! Very dreamy song, it could put you to sleep if you let it… and it’s a good enough song to stay awake to. You can surrender yourself to it, or dig deep and find a new level of appreciation for it. A strong set-up track for…
11. This Place Is Death: The last song on an incredible album…and to be honest, while this song is the calm after the storm…it just doesn’t feel like the be-all, end-all of Diamond Eyes. However, it does work in the context of the album and ends it on a positive note.

The Verdict

This album stands out in the glut of today’s modern rock scene. No “trying to be great” with solos, intense double-bass pedals, or over-done screaming…it’s simple, and rewarding from multiple listens. The band stated in recent interviews that working with Nick Raskulinecz for this album was positive, as they stepped away from the old-faithful method of Pro Tools album creation (guy 1 records, guy 2 records, guy 3 records, etc…) and went back to the old method of practicing the songs as a band and doing it live in the studio. You just feel the energy, and it’s good…great even. While I am a bit bummed that the cool experimental songs (i.e. Teenager, Lucky You…) are missing, it was for the best.

RATING: ****1/2 of 5

If you are a loyal Deftones fan, buy this album! Cliché to say, but it’s the best work since White Pony.