At least after the first decade of the 2000's, the 90's-born genre Nu-Metal seems almost extinct. Leaving an image of dudes in baggy pants, who seem to be 16 for their entire lives and never get tired of rapping about their complicated childhoods or skateboarding, it's not always easy to be fan of a genre-shaping representative: Deftones released their 7th album 'Koi No Yokan' in 2012. Since their masterpiece White Pony in 2000 a classic for all genre-fans and one of the best albums of my generation a lot has changed in the industry and bands like Linkin Park changed from Nu-Metal to pure pop. Probably, it's the timeless beauty and the intriguing, authentic mood they produce, that allows them to keep their identity since the early 90's. Soundwise, Deftones are not as gritty, dirty and pure as in the early years, but a band from that status has deserved an album that is produced as brilliantly as 'Koi No Yokan', even though some old school fans may miss the unfiltered heaviness of the past. The rhythm section comes over very clear, the drums sound a bit too sterile and compressed, but that's the sound these days. The arrangements are very diverse and you can always hear some great new details. As in the predecessor 'Diamond Eyes', the guitar sound blows you away like a low tuned hurricane. Combined with the schizophrenic vocals by Chino Moreno, balancing between maniac shouts and warm melodies, Deftones used their recipe that already worked so well on the past albums. The recipe also worked for the songwriting. The structure is mostly similar and the album is drive by its great, catchy choruses still there's hardly a song for the radio (thank god!). What makes the album so good and consistent is also a slight downside to me: without too many surprises, 'Koi No Yokan' seems a bit slick from time to time. Maybe one reason is the fat production: as in so many modern productions, there's no space for your imagination left. You get a perfect sound, every second is packed with music, overdubs, vocals and dozens of layers. With Swerve City, Deftones open the album with a very heavy, straight-in-your-face piece of music. An unusual opener for the Sacramento based quintet, but it draws your attention immediately and makes you curious for more. Memories of the White Pony days come to your mind when 'Romantic Dreams' starts: there's a bit more space in the arrangement and Carpenter uses great, direct guitar sound Deftones at their best.
The prepublication 'Leathers' starts with a soft, ambient intro, blast away by massive guitar riffs leading to the probably strongest chorus on the album. The next song, the rather experimental 'Poltergeist' has a typical Deftones feel to it, all though there's a lack of catchy melodies and the chorus seems a bit compelled. Then follows the first really slow song: 'Entombed' feels like the slower pieces on 'Diamond Eyes' but fails to make the tears flow all though it's a consistent, dreamy song. While 'Graphic Nature' comes along without real highlights, 'Tempest' is one of the biggest moments on the album. A sluggish, laid back beat with guitars evokes a picture of a giant, walking in slow motion and trampling down entire buildings. The chorus doesn't have to hide behind 'Leathers'. Moreno's calm voice and the atmospheric guitars merge to an epic, mysterious blast of music that gives you goose bumps.
It can only get weaker after that, I thought. But the band managed, to surprise with the next song and by taking a whole different direction with 'Gauze', they prevented the listener from comparing the song to the highlight before. The song is a great combination of different periods and it sounds like a 'best of Deftones' compilation in one song. We got the psychedelic party, the low heavy ones, the dreamy melodies. The first clean, atmospheric sound from 'Rosemary' sound exactly like the beginning from 'Sextape'. Luckily the song moves into a different, less romantic direction. Still it doesn't manage to really touch me and sounds as mentioned before like written by recipe. 'Goon Squad' goes in the same direction, the album seems to get a lot weaker by the end. The last two songs head neither high- nor lowlight. Rote awakes in the listener because the songs sound very predictable. The last song 'What Happened To You' is not the biggest surprise, but it's beautiful and contains interesting, experimental elements. Still I would have wished a more glorious ending for the album. 'Koi No Yokan' would have deserved a great finale and the rather boring ending leaves a bitter taste.

Still it's a really good album and one can hear that Deftones are grown ups now who produce mature albums, that have nothing to do with the ridiculous Nu-Metal image that so many people have.… Expand

the ability for letters of Chino Moreno and the magic of instruments for the entire group of instruments come to a new level, bringing as a result: the most beautiful and powerful Deftones album and the best album of 2012
Deftones has evolved over the years and have created a work well above white pony and diamond eyes.
not only in letters but in their evolutionary sound
such exampleas: swerve city, leathers, entombed and tempest are a great example of this.
what I liked most noted of this album its the cover, is more beautiful than I have seen in my youth, it is difficult for someone to overcome.
and the best songs for me are:
swerve city
Leathers
poltergeist
entombed
tempest and what happed to you?
are the best of this great album. that no one would ever think that justin bieber and one direction are better than deftones, that's a great offense to the best of the best, they never reached their level and less with this beautiful album KOI NO YOKAN, Please girls, this is much better… Expand

Best album since White Pony.
This album has all the thrills and melodic tones you would expect from Deftones. Except this album takes it to a new level.

Koi No Yokan is a good "sounding" album that is hard to consume because lead singer Chino's vocals are too soft at times and are hard to make out what he is singing. It's a decent album, but they tread in the same waters musically. Almost all of the songs overstay their welcome around the 2-minute mark and you pretty much know what the expect with the remaining 2-minutes. However, I can still highly recommend people to see Deftones live, they have improved drastically over the years from a drunk, slop sounding band to a veteran, professional, and amazing sounding live band. Sadly, there is only 2 songs that stand out on this album and you can pretty much throw away the rest.… Expand

I had very high expectations for this album before running to the store on opening day to buy this album, and I obviously knew that they were going to be met. But, I did not know that it was going to completely shatter them to pieces. Diamond Eyes was a masterpiece, and will always be a masterpiece, but Koi No Yokan might just be one of the defining records of music in general. It's that amazing. It's impossible to put into words how ecstatic I am about this album. There is a reason why this album has gotten more positive reaction towards than most of the albums that have come out this year. The band improves on every level on tracks such as the heavy "Poltergeist", the catchy "Graphic Nature", and the best song of 2012, and quite possibly one of the best songs I've ever heard, "Rosemary", a 7-minute epic that is the definition of progression. This is the best album I have heard since I listened to 5FDP's album, "American Capitalist". There are no filler tracks, bad moments, or cringeworthy lyrics to be found at all during this album. It's not only the best album of 2012, and the best of the Deftones. This is a work of pure art. An album that will define the decade, if not the entire century of music, and will be the album that every person will remember for years to come. You just HAVE to own this album. If the album is sold at a high price, it will be worth every cent.… Expand

Possibly my favorite metal album this year. The riffs hit hard and Chinos vocals are as great as ever. There musicianship leaves me in awe throughout many of the songs on this album. Possibly this is the best i heard them play.

Koi No Yokan is a beautiful album. I listen to a variety of music and this album is probably the best this year by far. The songs hit a range of emotion and are executed beautifully. I feel like this album is worthy of a Grammy and will be very disappointed if they don't get at least nominated.

These guys kind of punched me right in the face with Koi No Yokan. They demolish their guitars, they take it back to Rage in their prime, and sometimes they sound like they're writing hip worship music. At both ends, it's pretty fascinating, simultaneously rigid and crafted with ease.

Deftones have been making music for 24 years, and unlike most bands they haven't made a bad album yet! The biggest band on this planet. Koi No Yokan instantly had me hooked, an instant classic in my books.

Good release, really. But just overrated. I was disappointed with the album because of its vacuousness and the fact that I couldn't distinguish the songs after hearing the whole album twice. I love the voice of Chino Moreno and it's a fact that you can have an awesome time with this album but such high critics rating are not understandable for me. It's a good metal album and they made another step forwards but 'Koi No Yokan' is just a 7 out of 10.… Expand

First off, THE Deftones are the best band in the world. I already know this review will be long and probably drawn out. I just get so excited every time the Tones put out new material, so I do apologize. This is actually my first review, I thought about reviewing Diamond Eyes but I'm glad I waited for the "premonition of love." I'm now fourty years old which I believe is the same age as the best vocalist in rock Mr. Moreno. There is a lyric in the last track "What Happened to You" which reads for fourty years I've played with you. I want to start out saying that when the Deftones came out in '94, Korn, Limp Biskit, and other Nu-Metal bands were coming out and I'll admit that I liked Korn and Limp's first two records. The Deftones Adrenalize massacred everthing I felt so much in there music. Korn and Limp had the anger, but the Deftones had so much more! This is how I describe there 7 cd's. Adrenalize groove-laden, we all know every album Abe kicks ass on the drums, but song after song kicked. Around the Fur seemed to me a little darker-and then I know White Pony is a lot of people's favorite which i completely understand. When I got that record we hadn't heard a Digital Bath, Knife Party, Maynard and Chino on Passenger, so I get it! That's when I started worrying how they are going to top themselves. Well, self-titled came out and I swear the first three songs were to me amazing! the songs after weren't bad but I didn't feel them like I did on the highly acclaimed White POny. Then we have the Saturday Night Wrist which had a little bit of everthing but to me and I know a lot of people will disagree with me but is my least favorite album I think Hole in the Earth, Cherry Waves, Beware were highlights but album as a whole least favorite. I wasn't to excited about Diamond Eyes until I heard Rocket Skates and then Diamond Eyes. I bought tickets to a concert at the House of Blues in New Orleans and words cannot explain the goose-bumps that I got seeing 6 albums worth of the best songs ever. To hard back to soft groove to scream back to sensitive chino's vocals was the best show I've ever seen. The only thing that compares is a Tool show or a laid back Radiohead back in the KId A days. Now let me say as I drag on Koi No Yokan is the best record front to back no filler the first three tracks are like a barometer i heard someone say about the rest of the album. The first track Swerve City is a Positive, bouncy, awesome guitar solo which we don't get a lot of and even some oh oh oh not heard from deftones just as in Romantic Dreams one of my favorite tracks on the record- this song has so much emotion and the lyrics are phenomenal then of course Leathers in your face and wow that scream kicks ass. Poltergeist I'm sure is a favorite reaching back into the Deftones heyday Entombed got to be the most beautiful song in the Tones discography. None of these songs remind me of any other record except gauze and graphic nature sound like they could have been recorded during the white pony time, maybe i'm crazy I like these two songs the vocals and the way the band draws out instrumentally on gauze as well as the way the tracks seem to be sequenced in a way that they just melt together. My favorite song on this record is Rosemary completely love perfect makes me feel high when i'm completely sober **** amazin. Tempest is another favorite loved it the first time i heard it can't wait to see it live the bass is kickin like chicken. I miss Cheng but Vega is filling the void impeccably. Goon Squad is going to be a great song live i can already imagin singin along "designed for you by me"! reminds me of the Around the Fur days. The last track What happened to you makes me feel so good like a summer day driving with the top down without a care in the world. A lot of people compare the Deftones to the Cure I feel it in certain songs which is a good thing I was a average fan of the in high school this song reminds me of them, Depeche Mode which is awkward to say because the Deftones to me are the best "hard rock" band in the world but this album gets a 10 barely edging out Diamond Eyes only because I feel the lyrics more and I thing the album sounds "bigger" like a improvement of the same sound but musically harder but with a lot of emotion in the lyrics. My favorite Koi No Yokan, Diamond Eyes, White Pony, Adrenaline, Deftones, Saturday Night Wrist. Sorry I went on and on but i have been a fan for almost 20 years and they completely get me if u know what i mean.… Expand

What can you say? They did it again. They have not strayed from who they are and yet have made albums that keep up with the times. Koi No Yokan is instantly recognizable as the Deftones. What I like is that they have the perfect blend of soft and hard. And the soft has gotten softer while the hard is much harder. It's almost as if Chino and Stephan are Yin and Yang. Chino has the ghostly sound while Stephan's guitar work here almost sounds like Meshuggah. My favorite tracks are "Goon Squad", "Tempest", "Rosemary", "Gauze", "Leathers", and probably my favorite track on the album "Poltergeist".… Expand

This is a very solid album. Typical Deftones sound with some really awesome songs. The album has a great feel to it and is perfectly produced. Make sure to listen to it at least once with some decent over-the-ear headphones. The two singles "Leathers" and "Tempest" had already sold me on the record but I was afraid those might be the only two great songs on this record. Not so..."Poltergeist" is a beast of a song and just kicks you right in the teeth. "Gauze" has that great mid-tempo Deftones feel to it. Chinos vocals on this whole record are just amazing. He is such a fantastic singer!! If you haven yet listen to this record, stop reading this review and get the album and enjoy!!!… Expand

back to their best at last! always a massive fan - everything after white pony up until diamond eyes was a bit average but still the odd good track. every song on this album is wholeheartedly deftones, stand outs include 'Leathers,' 'Tempest' and 'Gauze.' not so hot on 'goon squad'

Every new Deftones album release is a BIG event. To be hones I'd like this album to be the continuation of Diamond Eyes in the way of heaviness. But actually it sounds a lot lighter and it has more romantic/lyrical/tender mood. Very atmospheric and soft. The vocal melodies catch you and follow you through all the 51 minutes of the album. Every new spin gives you an ability to find some new features of this records. Once again, Bravo, Deftones!… Expand

Amazing album. Have been a fan since mid 90s & they continue to bring it every album. This is def one of their best to date. Have had it in my car CD player since I bought it.

"Love at first sight" fits Koi No Yokan very well. You can never compare Deftones to any other band, and they continue to prove they can easily amaze with their unbelievable euphoria-causing audio. But like typical Deftones, you get the hard-pounding sounds like "Swerve City" but are later served with an unbelievable "Entombed" that would calm even the meanest part of us all. There are so many amazing songs that even naming a "single" would belittle the rest of the album; the same can be said for recommending songs to anyone. It's a wonder how the band can be around for almost 20 years yet many people fail to recognize the name.… Expand

Good album but definitely not my favorite. Diamond eyes hit a sweet spot for me upon it's release surpassing saturday night wrist and the self titled album with some strong raw songwriting. i find myself wishing they had further explored that avenue of sound. koi no yokan, to me, is a slightly better saturday night wrist. the album at times is incredibly over produced leaving little room for rough sound exploration. this is just preference; it is a competent album and a really good listen all the way through, but it feels like it's missing something.… Expand

You should never compare deftones albums. Every one has it's own unique sound. After their successful relaunching into the industry with diamond eyes their back on track. A blissful and sometimes even sexy(entombed and romantic dreams) this is a hardcore album. Much heavier sounding guitar and a lot more space and feeling to the songs. The lyrics are also some of their most literal and open minded than most of their other albums. Definitely one of my favourites under around the fur… Expand

Expectations were high for Koi No Yokan. It is Deftones seventh album in a row which simply does not disappoint. Each output got compared to 2000s masterpiece White Pony. Lucky enough Deftones never tried to create a White Pony 2, they wrote Albums which obviously fitted in their current status, always covered in a more (Selftitled) or less (Diamond Eyes) dark atmosphere.
Each output since WP had its problems. The Selftitled was too dark (for me), SNW had great songs, but did not succeed with its experiments (Mein with Serj, Pink Cellphone). Diamond Eyes did not have this weak points but lacked in depth, atmosphere and textures.

Koi No Yokan takes out the strengths of each of these albums since White Pony and leaves out the above criticized points. It´s pretty dark, flows really good as a whole album (nearly every song connects with the next) and adds a huge amount of atmosphere to it. Also, the production seems to be improved regarding Diamond Eyes. There is not one song which doesn´t fit into the album, each song has its place and is loveable from start to finish.
Starting with Swerve City as a bouncy, poppy opener, Koi No Yokan beautifully delivers Deftones signature move: the dynamics. Leathers verses is one of the heaviest in Deftones history, fighting with the dreamy chorus created by Chinos beautiful voice. The man simply can create moods with his organ.
Poltergeist, starting with odd handclaps leading into a heavy Carpenter Riff, drives the heavy vs soft game on. Next song, Entombed is simply beautiful and perfect material for a single. Graphic Nature could easily be featured one White Pony. Tempest, the single, connects southern rockesque guitars (straight from the 90s) with a lovely chorus and is one of the highlights. Gauzes beginning brings back Deftones heavy moments and is nothing less than Deftones high standard.
Rosemary is the heart of Koi No Yokan, one of Deftones highlights of their whole career. A melody which stays in your head forever. Goon Squad with its dynamics lets you headbang before What happened to you? closes the album with a trippy dreampoppy sound. Reminds directly of Chi, who still suffers from the accident 4 yours ago.

KNY is a perfect album for walks through the winter air and can be experienced best as a whole. Listen to this if you are a fan of intelligent alternative rock albums.
It connects fans of heavy metal (Meshuggah riffing) with the ones of The Cure or The Smiths.

Standout tracks are Leathers, Entombed and Rosemary.… Expand

A sound quite genuine, rock metal / experimental, with a dominant personality. Deftones explores with hypnotizing atmospheres, some dramatic melodies, dark, aggressive, in contrast to the enigmatic bass notes. The powerful voice of Chino Moreno is exposed in all its facets brilliantly. "Poltergeist" and "Tempest" highlighted in the concept album well done, highly addictive and perfectly structured.… Expand

Deftones may very well be one of the most consistent and dependable bands of the past 20 years. Each new release sees the band further their musical scope while still retaining that immediately identifiable sound. I personally got hooked into the band with White Pony, specifically the songs

It's pretty rare for me to not only like every song on an album, but to also like them all on first listen like I did with this album. My biggest complaint with the album is that I wish there was more songs. Having said that it's one of their best albums maybe even their best in terms of consistency, I've only been able to listen to it three or four times but it's fast becoming my favourite.] from them. It may also be their easiest album for non/new fans to listen to as well.… Expand

Beautiful album, even blissful at times. They have carved out their own sound and perfected it, amazing. Album of the year and in my opinion, the best they have ever released.

This album is great from beginning to end. The first track "Swerve City" immediately draws you in. What I love most about the Deftones, is they have the perfect blend of aggression and melody. They're heavy but very calming at the same time. The Deftones deliver again with an album that is powerful and full of emotion.

I was sure that it couldn´t get any better than Diamond Eyes, but they sure proved the opposite. They are extremely talented and Chino´s (vocal) voice gives you goosebumps. They combine the softness and hardness so perfectly that I was on the edge of crying several times. I really recommend the album and all the previous albums.

Heavier than Diamond Eyes but just as melodic and ethereal, Deftones have once again put out an outstanding record of atmospheric, cryptic, blistering alternative metal. Standout tracks include "Tempest" and "Swerve City."

It's a shame there is only 11 tracks on the album i want more musics like this to listen all the day and chill out .
Intense, deep ,profound to the bones.

Granted this is the Chi-less incarnation of the Deftones, this album feels like the Deftones at their best. It's spacey hums and melodies flow beautifully together and just as you're being lulled to sleep in some ethereal drones, a crushingly heavy attack comes into wake you right up. This album has the versatility of White Pony and the pure metal fury of Around the Fur, already a classic Deftones album. Very well done boys.… Expand

I discovered Deftones a while ago back on one of the soundtracks to the Matrix. Many good tracks here, definitely worth a listen. Tempest and Polterheist bring the heat!

Hearing Leathers and Tempest just whet my appetite for an album that I had very high expectations for, and these guys have succeeded in beating every single one of them. It is so heavy at times, so dreamy at times. Extremely solid effort gents.