Released: 2010

Genres: Alternative Metal, Shoegaze

The Musiquarium’s Diamond Eyes Review Score: 5/5

In 2008, Deftones’ original bassist Chi Cheng was in a near-fatal car accident, which left him in a comatose state. The band had been working on a new album called Eros, but everything from those sessions was scrapped after Cheng’s incident. The band’s fresh start on their new album ended up as Diamond Eyes, which is arguably their best album since White Pony, with the band rising from the ashes of tragedy.

The title track starts with a crushing heaviness before going into one of the band’s best and most melodic choruses, showcasing vocalist Chino Moreno in top form. Stephen Carpenter’s guitar playing on Rocket Skates (Wile E. Coyote reference?) makes for an absolute scorcher of a song and will kick your ass into the stone age. Sextape is perhaps the single most gorgeous, heart-wrenching track the band has ever written yet. Beauty School is another gorgeous song, with some great bass work from new bassist, Sergio Vega.

Few people would have expected Diamond Eyes to be as amazing as it is, considering the circumstances in which it was created, but the odds were defied with one of Deftones’ most focused and immediate albums yet.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Deftones on Discogs.

Back to the 2010 Album Guide or the Deftones Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard