URN

I’ve never actually formally reviewed an album before, but this album has made such an impact on me that I felt compelled to write about it. This is Koi No Yokan, the seventh album from Deftones and the follow-up to 2010’s Diamond Eyes. For many, including myself, Diamond Eyes was an impressive return to form, and proved that they could still offer up fresh, inspiring and well-crafted music 20 years into their career; it showed that their best was certainly not in the past. With this album, however, they have created something truly incredible, honest and unique; 52 minutes of dynamic riffs, beautiful ambience and heartfelt musicianship.

From the moment the vigorous rhythms of opener “Swerve City” blast through the speakers, it’s clear that Deftones are back with an agenda that’s as dangerous as the title suggests. If Sergio Vega’s bass were any heavier it would have its own gravitational pull. Vega has been standing in on bass while Chi Cheng recovers from a car accident that occurred in November 2008 and left him in a coma. While the group have since pulled together despite this tragedy, the emotions of losing someone are painfully apparent and raw on this record.

There has been a lot of hype, expectation and mixed feelings running up to the long (very long) release of Blink 182’s ‘Neighborhoods’ but has the wait been worth it?

As the first few bars of ‘Ghosts on the Dance Floor’ play out, a slightly worrying thought of a more Angels and Airwaves sounding Blink crosses my mind, however as the song progresses the un-manipulated vocals of Tom Delonge backed by Mark Hoppus and that familiar sounding Blink rift put these thoughts to rest. This is still Blink, just older, more mature and evolved.

A more lively start to ‘Natives’, which definitely has the Blink seal on it, moves us on but as the chorus hits I can’t help but hear a more plus 44 sound with the vocals of Mark Hoppus.

Now it would be unfair to dissect this album into what sounds like Blink and what is Plus 44 and so on as, hey, these are the same people, and comparisons are going to be made to begin with. But that’s ok, as by the time you’ve taken this album in as a whole you begin to realize that by questioning it you’ve appreciated it all the more for it.