Warner Vinyl & CDs

Review: Linkin Park were many people's favourite rock act at least for a short time during their rebellious teenage years. Well, it is now two decades since the American outlaws were at their peak and specifically 20 years since they released their second and globally acclaimed album Meterora. As such it gets a special anniversary reissue here that features all of the original material as well as four previously unreleased concerts on DVD, plus rare and unreleased material that will be all nee to even the most hardcore of fan. A real must for collectors.

Review: Certified 12xPlatinum, winning Best Hard Rock Performance for 'Crawling' at the 44th Grammy Awards, and classified as the bestselling debut album since Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction; the first full-length from nu-metal legends Linkin Park was a world event around the time of its release at the turn of the new millennium. Living up to its title Hybrid Theory with an effortless fusion of alternative metal, hip-hop and turntablism, all unified under late frontman Chester Bennington's immense vocal range and vulnerable lyricism, the project became an instant classic upon release with singles such as the aforementioned 'Crawling', 'Papercut', 'One Step Closer', and, 'In The End', all going on to achieve either Platinum or Diamond status in numerous territories in the decades since. While the band would eventually stray into the realms of U2-indebted arena rock, both this debut and their 2003 sophomore follow up Meteora are still considered, to this day, to be some of the finest, most accessible and pristine displays of the once maligned nu-metal subgenre.

Review: It's difficult to describe to those too young to have been there and to those too old to give a toss, just how rife the anticipation was for the sophomore full-length from nu-metal giants Linkin Park following on from the global success of their multi-platinum selling debut album Hybrid Theory in 2000. Following what felt like an eternal three years, both shortened and lengthened by the bloated remix album Reanimation, 2003's Meteora was nothing short of lightning striking in the same place twice. Debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200, certified 8xPlatinium and currently ranked as the 8th highest selling album of the 21st century, to call the band's second album a success seems like a very muted understatement when anthems such as 'Somewhere I Belong', 'Faint', and, 'Numb' are still some of the highest charting and most world-renowned metal singles to ever blare out across the airwaves. While musically drifting further away from their nu-metal beginnings with each subsequent project, both Meteora and its predecessor belong to a subset of genre-defining classics that appear to become more embraced and less maligned with age, as the nu-metal subgenre becomes less of a dirty word. It also goes without saying that the incomparable vocal presence of late frontman Chester Bennington as well as his vulnerable and cathartic lyricism take on a far more bleak and oppressive shade with the folly of hindsight.

Review: Many a music lover will have gone through a rebellious teenage rock phase, and if so there is a good chance that for a short period at least they were well into Linkin Park. The stadium-sized rockers were a seminal act in the naughties and their ground-breaking second album Meterora was released in March 2003. It now gets a special 20th-anniversary reissue and comes with global hit singles such as 'Somewhere I Belong', 'Faint' and 'Numb' all of which have the big energy riffs the band became known for. This 4 x 12" bumper pack comes with some extra rare and unreleased material.

Review: Following the tragic passing of frontman Chester Bennington in 2017, many presumed the natural end of nu-metal turned alt rock giants Linkin Park. Rattling their fanbase with news of a resurgence with Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong, as well as new drummer Colin Brittain (replacing Rob Bourdain who opted not to join the reunion), From Zero nods to the band's original moniker of Xero while also ushering in this new era for the group, whereas sonically, the band do their best to simultaneously pay credence to their heavier origins whilst naturally progressing towards their newfound vision. Their first full-length since 2017's pop-oriented One More Light may come as a shock to many devout to the Bennington era, but the earnestness in composition sees a retrospective embracing of nu-metal motifs yet modified and extrapolated to embolden this entirely new compositional framework. Attempting to compare to prior releases is naturally par for the course yet won't do much to alter this new musical trajectory, as From Zero swells with the breath of an entirely fresh project that owes humble countenance to the Linkin Park of yesteryear. At 11 tracks clocking on at just over a half-hour, the mission statement is one of succinct brevity and urgency, but whether it truly fills the Bennington shaped void is down to each unique set of ears.

Review: Originally released in 2014 and now celebrating its ten year anniversary, The Hunting Party served as the sixth full-length from nu-metal turned alt rock heavyweights Linkin Park. Marking their first full-length since 2003's Meteora to not be produced by the iconic Rick Rubin (with members Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson opting to handle production duties inhouse), the material bore a notable turn from their more accessible electronic-tinged U2-esque stadium rock and saw a rediscovery and embracing of their more aggressive nu-metal roots. Certified platinum and praised for their ability to still replicate their feral early days, the album is also noted for being the band's first LP to feature guest musicians such as Page Hamilton of Helmet, Daron Malakian of System of a Down, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, and hip-hop artist Rakim. This new anniversary edition comes as side-4 etched 2xLP pressed on aquatic translucent blue vinyl.

Review: There are few nu-metal bands from the formative late 90s/early 00s scene who achieved the monumental crossover appeal of Linkin Park. From their turntable spinning, frenetic rap-metal beginnings on 2000's global breakout Hybrid Theory, to the refined maturation of their formula on 2003's career-height Meteora, to their Jay-Z collaborative album Collision Course to the shedding of skin and rebranding as a genre-less alternative rock entity on 2007's Minutes To Midnight; as popular and accessible as they were, the band clearly constantly strived for sonic progression. Papercuts collects the highest charting singles from the group over two decades, with the most recent contribution being the previously unreleased 'Friendly Fire' recorded during the sessions for 2017's One More Light, which ultimately serves as the final new piece of recording from the band and vocalist Chester Bennington who would tragically take his own life later that same year. Ignoring the standard sequencing of a greatest hits which often lists the tracks in chronologically released order, here the cuts are compiled to sonically complement each other and reflect the band's ethos rather than a single line commercial pattern. Here is why the anthemic double platinum 'In The End' is juxtaposed with the minimalist rap-rock of MTM banger 'Bleed It Out', or why the previously unreleased fan favourite demo 'QWERTY' lands right between the U2 indebted 'What I've Done' and the original breakout single that started it all 'One Step Closer'.

Review: With the untimely and tragic passing of Chester Bennington in 2017, it was the natural presumption that Californian nu-metal turned alt rock megastars Linkin Park would cease to exist. Surprising their avid fanbase by announcing news of their reformation with Dead Sara vocalist Emily Armstrong, as well as new drummer Colin Brittain (Rob Bourdain opted not to join the reunion), From Zero offers a nod to their original band name Xero whilst simultaneously ushering in their new era. Sonically, the band are doing their utmost to both pay credence to their heavier origins while naturally rerouting towards their newfound vision. Serving as follow up to 2017's pop-oriented and critically panned One More Light, the understandable decision to re-embrace aspects of their nu-metal motifs is commendable, whilst modifying and building upon their past sonics to craft comfortable musical bedrock for the new voice of their band. Comparing to prior albums may be inescapable for diehard fans with the material owing humble countenance to the Linkin Park of yesteryear, while this deluxe edition expands upon the original version's somewhat succinct (or rushed) 11 tracks over 30 minutes with an additional three bonus cuts as well as five live versions.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***



LINKIN PARK A THOUSAND SUNS WARNERS BROS /CINRAM
2LP 9362496318 0093 6249 6318 9 £18.00
DEAL 15 RELEASED: 15.11.10
TRACKLISTING: 1. The Requiem 2. The Radiance 3. Burning In The Skies 4. Empty Spaces 5. When They Come For Me 6. Robot Boy 7. Jornada Del Muerto 8. Waiting For The End 9. Blackout 10. Wretches And Kings 11. Wisdom, Justice, And Love 12. Iridescent 13. Fallout 14. The Catalyst 15. The Messenger

Review: It is now a full two decades since legendary American rockers Linkin Park dropped their second game-changing nu-metal album Meteora. The record spawned a further run of big singles such as 'Breaking the Habit,' 'Somewhere I Belong', 'Faint' and 'Numb. It has been certified multi-platinum, platinum, or gold in 15 countries and to mark the occasion it gets a special 20th anniversary reissue here having sold well over 16 million copies around the world. This vinyl version comes with an insert as well as all the original hard-hitting guitars, drums and visceral Chester Bennington vocals that the band is so well known and loved for.