Review Summary: Linkin Park gets experimental, and goes into unexplored territory. The result? An album that is a very enjoyable listen.
I had mixed feelings when I heard this album was in the works. I had heard from several reviews Mike saying, "We aren't trying to make Hybrid Theory 2, or Minutes To Midnight 2." So when Linkin Park released "The Catalyst" as a single, I then thought "Well, they weren't kidding." Although, I did dismiss the song and the band overall after hearing that. Thinking that they "sold out" and that they are now "techno ***". However, a couple weeks later, I heard the song again on the radio. Then thought, this sounds better! I listened to the song again, and finally decided to give the album a go.
One of the first things I noticed when I listened to this is Mr. Hahn's stronger role in the band now. This was a nice change from him basically being not heard at all on MTM. While he has a stronger role in the band, the guitarists take a backseat in this album. Which I didn't mind, seeing as when the guitarists do happen to play, they play increadibly simple riffs. The drumming however, is done, and done very well. In tracks like When They Come For Me, the drumming, along with Mr. Hahn's effects, take center stage. This makes for a very enjoyable listen.
Mike has also returned to his angsty rapping hes known for, while still sticking to his clean vocals. Personally, I believe his clean vocals work just as well (if not better) than his rapping. In Wretches And Kings, he raps using his usual angsty lyrics, which works pretty well with Mr. Hahns electronica effects, except for the hey, hey, hey part. His clean vocals are showcased in Waiting For The End, and work just as well, blending almost seamlessly with Chester's. As for Chester's vocals, he uses his clean vocals for most of the record. Only using his screamed vocals on Blackout. As he screams his way through the song, his screams do not work as well as you think with the systhesizer and pianos.
As for the lyrics, they are what you would expect from a Linkin Park album. The lyrics are self-directed anger once again. However with this album, Linkin Park are using politics as a subject for their lyrics now, and while not the most intelligent, work out better than the usual angst-fest. These lyrics are displayed heavily in Burning In The Skies, using the lyrics "I used the deadwood to make the fire rise, the blood of innocence burning in the skies". Again not the most intelligent, but better than the "shut up when im talking to you!" lyrics we are used to.
In about 4 of the tracks, there is someone giving a speech. These speeches usually talk about "The Machine". They are used in almost every one of these spoken word tracks. So, after a while, it becomes unconvincing and you don't really care what the hell the machine is. Luckily, all these tracks are skippable. These tracks however, give this album the title of concept album. If they just placed these political messages into songs, instead of these spoken word tracks, the album would be much better.
At the end of the day though, this isn't the Linkin Park of Hybrid Theory, Meteora, or Minutes to Midnight. This is the Linkin Park of A Thousand Suns. If you're willing to look past that, you will find an experimental treat that is very satisfying to listen to.
