YOURZ
Let me tell you right from the start: this review is going to be completely subjective. Of all the bands I like and love, there are very few other who come close to Deftones for me. I have just about everything they've ever released and am a big fan. My only shame is I've never seen them live. Hopefully, this will be remedied in the near future.
Diamond Eyes is their latest album and the first release after bass player Chi Cheng's accident, which left him in a 'minimally conscious state'. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the rest of the band put material written for their album Eros aside, and with the assistance of ex-Quicksand bass player Sergio Vega, knuckled down to write and record a blisteringly good set.
In fact, this is the best Deftones album since the last one. (See, told you this would be subjective). But seriously, from the pure power of first single Rocket Skates, I knew this was going to be a huge album, maybe their best album (something I'm sure Chi would be chuffed about). There is both brute force and beauty in equal doses, from the relentless attack of songs like CMND/CTRL and the title track to Sextape and the aptly-named Beauty School.
There is an urgency in all these tracks, a feeling of getting shit done as quickly as possible, of not fucking around because life has just showed itself to be an unpredicatable ride. But what Diamond Eyes also shows is that even from the most tragic of events can spawn something good. Seriously good.
VERDICT: TURN IT UP
MINE
No. Just.... no. Too noisy, too shouty, too testosterone-fuelled. But I know I'm the only one in our household who feels that way, so...
VERDICT: TURN IT DOWN
For more information go to: http://www.deftones.com/
In our collection we also have Adrenaline, Around The Fur, White Pony, Deftones, Saturday Night Wrist, B Sides & Rarities and Back To School (Mini Maggit)
