DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno says that it is now more likely than ever before that the band's shelved 2008 album "Eros" will see the light of day.

In late 2008, the group was putting the finishing touches on the CD when their bassist, Chi Cheng, suffered major injuries and was left in a coma following a November 2008 car crash in Santa Clara, California.

After the accident, DEFTONES decided to scrap the project and later recruited Sergio Vega, formerly of QUICKSAND, to play bass. They have released two albums since.

Cheng, who formed DEFTONES with singer Chino Moreno, guitarist Stephen Carpenter and drummer Abe Cunningham in 1988, died last month at the age of 42.

Speaking to Artisan News (see video below) on the "black carpet" at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods awards on May 2 at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California, Moreno was asked if "Eros" will ever come out. "It will," he said. "I think [the chances of that happening are] more so now probably than ever [before]." He added: "I actually went back and listened to some of it recently and… you know, I don't know when [we will put it out] or… but I feel it's a little more appropriate now for us to think about that [than it has been] in the last few years to think about."

In a June 2009 online posting announcing their decision to scrap "Eros" and start anew and begin tracking an entirely new album, the band explained: "The songs recorded for 'Eros' are very special to us as they are the latest with Chi (and we certainly hope not the last); they have history and significant meaning to us. However, as we neared completion on 'Eros', we realized that this record doesn't best encompass and represent who we are currently as people and as musicians.

"The decision to hold off on releasing 'Eros' has no connection with Chi's condition or anything associated. This was, and is, purely a creative decision by the band to write, record, and deliver an amazing product."

Cheng was performed on DEFTONES' first five albums. His final release was 2006's "Saturday Night Wrist".