Deftones
– Diamond Eyes
Diamond Eyes isn’t a comeback record—it’s a resurrection. After tragedy halted Deftones’ trajectory with the shelving of Eros and bassist Chi Cheng’s devastating accident, the band didn’t retreat into safe ground. They doubled down on what made them strange, beautiful, and essential. The result is a record that claws its way out of grief, not by wallowing but by roaring. It’s muscular without being macho, dreamy without getting lost in the fog.
Best of…
Deftones have always lived in tension. Not just between heavy and soft, but between the physical and the spectral. Diamond Eyes leans into that sweet spot more than ever. Sergio Vega steps in on bass and brings a new kind of tightness—fluid, but grounded. Abe Cunningham’s drumming hits like a series of controlled detonations, while Stephen Carpenter’s riffs are down-tuned sledgehammers dipped in velvet. And Chino Moreno? He floats, screams, whispers, and yearns—sometimes all in the same song.
The real magic here is how everything coexists. Brutality and beauty. Serenity and panic. Diamond Eyes doesn’t just ride those waves—it thrives in them. It’s not an album about overcoming darkness. It’s about learning to live in it, maybe even dance in it once in a while. Deftones never sounded more alive than they do here, staring into the void and deciding to sing.
Choice Tracks
Diamond Eyes
The opener doesn’t ask for permission—it crashes through the door. Carpenter’s riffs slam down like steel beams, but it’s Chino’s soaring chorus that lingers. Equal parts threat and invitation, it sets the tone for an album that refuses to play it safe.
Royal
A track that throws you straight into the storm. It’s relentless—Carpenter grinds out riffs like they’ve got teeth, while the rhythm section drives it into your chest. Chino’s voice slips between threat and release with unnerving ease.
Sextape
The softest gut-punch on the record. It glides in on waves of reverb and nostalgia, like a memory half-remembered but too sweet to let go. It’s fragile, shimmering, and one of Deftones’ most quietly devastating moments.
You’ve Seen the Butcher
Sultry, swampy, and strange. A groove-heavy slow burn with a touch of sleaze. Chino drips menace and lust, turning every lyric into a dare. It shouldn’t work—but it does, and you don’t want it to stop.
Rocket Skates
“Guns! Razors! Knives!” Chino howls, and it feels like the whole song is about to detonate. It’s the most visceral, blood-boiling cut here. Pure adrenaline. If you need a reminder that Deftones can still go full feral, this is it.
Diamond Eyes isn’t just a highlight in Deftones’ career—it’s a survival instinct turned into sound. It’s haunted, heavy, and unexpectedly hopeful. The kind of album that leaves scars—and you’ll want to show them off.