All you guys hyping up the album and its potential just because Terry is back is going to screw you all over. I mean yeah, it's great news, and certainly for the people that have severe issues with the production over the last few albums. But the band is still going to make the music they want to make, for all you know, it could be a better-sounding continuation of Gore. Getting your expectations sky-high in anything rarely leads to happiness.
I love Gore, but I would love some darker songs. Not even necessarily heavy, just darker. The first part of (L)MIRL is exactly the kind of sound that I think they excel at, if they give it the exposure it deserves.
I'd be more than happy with a better-produced continuation of Gore, because my issues with it are not with the songwriting. The songwriting is mostly solid and some of the best of the Sergio era IMO (it's really a shame the mix wasn't always up to par). However, I have to disagree that will happen for two reasons. One, the sound and style of the music always changes every album (somewhat off topic, but it's why I don't believe those who say Eros just sounded like Saturday Night Wrist 2 - Smile sounds NOTHING like any of SNW). Two, some of the negative fan reception, all the hoopla about Stephen not being enamored with creating it and Deftones even posting a picture of flamingos hovering around trash pretty much guarantees they will go in a different direction and likely even a wildly different direction.
As for the return of Terry, I get what you're saying. Expectations are a motherfucker and can definitely lead to disappointment. It would also be silly to expect an album that's going to magically transport us back to the late 90's or early 00's. Truth is, yes, we probably won't get an album that's as heavy-hitting as Around the Fur was or as much of a game-changer as White Pony was. I'm simply looking for an album that has exploratory songwriting and consistent production - and, yes, maybe the best album of the Sergio era. My expectations are high but not out of the stratosphere.
Also, it is Deftones releasing a new album. It's hard not to get hyped up lol. I get hyped up on every album release. This band has always been like a drug to me, so when I find out the producer of my three favorite albums is returning, it's like the dealer telling me it's the purest, most uncut cocaine he has gotten in seventeen years. That's if I were into cocaine. I'm not.