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Linkin Park
8th September 2010 | Warner Bros
*
Californian six-piece attempt to relight their fire on fourth effort...
I never truly liked Linkin Park. There is a certain element in their sound, and that of other bands operating in the same field. But this alternative nu-metal genre they have been categorised as seems to appeal to the wider audience. The sales figures speak for themselves, with the Americans shipping over 50 million albums worldwide, with all three of their albums going multi-platinum instantly.
The six-piece's third effort 'Minutes To Midnight' represented a drastic change in musical direction and began a deviation for their signature nu-metal sound of the previous records. This was perhaps an attempt to become more radio-friendly and to increase their mainstream relevance. I am curious on their follow-up to this, to whether they will continue in the same direction of experimentation or revert back to the original sound which instigated their rise to fame in the first place.
This album, entitled 'A Thousand Suns', is a concept work with themes of war being the principle subject matter. Recording commenced shortly after the release of the highly successful, despite divisive 'Minutes To Midnight'. The album was produced by Rick Rubin (who also contributed to 'Minutes To Midnight'), a hard rock/heavy metal specialist. Mike Shinoda (vocals, rhythm guitar and keyboards) claimed the album to have a bigger thread of consistency, to be more experimental and to be more cutting-edge than its predecessor. He desired for this album to enter different territory and for it to define itself as an individual record separate from anything else that's out there. I was intrigued to listen to the results of two years in the studio.
Album opener 'The Requiem' is a slow-burning, electronic based, eerie introduction featuring feminine vocals. 'The Radiance' features interesting drums behind a spoken 'intercom-style' voice. 'Burning In The Skies' brings out the softer side of Linkin Park, introduced on 'Minutes To Midnight'. However, placing it so early in the album was a ineffective decision. 'Empty Spaces' signals the album's course shifting to the rap/hip-hop side of Linkin Park. It is a repetitive filling song ruining the momentum of the album. Shinoda raps on the next cross-over track between rap and metal 'When They Come For Me'. It is an electronic driven song with plenty of screaming which would probably work more effectively on a solo album than in the middle of a Linkin Park album. 'Robot Boy' is another rap-orientated song, but this time much more subdued and with pleasant piano and string lines layered into the mix. 'Jornado Del Muerto' is another worthless filler song with heavy distortion which caps off a rather uninventive, rap-orientated first half. In my opinion, the album has not actually begun. 'Waiting For The End' is an interesting song with a funky Caribbean flavour, but is still far from any rock music. 'Blackout' features faint vocals from 'The Catalyst' (which features later in the album), and is another distant and surreal song, almost as if someone is blacking out from the world. 'Wretches And Kings' is another diabolical rap track delivered from Shinoda, disrupting the gradual upward curve of the second half. 'Wisdom, Justice And Love' is another speech-driven song, which fails to contribute anything because it does not seem to have any reasonable purpose. 'Iridescent' is another soft, piano-led track which is the closest entity to a ballad on the album. 'Fallout' is yet another useless filler track. Then comes, at fourteenth position 'The Catalyst' the poorly-placed lead single. It is a radio-friendly song with a political theme but is geared too heavily on electronics. Closing track 'The Messenger', displays Linkin Park desperately attempting to incorporate guitar work into the album. I feel it is just Bennington screaming (trying to sound powerful, but failing) over some simple piano and acoustic guitar. It encapsulates a shambolic and appalling album.
From my perspective, 'A Thousand Suns' is far removed from 'Minutes To Midnight' and in a definitively negative direction. It sounds incredibly forced and manufactured, almost written purely for the mainstream's sake. The number of intensely weak and unnecessary songs is overwhelming and listeners will be shocked by the sheer lack of creativity. It is poorly ordered and virtually inaccessible. It is the sound of a critically-acclaimed rock band desperate trying to reinvent themselves, and failing miserably to the point where they have lost their identity. 'A Thousand Suns' will confuse and alienate any new admirers while isolating a vast chunk of their 'metal' fanbase. This is certainly something to forget.
Track Listing
1. The Requiem
2. The Radiance
3. Burning In The Skies
4. Empty Spaces
5. When They Come For Me
6. Robot Boy
7. Jornada Del Muerto
8. Waiting For The End
9. Blackout
10. Wretches And Kings
11. Wisdom, Justice And Love
12. Iridescent
13. Fallout
14. The Catalyst
15. The Messenger
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