By Dan Satherley
California rockers Deftones have announced details of their first studio album without bassist Chi Cheng, who was nearly killed in a car accident in late 2008.
Diamond Eyes will be released on May 18, and preceded by a single 'Rocket Skates', which is out now on the band's website.
The record was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who has worked with the Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, Marilyn Manson and others.
Cheng won't appear on the album. The accident put him into a coma, and he has reportedly struggled to recover from severe brain injuries.
Sergio Vega, a close friend of the band who had filled in on bass before, makes his Deftones recording debut on Diamond Eyes.
It will be the band's first album in four years – they had previously recorded a completely different record, called Eros, but chose not to release it in favour of a more optimistic direction.
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