One Inch Punch - Pretty Piece of Flesh

Popping Fleas

I have a couple dogs and cats and, as they are prone to do, they get the occasional flea. I have a flea comb that does a great job of rooting out the tiny vermin. And I am, point of fact, an ace flea comber. Most times, I simply pull the dog hair and fleas from the comb after each passing, put the wad in the toilet, pee on it when I'm done, then flush the whole thing. Occasionally, though, I like to take an individual flea, particularly one that is obviously "with children," put it between my thumbnails, and "pop" it, sort of like it was some free-range, insect zit. If I get a really good one, a copious amount of blood and flea fetuses will explode across my nails. Aside from the sanitary issues (I wash my hands for about 17 minutes after doing this), I derive a great deal of pleasure from this little exercise in flea execution/torture. And, no, I'm not some sadist gets off on crushing living things. But fleas. Come on. They're fucking FLEAS! They cannot possibly have a legitimate purpose other than making one of my Pugs get itchy butt, making him squirm around in obvious discomfort and frustration because his fat little torso will not permit him to get his flat face anywhere close to his ass to chew the fleas like tapioca. So, fuck you, fleas. You suck. I hate you. And I enjoy popping you and aborting your flea babies.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT - THIS RECORD IS GOOD!

Look, Diamond Eyes isn't going make new Deftones fans out of anyone, though it may bring some fans back into the fold, particularly those who found the 2004 eponymous record or 2006's Saturday Night Wrist too experiemental or "weird." This is not to suggest it's a regression; quite the opposite. Diamond Eyes marks a distinct maturing of Deftones as a band and is their first album since White Pony where they sound genuinely comfortable in their own skin.

This is a moodier affair than the last two records. These guys like to create shadows and fog, bending light around corners, stirring stark blacks, whites, and colors in neo-psychedelic, metallic bursts. Given the tragic circumstances that are the genesis of this record (bass player Chi Cheng was nearly killed in a 2008 car accident and the nearly then-complete Eros was indefinitely shelved in favor of a whole new record with "temporary" fill-in, Sergio Vega and new producer, Nick Raskulinecz), it could have been a big pity party or, at a mimimum, a "serious" record, reflecting on mortality and whatnot. The kind of record singer-songwriters make when they turn 66. Thankfully, Deftones brushed themselves off, licked the wounds, and looked inward to draw on what has always made them much more than their peers in the "Nu-Metal" movement.

There is a lot of propulsive, fat guitar work by Stephen Carpenter and the now-obligatory vocals by Chino Moreno that alternate between soft cooing and vocal-cord shredding. The title track is just over 3:00 of bone-crushing stomp that lets off the pedal for a strikingly pretty chorus. From there, the album flows quickly (it's just over 41:00) and never drags. There are detours off the established blueprint. "Prince" harkens back to White Pony with Abe Cunningham's stunning percussion and Carpenter's angular, slashing guitars, while "Beauty School" begs to be remixed for clubs - seriously. And while they've never made any secret of their 80s black-mascara-and-finger-nail-polish fetish, "Sextape" finally achieves full-blown moping glory. Robert Smith would love to have written something this good for any of the last four or five Cure records.

Full of taught rhythms and genuine grooves, ephemeral shifts and colorful atmospherics fans have come to expect, Diamond Eyes achieves more than it probably should. Even though this is only the band's sixth studio LP, it feels like it could be their tenth or more. It's the sound of a band at the height of its prowess as songwriters and players. It takes risks that don't sound risky and it offers rewards in its most intimate, as well as its most ornate and bombastic, moments. For metal fans or just those who like to hear the guitars cranked up really fucking loud every now and again, this album will not disappoint. And for longtime Deftones fans, this record is a remarkable reaffirmation that your faith was never misplaced.

* For downloaders, buy the "deluxe" edition off Amazon.com for an extra buck - you get two great covers; The Cardigans "Do You Believe" and Japan's "Ghosts" with the former slightly better than the latter.