Diamond Eyes by Deftones

Diamond Eyes from Deftones. 2010, 6th studio album in their discography.

Diamond Eyes: 7/10 This brings me back to what I enjoyed with White Pony and what I missed with their self title. I cant exactly pin point the area of change, but it feels more familiar. Normal deftones style instrumentals not much to say. I fear however if this is the album’s namesake how the rest will play out. Wish it was more instrumentally interesting, this bit near end is nice.

Royal: 8/10 very boring start, nothing too wild. I enjoy this flowing melodic delivery of lyrics. This feels spacey. Like he’s looking up to an ethereal woman of celestial being. I really enjoyed the ending scream and just the end in general. Brings the song together 

CMND/CTRL: 7.5/10 less out there than the prior songs. A good track but less to say. Ooo there’s a deep dark synth like sound that comes in and out that was a really nice touch. 

You’ve Seen the Butcher: 8/10 long entrance compared to the other songs but I really enjoy it, especially that small drop that intros the synth. Lots of nice percussion, takes lead which I like. This gives me sort of Todd Smith vibes, that sort of follow up of lyrics and theming. Of course Todd Smith is way more out there in sound but regardless. He setting up this scene, I enjoy that quite a bit. Wish we got some more lyrical variation but in a way that really works for this song.

Beauty School: 9/10 very interesting start, soothing back and forth synth and light guitar into this very clear drum line. Clear vocals, this song so far feels like running your hands through water. Who’s he looking up to? Enter again with the lullaby synth. So far into this album it feels very spacey. Floaty and just out of reach, ooo what a good progression of voice. I feel like I’m walking with him through these memories and he’s telling me about them. I’m watching him recall his past and he misses it and I’m not a part of it. it’s beyond me.

Prince: 7/10 a dark entrance compared to Beauty School it’s a good refrain from the floatiness of the former track. I really like the.. what would that be called? It’d this constant motif with the bass that holds the song together. Chords follow that minor progression. Nice screaming.

Rocket Skates: 7.5/10 weird progression, not sure how to feel about it but i dont dislike it. Very classic guitar riffs, nothing too out there on this track so far. I like the theming of this song, it’s violent but he’s still looking up to her. More space theming to match the album. Found myself bored at the end. 

Sextape: 10/10 high hopes for this song as its on Deftones most popular. Oh this entrance, I know this song. This definitely adds to my love of spacey theming of the album. More “just out reach” feelings. More pensive recollection of memories missed. The purples, blues, and vastness of space encloses this song. Oh the chord resolution during the “tonighttt” bits is just beautiful. Pull back for the end. That same thought provoking motif. Take me one more time, he’s begging. Who’s he looking up to? This song gave me chills which isn’t rare but it is a very good sign.

Risk: 7.8/10 back to heavy, I wish sextape could have been followed by something less facey or simply been at the end of the album but that’s not this tracks fault. but it’s added synth is nice. I enjoy the lyricism but do I really need to bring that up with Deftones? Final chorus is really nice.

976-evil: 9/10 ugh I love this. This feels helpless and angry but pitiful. The minor notes followed by the begging chords really sell this relationship. More imagery of floating along in the dusts of the universe cross my mind. He’s fantasizing about what they could do together but he’s alone and he knows that. 

This Place is Death: 8.5/10 OoO a nice transition into more glitter and gold and shimmer of the vastness I’ve already gone over. And this heavy entrance of voice with the sweeping percussion. I wonder if I’ve understood this album wrong, more lyrics referencing waves and the sea lead me to believe he wanted to showcase the ocean. The crushing pressure of water but yet it feels freeing. This relationship is so, I feel them both hate needing eachother. I cant help but still think this album is purple in nature.

Do You Believe: 7/10 this is a bonus track as is the one following it. This place is death was the natural ending. He’s doubting whoever he’s talking to. Strong instrumentals, nothing much to say other than I enjoy the taunting tone of his voice. Fade out ending but the bits before were interesting.

Ghosts: 6.5/10 final track on the deluxe version of the album. Woah I love this bell tone beginning, it feels like a cave you step into. Illuminated by the dripping crystals. I’m happy to report this continues into the actual guitar and vocals. It serves as a very different percussion. I don’t like, however, this actual replacement for percussion. But now there’s real drums so it mends itself. Very pleasing drum line may I add. I have mixed feelings about this track. It breaks my extraterrestrial feeling but it’s objectively good. A little too out there for my own personal tastes but it works for an end-of-album track. I kept on complimenting Chino’s use of synths but that’s because they were added in as touches and add-ons. I tend not to enjoy when synth is the base of the song. And forgive my use of the word “synth” over and over again. I simply do not know of a better term at the moment.

And thats Diamond Eyes. 9/10 I’m listening to Sextape again as i write down my final thoughts. Wow. This album left me sitting back and really letting the sound wash over me. A few words kept popping up in my review if you did not notice. How vast this is. It feels like I could swim in this ‘little’ world Chino created forever and never touch another being. I feel like I walked with him until he found the woman he kept telling me about during This Place is Death. I see the stars he does and he tells me his memories but I am no part of it. I am simply to allow him to tell me about it. It really lets you steep in the relationship between his anger and his neediness. He’s hopeless and he knows it and he wallows in his own pity for himself wishing whomever this woman is would pity him as well. But of course this is just how I absorbed the sound. Perhaps I’m projecting, poor Chino. Musically and thematically removing my own experience this was a work of art. Masterful in its knowledge of whats too much to the perfect degree. I would have let This Place is Death tie the album up and placed the two bonus tracks you find on the deluxe elsewhere in the album, but thats not a big complaint. Another wonderful album. This is what I was looking for in their self title and I received it in mass in Diamond Eyes. My favorite track was definitely Sextape if you could not tell. The blanketing helplessness, it feels safe and thoughtful. Very very nice. My least favorite track was unfortunately and surprisingly Ghosts. That was simply a taste issue with the mixing.