YEAH!!! i see where ur coming from... i've been developing the "razordracula" sound since about 6th grade...... been on it ever since!! it has taken me a long time to achieve the sound people are beginning to know me 4 now, but im still developing it each day ! i believe (mainly on my tlaac album) that the deftones sound is def present..
I've been an off-shoot for literally ever, but yeah I'd like to stylize it a bit differently too. But I think their impact would still be quite audible.