Linkin Park founded in 1996, since the early 00’s they have made a big mark in the music industry. With ‘Hybrid Theory’ in 2000 selling over 4.8 million copies – this was their first album, so it’s by far deemed a massive success, shortly after that in 2002 they released a re-mastered version – it sold over 27 million copies making it the best début album in the 21st century, from then on, it was onwards and upwards!
Since then they have released ‘Metora’ in 2004, ‘Minutes to Midnight‘ in 2007, ‘A Thousand Sounds’ in 2010, ‘Living Things’ in 2012 and now their sixth album ‘The Hunting Party’ in 2014. They have also made a few side projects with two remix albums, ‘Reminition‘ in 2002 and ‘Recharged‘ in 2013 along with ‘Collision Course‘ featuring Jay Z.
The band has curved over the recent years adapting to more of an electro metal vibe within their nu metal genre, though they still blast though with their once unique rap additions to metal. This can be seen though their fifth album ‘Living Things‘. Now when ‘Living Things’ came out it was a mix reaction with people, a lot accepted and were happy with it. Then there were others saying “this isn’t Linkin Park they’ve changed maaan! Bla blab la”. Yes they have made an adaption; yes they’ve got a different approach but it’s not that bad! It’s still them but more electro.
So what does this mean about their new album? According to reports they have taken a step back to their old roots. The band also mention that they are “starting from scratch” on this album. “It will be more aggressive and feel like ‘Hybrid Theory’“. Chester mentions that the music they were producing was typical for the genre, so it does seem they started from scratch.
After a listen to ‘The Hunting Party’ I can confirm that you will not be disappointed, they have defiantly gone back to their old ways, more aggression more nutty solo’s. If some of you moan at this saying “oh they’ve changed… “, then bow your head in shame!
With tracks such as ‘Guilty All the Same’ which is their new single from the album, this is a clear indication that they are back with a bang. The band did state that they produced this album themselves, as they did not want to have a producer. They produced it and Warner Brothers Records released it.
‘Kings to the Kingdom’ (despite it being the first song) doesn’t hesitate rawring like the old times, but with the added modern kick to it.
‘All For Nothing’ as the title says – this song is meant to be played full blast as it turns any situation to one of the moments when you give it all you can or it’ll be all for nothing (see what I did there). But seriously its one of those songs which motivates you to do stuff.
‘Final Masquerade’ is their newest single from the album. After having a listen and watching the music video it makes more sense, lyric wise. The theme reminds me of Fallout, a post apocalypse game. Instantly from the start of the video you see an angel walk past and behind it on the wall “beware of the shape shifters” then a baby appears out of nowhere. With the lyrics “Light on the horizon, is brighter than yesterday, shadows floating over skies began to fade”.
Personally I think that this is about the world, “beware of shape shifters” the people we see, respect, seem angelic, but are they? I feel the child represents innocence been born into this world. Does it mean that there is only so much time until this child will shape shift from innocence to something else, like the light is on the horizon, the shadow of its forefathers? That is just my opinion, I could go into it more but I think its best to nutshell it, but what do you think it could mean?
Aside from there aggro tracks you can’t have a Linkin park album without, the signature mini tracks on this one are the ‘The Summoning’, ‘War’ and ‘Drawbar’. Out of all of them ‘Drawbar’ is my favourite, this mellow track feels like it has pride stitched into it. I feel that it does pack some emotion behind the track, making you think about stuff before the ‘Final Masquerade’ comes on.
I feel in general the songs interlock with each other forming some form of short story. A indicator is the track names themselves e.g. ‘War‘, ‘Wastelands’, ‘Mark the Grave’ and ‘Final masquerade’. As I say it’s just my opinion, have a listen and see what you think about it.
Well I guess its time to wrap it up now. Now they have gone back to their old roots much different from their last album living things. The best way to describe this is Hybrid theory and living things, after years of flirting they had sex had a baby and called it the hunting party. So in all this album is worth buying!
