Minutes to Midnight

Linkin Park: Chester Bennington, Dave Farrell , Rob Bourdon, Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn. After a multi-platinum debut, Grammy nominations, a profitable sophomore album, sold-out excursions, and a collaboration with Jay-Z, the stress was on for Linkin Park to ship the products with their 2007 launch, MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT. Curiously, the choice steel outfit, finest identified for mixing rap, rock, and digital touches, deviates from their aggressive, angst-filled sound on their third outing–opting as an alternative to dabble in moody, atmospheric rock. Opener “Wake” establishes the ethereal, synth-driven really feel that characterizes a lot of the disc. Crunching electrical guitars are few and much between, and many of the swirling, electronica-textured tracks weigh in at mid-to-downtempo. There are nonetheless moments of rock depth, equivalent to “Bleed It Out” (that includes one in every of rapper Mike Shinoda’s few appearances), however the general temper appears higher suited to pensive bedsitting than a pageant mosh pit. Co-producer Rick Rubin makes the dreamy soundscapes gleam, however longtime followers might miss the fist-pumping vitality of early Linkin Park. Nonetheless, the brand new sonic palette of MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT reveals a band prepared to push previous their very own tried-and-true formulation.