Deftones “Diamond Eyes” Album Review
The narrative surrounding Deftones’ newest album, Diamond Eyes, is that it was written for Chi Cheng, the band’s bassist who has been in a coma since November 2008 after a horrible car crash. But I don’t think that’s really a fair assessment. Sure, the band has dedicated the album to him and some of the lyrics seem to hint at the situation, but this album is more of a cathartic rejuvenation for the entire band rather than a eulogy to a fallen comrade.
It might make for a better story to think that each song contains some deep meaning about the group’s feelings for Chi, but I just don’t think that’s the case. Instead, his terrible accident seems to have brought the group closer together, hardening their resolve and providing new clarity to their mission. Their brother may be struggling, but he’s not gone yet. So why skip right to the commemoration?
So what did Deftones do? They unleashed a defining record, free of any woe-is-me sentiments, that combines all the best elements of their unique sound and that serves as a stunning reminder that this band is back and isn’t going anywhere.
Throughout their career, Deftones’ sound has fluctuated between the metal (Adrenaline, Deftones) and the experimental (Saturday Night Wrist), rarely getting the combination as precise as on their classic White Pony. The past two albums, in particular, saw the band leaning too heavily in either direction, ultimately resulting in something of an identity crisis.
Diamond Eyes marks an end to such confusion. Stephen Carpenter’s chugging riffs and Frank Delgado’s ambient keys and samples haven’t melded into something this cohesive since White Pony. And Chino Moreno’s voice may never have sounded as good as it does here.
The core of this record is a three-song stretch that is as good as anything Deftones has ever done. “Prince” is an unassuming track that is pure classic ‘tones, and it may just be the best song on the record. That’s followed by the bloody good “Rocket Skates.” And I use the word “bloody” purposefully – this song is filled with imagery of aggressive, violent, sexual tension. And few bands do violent sexuality better than Deftones. This song is all sludgy metal riffing mixed with Moreno’s banshee-shrieking. That’s followed by “Sextape,” which will sound very familiar to any fans of Moreno’s ambient/electronica side project Team Sleep.
But Diamond Eyes is about much more than the cherry-picking of select songs. This is an album in the truest sense of the word. And the fact that it hearkens back to the winning formula of White Pony is not an indictment. Sometimes, when a band is lost in the woods, it’s a good idea to turn around and follow the trail of bread crumbs, Hansel and Gretel-style, back to where you came from.
Rating: 
-Sam
Damn man you have made me want to get this album even more now. This is exactly what I needed to hear to go pick it up faster ha.
haha nice, good to hear man. You won’t be disappointed.
Indeed, you will not be. This album may have very well surpassed White Pony and Around the Fur…hell it may have done what I thought to be impossible, that being Deftones taking the mantle of my new favorite band…surpassing Tool. Yes, this album is that fucking good. If any new album that comes out this year is able to break this one into pieces…yeah, its not gonna happen.
I think the band was faced with the reality that their bass player may never fully recover enough to play a bass again.
Fans please check out http://www.oneloveforchi.com for a website dedicated to the recovery of Chi.
P.S. The new cd is seriously awesome.