It’s been nearly 12 years since we were graced with the dynamic and exciting album Hybrid Theory by famed alternative group Linkin Park. In that time, the band and their music have grown and matured through both the band’s journeys, as well as the various side-projects of some of the members. Having released five studio albums and two remix albums during their career as Linkin Park, the members seem to always have their hands full. These guys have definitively shown that a group can put out album after album, with perpetual stylistic changes, and maintain not only artistic merit, but also successful sales.
Their latest offering, Living Things, was released on June 26 and immediately made an impact. The album’s first single “Burn it Down” has been getting regular air play since its release in April, and remains a standout song out of the 12 tracks on the record.
Living Things takes various aspects from their previous albums and combines the most powerful of them to create an almost endless wall of sound. Very melodic, exploring themes of personal relationships and people, Living Things creates an emotional journey using heavy choruses and plenty of guitar, sprinkled with enough electronic production to keep things in the Linkin Park realm. According to an interview with NME the band finally felt comfortable in their own skin, after testing the waters with their albums Minutes to Midnight and A Thousand Suns. The complex arrangement and tight composure of songs such as “Lies Greed Misery” and “Until it Breaks” demonstrate what a motivated band with chemistry can create, and man, does it sound good.
When you think of Linkin Park, you usually think of Chester Bennington’s unbelievable wailing and Mike Shinoda’s deliberate rap cadence, along with their signature electronic-rock shockwave. Fans of Hybrid Theory will not be disappointed with Living Things, as it hearkens to their original sound, layered with over a decade of experience and realization.
Living Things is a proud addition to my music library, and you’d do well to give it a listen as well.
[...] would just keep creating new ways to tell their tale, and earlier this year they did it again with Living Things, a musical culmination of the greatest sounds and themes the band has ever made. With this album, [...]