If there’s one band that rarely needs an introduction, it’s Linkin Park. One of the most important pioneers of the nu-metal scene back in the late 1990s, they’ve constantly dazzled audiences across the globe with both their studio releases and their live shows. They’ve never been one to stay boxed in either; their first two albums, fan favourite ‘Hybrid Theory’ and ‘Meteora’, may have followed a similar vein with Chester Bennington’s use of guttural screams and Mike Shinoda’s rapping, but they took a different turn with ‘Minutes to Midnight’. A slightly more mellow album, it was still an incredibly hard-hitting piece. And with experimental pieces ‘A Thousand Suns’ and ‘Living Things’, this Californian sextet showed why they’re still an incredibly influential band.
However, their newest release ‘The Hunting Party’ was described by Shinoda simply as a “rock record”, leaving behind their electronic sound, and that the album depicts Linkin Park “as the party that is hunting to bring back the energy and soul of rock”. Different processes were used to create this album; instead of using the favoured method of writing, demoing, and recording in the studio, the group decided to write and compose in the studio straight away. So the big question is this: they may have been out hunting, but have they captured what they set out to?
‘Keys to The Kingdom’ opens the album on rather familiar ground. Bennington’s visceral vocals are completely on point. Raw, strong and passionate, it seems that – if the first track is anything to go by – ‘The Hunting Party’ will be a good one. Slight elements of hip-hop and rap rock are present once again, particularly during ‘All For Nothing (feat. Paige Hamilton)’ and ‘Wastelands’ – it’s always welcome to hear Shinoda’s powerful vocals and lyrics.
Instrumental ‘The Summoning’ is an incredibly atmospheric track, before it explodes into ‘War’, a dynamic and bold song that’s emphasised by its huge riffs. ‘Until It’s Gone’ is a hard-hitting and emotional piece, with lyrics such as “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone” – an old piece of advice, but still incredibly moving. ‘Rebellion’, featuring Daron Malakian [System of a Down], is a mighty anthem, brimming with raw energy. Meanwhile, ‘Drawbar’, which features Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, is an intense piece of work – however, it relies on beautiful piano work, bringing a brief respite against the raging loudness of the rest of the album.
Disappointingly, ‘A Line In the Sand’ isn’t the strongest closing track. But saying that, ‘The Hunting Party’ is a consistent, solid album – it’s a massive change compared to ‘Living Things’, and has seen Linkin Park move back slightly to their heavier roots.
JESS TAGLIANI