| Diamond Eyes | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 4, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:22 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer | Nick Raskulinecz | |||
| Deftones chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Diamond Eyes | ||||
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Diamond Eyes is the sixth studio album by the Americanalternative metal bandDeftones, released on May 4, 2010, byReprise Records. It was the first album to feature bassistSergio Vega, who replaced original bassistChi Cheng. An album tentatively titledEros was originally intended to be the band's sixth full-length release followingSaturday Night Wrist (2006), but was not finished due to Cheng entering a coma after a serious car accident that occurred in November 2008, eventually resulting in his death in 2013. The band continued on with Vega as his replacement, and the release ofEros was put on hold in favor ofDiamond Eyes in June 2009.
Diamond Eyes was a critical and commercial success, peaking within the top ten of theUSBillboard 200 and several other international charts; it was the band's highest charting album on theBillboard 200 since their2003 eponymous fourth album. Foursingles were released fromDiamond Eyes:the title track, "Rocket Skates", "Sextape", and "You've Seen the Butcher".
Deftones started writing material for the successor to 2006'sSaturday Night Wrist in early 2007. The band was dissatisfied with the lengthy writing and recording process ofSaturday Night Wrist. Further, they wanted to release a quick follow-up record in the same manner as earlier albums such as 1995'sAdrenaline and 1997'sAround the Fur, which were recorded without the digital audio programPro Tools. Instead, those albums were recorded as just a band "in the room with just our instruments, no other distractions", according to frontmanChino Moreno.[2]
The band recorded and completed theirTerry Date-produced album, tentatively titledEros, in 2008, and it was expected to be released in early 2009.[3] However, bassist Chi Cheng was seriously injured in an automobile accident in November 2008, leaving him in a coma and putting the release ofEros on hold. Unsure if or when Cheng would recover and be able to perform with the band again, Deftones started playing various shows and festivals withQuicksand bassistSergio Vega on bass, starting in early 2009. Vega, a close friend of the band, had previously filled in for Cheng during tours in 1999.[4] At this point, Deftones were not sure if they wanted to break up or continue writing and performing music.[5]
In June 2009, Deftones decided to indefinitely put the release ofEros on hold and start writing a brand new album with Vega.[6] The band still hopes to releaseEros at some point, but wanted to wait until Cheng was no longer in a semi-conscious state, and they did not feel that it represented who they were as artists or as people at the time.[7][8] Deftones wanted to make an optimistic record, as opposed to the dark and angry album they had just finished.[9]
Diamond Eyes was recorded in two months with producerNick Raskulinecz, who had previously worked withFoo Fighters,Velvet Revolver,Stone Sour andAlice in Chains.[10] Deftones avoided using Pro Tools on the album. Instead, they favored writing songs together as a band and practicing them "a million times 'til they were perfect" in order to achieve a more raw and "personable" sound.[9]
Diamond Eyes was originally scheduled to be released on April 27 by Reprise,[10] but was pushed back three weeks to May 18,[11] and later pushed forward to May 4, 2010.[12] The latter release date change was possibly due to the albumleaking onto the Internet in March 2010, two months before the original scheduled release date.[13]
The first song from the album, "Rocket Skates", was available for free download through the band's official website on February 23, 2010.[11] The song had been included in Deftones live performances starting in October 2009,[6] and was later released as a limited edition 7"vinyl single for internationalRecord Store Day on April 17, 2010, serving as the second overall single.[14] A music video directed by 13th Witness (Tim McGurr) was released on March 9.[15]
The first single, however, was the title track, "Diamond Eyes". It was released as a single to digital retailers on March 23, 2010.[16] The music video for the song, directed by Roboshobo (Robert Schober), was released on April 13.[17] Deftones performed a live webcast of songs fromDiamond Eyes and answered fan questions on May 4 inDallas, Texas.[18] A music video for the track "Sextape" was released on September 3, 2010. The video was directed by ZFCL (Zak Forrest and Chad Liebenguth, known for their work withFoxy Shazam andFang Island).[19] On October 28, 2010, Deftones released the official video for "You've Seen the Butcher", directed byJodeb Films.[20] In August 2011, Deftones released the official music video for "Beauty School", directed by 13th Witness.[21]
At just over 41 minutes, not including the pre-order and deluxe edition bonus tracks,Diamond Eyes is Deftones' shortest album.
After dealing with the tragedy surrounding Cheng's accident, Deftones wanted to create an album with an overall positive and optimistic vibe. Describing the band's state while writing for the album, Moreno stated, "Our inspiration and unity as a band is stronger than it has ever been before and we needed to channel that energy into our music".[22] Noticeably lacking on the album were songs about complaining, hurting or how "life sucks" – common lyrical themes for Moreno since the early '90s.[9][23] Moreno described the overall theme of the album as a "positive zest for life", and also said it had "a fantasy vibe" similar toWhite Pony.[9][23] The lyrics for "Rocket Skates" contained "beautiful yet violent imagery" and were compared to the song "Knife Prty" fromWhite Pony.[9] Deftones also thought it would be difficult to tour in support of a new album with memories of Cheng attached to it. Commenting on songwriting, Moreno stated:
I don't like listening to people's problems -- I like music. Music has been smothered with that complaining since the early-'90s. It gets old. Instead of going to the opposite side of the spectrum and listening toThe Black Eyed Peas, which is just straight silly, I choose to listen to more instrumental music. I do very little singing about myself on this record. I love songs where I can totally take myself out of being human. I can sing about really odd things, and they don't necessarily have to pertain to me at all. It paints a picture. Those are the kind of lyrics I grew up with -- likeThe Cure. Really visual images and no storytelling.
— Chino Moreno[9]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 78/100[24] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [25] |
| Alternative Press | [26] |
| The A.V. Club | B[27] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[28] |
| NME | 8/10[29] |
| Q | [30] |
| Rolling Stone | [31] |
| Slant |  [32] |
| Spin | 7/10[33] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.5/5[34] |
The album was received well by both critics and fans upon release.Stephen Thomas Erlewine ofAllMusic wrote, "Naturally, there is quite a bit of roiling darkness here -- they'reCure-loving metalheads, it's in their blood -- but there's shade and light, control of texture, with the band deepening rather than expanding."[25] Jason Pettigrew ofAlternative Press stated, "Unlike their alleged 'peers' (do they reallyhave any?), Deftones learned years ago that a whisper can be more terrifying than a scream and power isn't always about BPMs and downstrokes per minute." He also added thatDiamond Eyes "belongs in a pantheon of amazing albums born from tragedy".[26]BBC writer Mike Diver was also impressed, and opined that the album "knocks every pretender to the band's throne into the middle of next week". He praised the band for playing to their strengths, and summarized: "Eros is reportedly their excursion into weirdness, while this is a statement of consolidation, a neatly segued set that finds Deftones playing to their well-established strengths."[35]
Guitar World hailed the album as a "return to form with [an]alt-metal masterpiece".[36]NPR described the sound of the album as "goth-rock tingedshoegaze".[37]
BLARE Magazine's Joshua Khan observed "Deftones give birth to a refined sound that makes creations like 'Prince' and '976-Evil' enslaving."[38]The Skinny's Mark Shukla likewise explained, "The first four tracks set a blistering pace as churning riffs transition relentlessly into fret-burning breakdowns; all the while Chino Moreno deploying his wounded croon and lacerating howl with an intensity that remains impressively undiminished."[39] Sputnikmusic staff writer Nick Greer gave an unequivocally positive review and called the album "better thanWhite Pony". He described the album's sound as "intense and visceral, but introspective and sensitive in ways Deftones have never been before", before finally adding, "I can honestly say it's Deftones' best album to date."[34] Scott Gordon ofThe A.V. Club stated that while there are moments on the album where Deftones "sound a bit like a band on auto-pilot", many of the other tracks "stomp such limp moments with pleasingly crude riffs that claw and scrape through the verses, then release Chino Moreno's voice into glimmering, menacing choruses."[27]
Slant Magazine described the tracks "Sextape" and "Beauty School" as shoegaze.[32][40]
Diamond Eyes was named "Rock Album of the Year" by theiTunes Store.[41]Kerrang magazine also placed it as their Album of the Year.[42]
In their roundup of the 25 Best Metal Albums of 2010–2019, the music blogMetalSucks rankedDiamond Eyes as the 4th best metal album of the '10s.[43]
Revolver Magazine rankedDiamond Eyes as the best album of the Decade.[44]
Diamond Eyes was expected to sell between 55,000 and 60,000 records in the U.S. during its first week, based on first-day sales, according toHits Daily Double.[45] The album sold above these expectations, moving 62,000 copies in the U.S. It debuted at No. 6 on theBillboard 200, making it the fourth consecutive Deftones album to debut within that chart's top 10.[46]
As of October 2012, the album had sold approximately 236,000 copies in the U.S.[47]
All tracks are written by Deftones[48]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Diamond Eyes" | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Royal" | 3:31 |
| 3. | "CMND/CTRL" | 2:26 |
| 4. | "You've Seen the Butcher" | 3:34 |
| 5. | "Beauty School" | 4:50 |
| 6. | "Prince" | 3:37 |
| 7. | "Rocket Skates" | 4:18 |
| 8. | "Sextape" | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Risk" | 3:37 |
| 10. | "976-EVIL" | 4:32 |
| 11. | "This Place Is Death" | 3:46 |
| Total length: | 41:22 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Do You Believe" (The Cardigans cover) | 3:29 |
| 13. | "Ghosts" (Japan cover) | 4:29 |
| 14. | "Caress" (Drive Like Jehu cover) | 3:35 |
| Total length: | 52:55 | |
Diamond Eyes personnel according to CD liner notes.[48]
Deftones
Art and design
Production and recording
| Chart (2010) | Peak position | Sales/ shipments[50] |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[51] | 22 | |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[52] | 13 | |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[53] | 55 | |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[54] | 31 | |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[55] | 28 | |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[56] | 55 | |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[57] | 32 | |
| French Albums (SNEP)[58] | 23 | |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[59] | 8 | |
| Greek Albums (IFPI)[52] | 10 | |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[60] | 45 | |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[61] | 50 | |
| Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[52] | 81 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[62] | 8 | |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[63] | 17 | |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[64] | 28 | |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[65] | 29 | |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[66] | 53 | |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[67] | 25 | |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[68] | 11 | |
| UK Albums[69] | 26 | |
| USBillboard 200[70] | 6 | 62,000 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[71] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
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| Studio albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Unreleased albums | |
| Extended plays | |
| Singles |
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| Related articles | |
