I may not be the best person in the world to post a review of the Deftones new record, because A) I don’t do reviews and B) the Deftones could release an hour of Chino Moreno’s recorded farts and I’d fall all over it like Amy Winehouse on a binge. But alas, I must, for I am unable to stop myself.

Here’s how the liveblog review works. I haven’t listened to Diamond Eyes in it’s entirety yet. I’ve only heard the first single, Rocket Skates. I’m just gonna go ahead and press play here and tell you what I think.

Diamond Eyes – Yeah, I’m down with this one. It’s got the trademark Chino Moreno wail, sounding almost pleading, sad. Can’t help but think about Chi Cheng.

Royal – This one will probably grow on me as so many ‘tones songs have. I find I relate most to lyrics and vocals, perhaps because I don’t play any instruments and really have no technical understanding of music at all. A reason I love the Deftones so much is the absolute, heartbreakingly powerful vox from Chino. Okay, no, there it is, right there at the end. The scream. Yes.

CMND/CTRL – I’m in love with the guitar in this song. Sounds like White Pony Deftones.

You’ve Seen The Butcher – I love the intro in this song, the lead up to the Moreno howl. Does this guy breathe?

Beauty School – This one kind of reminds me of the Deftones cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man off their B-Sides and Rarities album, which is probably one of my most listened to songs of all time. The slowed down Deftones songs like these make me want to ask Drummer John on a date.

Prince – Starts out as a molehill, turns into a mountain. A mountain of awesome. Yeah. I said that. There’s a reason I don’t do reviews, kids. The end of this song is amazing.

Rocket Skates – I’ve heard this one a million times already, but I love how the song opens and works it’s way to the exorcism-required Moreno shrieking, “Guns! Razors! Knives!”. I can already feel his spittle on me as I fight a throbbing crowd just to stay standing.

Sextape – Definitely not what I was expecting to hear on this album after the first seven songs, but it’s always nice to hear a calmer Chino, a prettier Chino.

Risk – Opening guitars are cool… for a Killswitch Engage album. Just sayin’. I dunno if I like this one. As much anyway, I can’t listen to this man sing and say I don’t like it. It’s not in me.

976-EVIL – A little more breathy Chino in this one, which is cool. The record’s really slowed down since Rocket Skates.

This Place is Death – I can’t make out the lyrics and I can’t find any online, but this song comes off as a little sad to me. A fitting end to a record I expected to be heavy, considering the circumstances under which it came to be.

This whole record makes me wonder what Eros sounds like, the album they had to put aside when bassist Chi Cheng got into a car accident and fell into coma. A new Deftones record is definitely exciting but it is not without consideration Chi for Cheng’s continued recovery. If you love this band, go tell ‘em : oneloveforchi.com

deftones, iamond eyes, chino moreno, chi cheng, music, album, review

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