Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has promised big choruses and heavy electronics for the band’s forthcoming album Living Things. True to his word, first single “Burn It Down” is coated in a layer of icy Depeche Mode synths and features one of Bennington’s patented full-bore refrains; it also boasts a rap by Mike Shinoda, a Linkin Park staple that’s increasingly more scarce than it used to be.
Living Things looks to continue the “One Step Closer” hitmakers’ journey into music for grown folks, and, with the emphasis on stately electronics and Beard Hall of Fame patron saint Rick Rubin behind the boards, another solid outing from the formerly-aggressive rap-rock ensemble. “Burn It Down” is available on iTunes, and Living Things hits stores June 26th.
5 comments
KBOX says:
Apr 19, 2012
Not sure that this is anything more than a rote and monotonous retread of the LP sound. I mean, I get that they’re ‘going back to their roots,’ – whatever that means for a nu metal hybrid act that hit it big in the early aughts. I don’t hate LP – it’s more of a love-hate relationship with their music. I think they’ve put out a couple good albums. This sounds better than anything on the last album with sounded like they were taking a piss…
Big Money says:
Apr 19, 2012
Oh shit. I dig this. If the rest of the album sounds like this, I’ll be blasting it regularly. Nice to hear Shinoda rapping again.
Drew says:
Apr 19, 2012
Rapping Shinoda has been sorely missed for the past couple of records. Dude is not a bad rapper, either. His two verses on “Minutes to Midnight” are the best moments on that entire record.
KBOX, I dunno man – this sounds a lot different from the first couple of albums to these ears. I mean, as previously mentioned, Shinoda’s back to rapping, but I think the music sounds much different. I could actually get down with this type of thing all summer.
blerd says:
Apr 19, 2012
Yeah, musically this sounds a lot different. Less aggro in a nu-metal sense and more like, as I believe Drew referenced in the article, Depeche Mode. I can dig it.
I agree that rapping Shinoda has been missed. That Fort Minor album was definitely an “OH SHIT I’VE BEEN SLEEPING” moment for me, musically.
Drew says:
Apr 19, 2012
I actually never checked out that Fort Minor album. I probably should – more and more, Shinoda’s raps definitely spice up songs. He’s no Rakim, but he’s rock-solid.