Linkin Park - Review

“Bring me home in a blinding dream” – A review of Linkin Park. 

I will never forget sitting in our Sixth Form common room at lunch time with one of my best friends, listening to the same Linkin Park album for the millionth time. There was something so raw and fun about screaming along with the lyrics (when we had the common room to ourselves, that is), and those days were full of laughter amongst the exam stress. I always did love alternative music, and Linkin Park was up there as one of my favourites. It’s difficult to explain the backstory and impact that this band had, especially without getting emotional – but I’ll try.

Linkin Park has consistently pushed boundaries of alt rock and nu-metal since they debuted in the early 2000s. Powerful guitar riffs, electronic elements and introspective, often devastating lyrics have resonated with fans the world over. Albums such as Hybrid Theory, and my personal favourite, Meteora, were truly genre defining, full of emotion and energy that is impossible to ignore.

The band went through a couple of revamps before becoming Linkin Park. During the late nineties, the band formed at Agoura High School as Xero, before the legendary vocalist Chester Bennington joined in 1999, and the band became known as Hybrid Theory before finally settling on Linkin Park. Their debut album, Hybrid Theory, released in 2000, and went on to become the best-selling album of 2001. All was going well.

In the years that followed, albums such as Meteora, Collision Course and Living Things were released, and there was plenty of intense touring. 2014 saw a return to a heavier, more rock orientated sound with The Hunting Party – but 2017 would see the band change forever.

I will never forget the moment I got the call from my friend. It was July 2017, and a true tragedy had struck – Chester Bennington had died by suicide. Suddenly, songs like Numb, Heavy and One More Light, which were already deeply moving, I found almost impossible to listen to. They were of course always great songs, but now…Now they were devastating. The music industry and the world had lost a truly remarkable man in a truly devastating way.

I really didn’t think we’d ever get new Linkin Park music after Chester. The band, understandably, went on hiatus from 2017, although they did release 20th anniversary editions of Hybrid Theory and Meteora. The odd unreleased song appeared too, and hearing new music felt strange and bittersweet – but it was good to hear Chester’s voice again.

I was so surprised when, in 2024, I heard the news that the band was reforming with a new vocalist, Emily Armstrong. Up until this point, Armstrong had been known mainly as the lead singer and guitarist for the LA based band Dead Sara, and I must admit I knew little about her. What was clear even then though was that whilst no one could ever try to copy or replace Chester, she had a powerful voice and would be a strong addition to the band.

Despite reports of Chester’s family being unhappy with the band reforming, her talent cannot be ignored. My personal feelings on the matter aside, their come back album, From Zero, wasn’t just good – it was great.

Linkin Park will always hold a special place in my heart. Those teenage years of listening to them with one of my closest friends are memories I truly cherish, and the versatility and evolution of the band has been incredible to watch. Linkin Park is one of the most influential bands of a generation, and they have truly left a lasting legacy on modern rock music.

We miss you, Chester.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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