The album closer “Little Things Give You Way” adds a bitter, clever lyric inspired by a visit to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to a soaring and successful piece of stadium rock. The churning rock riffs of “No More Sorrows” may not be particularly original but it attacks warmongers in a thoroughly entertaining and exciting way. “Hands Held High” is a moving anti-Iraq war rap set to an ironic backdrop of church organ and military snare drum. And when they move beyond adolescent finger pointing and start to get really angry the results are really successful. “Bleed It Out” is exciting quick fire rap with lots of handclaps. The best tracks come when Linkin Park take risks. The current single “What I’ve Done” feels like a thin rewrite of “Numb”, the sound of a band alarmingly trapped in its’ own formula. These are impeccably crafted, but lack killer choruses, and stay rooted to the ground despite all their efforts to take wing.
But the rest of the album features too many bitter-sweet mood pieces like “Leave Out All The Rest” and “Shadow Of The Day”. The opening song “Given Up” is great: twisted, moshing, rousing punk with lots of f-words. Given Up (Linkin Park Cover) by Victim, released 13 March 2015 Wake in a sweat again Another day's been laid to waste In my disgrace Stuck in my head again Feels like I'll never leave this place There's no escape I'm my own worst enemy I've given up I'm sick of feeling Is there nothing you can say Take this all away I'm suffocating Tell me what the fuck is wrong With me. If the sleeve photo is any indication, half the band have grown beards while working on it. Minutes To Midnight their third album, took 14 months to write and record: an ominous sign. But they are struggling to live up to the brilliance of their first album, the multi million selling Hybrid Theory.
I’m a big fan of Linkin Park’s mix of pop, rap and metal.