Band:	Deftones
Album:	Koi No Yokan
Style:	Alternative metal
Release date:	November 13, 2012
Guest review by:	Monolithic

01. Swerve City
02. Romantic Dreams
03. Leathers
04. Poltergeist
05. Entombed
06. Graphic Nature
07. Tempest
08. Gauze
09. Rosemary
10. Goon Squad
11. What Happened To You?

Sacremento's seminal act Deftones released their second album after hearing the tragic news about Chi Cheng's horrible car accident and while it doesn't top White Pony, it is an impressive effort on its own.

Deftones was pretty much walking on a thin line after that tragic accident. I can really feel the negative energy they were bearing at that moment and finally, they decided to continue without forgetting their injured comrade. Released in 2010, Diamond Eyes was the beginning of the band's path to self-recovery, unleashing the fury and the rage and the pain in the form of, in my opinion, one of their most awesome works, (at least by Deftones' standards). But now it remains to be seen whether Koi No Yokan can really become a turning point in the band's career.

Generally, Koi No Yokan seems to have a better layout than Diamond Eyes and the music doesn't sound too polished. However, I was concerned about them doing too much experimentation with the music, which may have lead to the containment of the band's raw energy; it seems my fears have come true. But surprisingly, it doesn't disappoint me, either.

To point out one of the most crucial aspects of Deftones' sound and how it has changed, Chino has a better control over his soothing voice and he does a great job in laying out a dreamy soundscape ("Entombed"). But that doesn't mean he's burned out at this age as he still uses his trademark screams where he feels they're needed, namely "Leathers". For me this album will be one of his greatest vocal performances. The songwriting department has also improved a lot and you don't get a feeling about the songs being "detached" or "incomplete". However, at some points you can feel that the absence of pure, raw energy is a bit irritating.

Koi No Yokan is susceptible to be overshadowed by other renown alternative acts, and presumably by Deftones' future releases. But it also has a permanent place in Deftones' trophy cabinet.