Linkin Park have gone a long way. A long long way… straight down. I can still remember every single lyric of In The End, I still hum the tune of Faint and play the intro of A Place For My Head as a warm up. Linkin Park were edgy, new and above all, very very original. Merging elements of rock, numetal and rap into one package was something that was never executed before. Linkin Park were pioneers, where as now they are simply prisoners of the pop industry. A Thousand Suns will go down in history as one of the worst albums ever produced by a once successful band. The one thing the album does do well is end quickly.
It appears as though Linkin Park have lost all the creative integrity they once possessed and replaced it with a computer… probably a Mac. No part of this album reflects what this band is.. or rather was capable of. Instead, it seems all band members have been replaced by drum machines and synths with the exception of vocals, which appear to have been recorded at the local mental asylum. The sharp logical lyrics of Chester Bennington have been replaced with squeals and screeches accompanied by inane lyrics that no sane person could possibly decript. I mean somebody tell me what the fuck “God save us everyone. Will we burn inside the fires of a thousand suns? “ actually means. If he is actually questioning whether we will burn under the unimaginable heat of a thousand suns, he has many more problems than I first predicted. “God save us everyone” isn’t much better. I can’t quite comprehend what this actually means. Probably makes sense to him I suppose. The opening track “Blackout” really serves as a warning for the rubbish that is to come. The worst part of it is, is that “Blackout” is probably the best track on the album, and from that point on, it is a steep steep trip down.
While most of Linkin Parks previous releases have all been meticulously put together, and calculated to the enth degree, A Thousand Suns seems to be put together by a toddler with far too many crayons in his collection. Everything is just thrown together in a messy pile, with the hope it would just kind of sort itself out, which evidently doesn’t happen. Sure it’s a “concept” album, but the thing about a concept album, is that you actually NEED a concept. Sure it’s all very apocalyptic, and very 2012, mixed with a lot of feelings, but it’s not really a concept is it. I can see they are trying to make a statement about global warming at what not, but the only thing the album achieves in doing is becoming just as trying as listening to Al Gore harp on about losing the election. Alas, I digress.
Bad choice upon bad choice, the album doesn’t redeem itself once. The once competent Linkin Park has lost their touch, and as a result, have gone so deep into the corridors of denial, they have convinced themselves they are still “musicians”. Injecting drum and bass breakdowns, and splicing rock anthems is never, and will never be a good idea. I would prefer to be a part of a hostage situation, or experience the Texas Chainsaw Massacre first hand than listen to this album ever again. Simply simply dreadful. Much like the incredibly emo whingings of kOrn, I cannot help to think that this whole Nu-metal thing isn’t quite over yet. Here lies the once great Linkin Park, may they rest in piece… or preferably many little festering pieces.
