My Slightly Harsh Reaction to Diamond Eyes

[Jacob]

I'm glad we don't have the token electronic track, token brutal scream track, token guest appearance etc. that mold started to feel pretty old after three albums. I really feel this album is more honest than anything they've done since ATF. one of SNW's weaknesses was that the songs were almost too worked out and every song was supposed to be a little experiment in itself (S/T also suffered from this to a certain degree). this worked for WP because back then they still had lots of imagination and they managed to get it all to flow really well. SNW has no flow and while I love many of the songs on there, the album as a whole has simply become boring to listen to. DE is more straightforward and some of the songs could've maybe used a little more thought put into them, but this only leads to a really well packaged album that flows really well from beginning to end without any parts feeling awkward or misplaced. and that is nothing but a good thing.

[defmkjah22]

I didnt get tpid first few listens but I had the exact same reaction to pink maggit when I think about it.  I totally didnt get the length which ended up being one of my fav aspects of it.  TPID didnt seem to go anywhere first few listens but all of a sudden the atmosphere crept up on me and together with the songs lyrics and mood it completely drew me in. 

Fuckin love this album start to finish and i do think the fact they didnt have to much time to dwell on commercial aspects of the song formation has made an alltogether more 'deftones' flavoured soup.  It is nice to see a break in the formula of guest, electro and hardcore tracks.
If anything its almost as if they havnt ditched those elements (except guest i know) but instead have included them into the songwriting of each song where and when needed.  They are more natural songs which flow as they were created, out of straight jammin.

[cEvin Key]

They also didn't have time to overthink things and dilute their ideas.  So what we get is a very straightforward, primal album.  There's definitely a cohesion too it.  Maybe too much, to the point where some songs fail to retain the unique identity found in their past albums.  But maybe my appreciation will grow with time. 

Stephen continues to pursue his goal of being the bassist of Deftones.  Perhaps the guitars a little too low this time around.  They sound almost sludgy.  I miss the bright, shrill, slightly clashing tones he achieved in ATF/WP/ST.  His riffing has become much more staccato and rhythmically disjointed.  Perhaps intentionally.

This is more or less some of what I think about DE...
overall I think the record is good but it was done to quickly.it has a lot of potential but they failed to deliver that potential...it lacks some epic moments in some songs ex: sextape(the song is too short and lacks a breakdown...that song deserved to have a solo imo)
I think steph should leave the 8 string behind...I honestly dont think he has hands for it...his guitar playing has become to constant and without many variations either he practices his skills or goes back to the 7 string because the only thing I see new about the 8 string is the lower tuning apart from that  I dont see any advantage about using the  8 string...
About Sergio it's still a bit hard to say because this is his first record with the deftones and as far as I know his first full length since quicksand. but I think he follows the guitar to much while Chi had his very unique and distinctive sound Sergio for the most part simple follows the guitar. The guys in the tones said he's a better bass player than Chi and he might be but my question right now is if he is a better song writer? right now I would say definitely not but I hope that time proves me wrong or that on the next record he stands out more and shows good song writing skills.
I also think Abes drumming was not at it's best...it lacks a bit of energy....in the other records there is so much things going on with the drums and on this one he kept things kinda of simple for the most part.
Chino and Frank were definitely the high lights on this one.I think I dont really have any complaints about those two ^^.

So putting things simple. The record is very good but it could have been better it had so much potential and it's a pity not to see it reaching that potential.while snw was a lame record I dont see how it could have been any better it sucked but it reached it's potential.DE is far better than snw but it gives the felling that it was written way too fast and that it could have been so much more.

[BamBam57]

I also think Abes drumming was not at it's best...it lacks a bit of energy....in the other records there is so much things going on with the drums and on this one he kept things kinda of simple for the most part.

I have to disagree with you here. Abe is in rare form on this album. Best work of his career imo

[Jacob]

I also think Abes drumming was not at it's best...it lacks a bit of energy....in the other records there is so much things going on with the drums and on this one he kept things kinda of simple for the most part.

I have to disagree with you here. Abe is in rare form on this album. Best work of his career imo

I'll have to disagree as well. for me his best work will always be White Pony, but this is close. compare his drumming here with S/T - that one was a huge disappointment for me when it comes to his drumming. he very rarely does anything but keep the beat of the song. I can't recall one single memorable fill or even beat from that record.

[cEvin Key]

I also think Abes drumming was not at it's best...it lacks a bit of energy....in the other records there is so much things going on with the drums and on this one he kept things kinda of simple for the most part.

I have to disagree with you here. Abe is in rare form on this album. Best work of his career imo

I'll have to disagree as well. for me his best work will always be White Pony, but this is close. compare his drumming here with S/T - that one was a huge disappointment for me when it comes to his drumming. he very rarely does anything but keep the beat of the song. I can't recall one single memorable fill or even beat from that record.

maybe...I have to give it some more listens so I can give a stronger opinion on that one.

[Jesus2Chino]

I didnt get tpid first few listens but I had the exact same reaction to pink maggit when I think about it.  I totally didnt get the length which ended up being one of my fav aspects of it.  TPID didnt seem to go anywhere first few listens but all of a sudden the atmosphere crept up on me and together with the songs lyrics and mood it completely drew me in. 

Fuckin love this album start to finish and i do think the fact they didnt have to much time to dwell on commercial aspects of the song formation has made an alltogether more 'deftones' flavoured soup.  It is nice to see a break in the formula of guest, electro and hardcore tracks.
If anything its almost as if they havnt ditched those elements (except guest i know) but instead have included them into the songwriting of each song where and when needed.  They are more natural songs which flow as they were created, out of straight jammin.

I think this album is actually their most commercially potent album since White Pony. I'm not saying it's a bad thing necessarily, but I think it's an album that non-Deftones fans can enjoy as much as the hardcore fanbase. Their past couple albums seemed to have fanbase appeal, especially the Self-Titled, but really no new-listener potential on the commercial front. Also, Pink Maggot was always one of my favorite Deftones songs. The first time I heard it I had so many goosebumps I might as well have been seizing. The song still does it for me every time I hear it.

Much respect,
-Matt

[Bergerac]

I can agree with the sentiment about Abe. For a guy who downright STOLE Digital Bath, and we all know how good everything else is on that track, I barely even notice Abe on DE. The 6 or 7 times I've listened through the album, all that I've instantly noticed has been Chino, Stef and Frank. He needs to get back to his tempo hat/cymbal work. He shouldn't be a snare/tom smacker. He doesn't have the energy. Abe's a finesse drummer, not a power drummer. ATF/Digi Bath are two prime examples of his tempo work. Rapture is a prime example of why simple snare/tom beating doesn't suit him.

I do disagree with the necessity for the cameo/electro/brutal track. I was already complaining about that with SNW. At least it still worked on S/T (yes Lucky You is teh sheet).

I really don't get the love for Prince at all though.

PS. Where the Hell does 'Rey Osbourn' cameo? First I've heard of it.

[cEvin Key]

I can agree with the sentiment about Abe. For a guy who downright STOLE Digital Bath, and we all know how good everything else is on that track, I barely even notice Abe on DE. The 6 or 7 times I've listened through the album, all that I've instantly noticed has been Chino, Stef and Frank. He needs to get back to his tempo hat/cymbal work. He shouldn't be a snare/tom smacker. He doesn't have the energy. Abe's a finesse drummer, not a power drummer. ATF/Digi Bath are two prime examples of his tempo work. Rapture is a prime example of why simple snare/tom beating doesn't suit him.

I do disagree with the necessity for the cameo/electro/brutal track. I was already complaining about that with SNW. At least it still worked on S/T (yes Lucky You is teh sheet).

I really don't get the love for Prince at all though.

PS. Where the Hell does 'Rey Osbourn' cameo? First I've heard of it.

Rey Osbourn is on "Lucky You"

[buddyboy101]

I think Abe slams on "This Place Is Death" (those tom fills), "Prince" (reminds me of RX Queen beat), and "Beauty School" (sounds massive!).

[Jerry_Curls]

Stef has been highly influenced by Meshuggah, but he forgets that Meshuggah have a certain style that could never fit in Deftones.

I don't agree with this. I think he's taken the sound of Meshuggah and made it fit into Deftones without sounding like they are copying them. INFLUENCED is the word. Admit it, Meshuggah isn't easy listening and I feel like Deftones is THE band to make that type of metal sound easier on the ears