LINKIN PARK — Hybrid Theory (review)

Album · 2000 · Nu Metal

3/5 · 2015-11-01
martindavey87

They weren't the first band to do it, but with the album ‘Hybrid Theory’, Linkin Park kicked off the huge rise of the genre known as nu metal that dominated the early years of the new millennium.

Whilst bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn had already garnered a huge following for this particular style of metal, featuring simple song arrangements, detuned guitars, DJ’s and rapping vocals, it was Linkin Park in the year 2000 that really pushed the genre into the mainstream, and with five hit singles and millions of sales, the album would go on to become one of the finest representations for what nu metal was all about.

Not bad for a debut album.

While Linkin Park’s debut record certainly has some excellent tunes, it’s the singles which are easily the best, and most recognizable, songs. Tracks like ‘Papercut’, ‘One Step Closer’, ‘In the End’ and ‘Points of Authority’ may all have been played billions of times on the radio or had their videos played on metal television channels, but there’s just some magic in the songs that make them great to listen to through loud speakers, no matter how often you've heard them.

Unfortunately, with the exception of ‘Runaway’, probably my favourite track from the album, the rest of the songs are pretty pointless, filler material. And towards the end the constant lyrical themes of depression, regret, rebellion, anxiety etc, start to wear a bit thin (a problem that would ensure this genre’s stay at the top would last no more than a couple of years).

Linkin Park is far from being one of my favourite bands, but coming from a time when metal music in the mainstream was near non-existent, ‘Hybrid Theory’ gives the music world a good kick in the arse, and helped to revitalize a dying genre.

more than 2 years ago
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Kingcrimsonprog wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I love 'Points Of Authority' and 'Runaway' too. I have to admit, I am guilty of buying into the anti-link park backlash and am almost embarrassed at times to say I like them because it got so ingrained in my local community... like guys in the 90s must've felt about Poison.... but nowadays... my philosophy is just 'a good song is a good song, period' and the band did write some good songs for sure!

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

My problem with LP is that I love their singles but find the rest filler. And like you mentioned they've been played to death. That means I have this album but never listen to it!

martindavey87 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Cheers! :-)

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah, I must admit I still love 'One Step Closer' even with it's airplay. I'll definitely be re-visiting it whenever I get in the mood to listen to them. Oh, and I forgot to say, good review! :)

martindavey87 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Definitely get what you're saying about it being overplayed. Even touched upon it myself in the review. But no matter how many times I think "urgh... this song again"... when it's actually playing, it's hard not to get absorbed into it. Give it a listen. Turn it up loud, too. :-)

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I don't like Linkin Park as much as I used to, and while it's a decent album, it's been so overplayed that I never really feel compelled to listen to it. 'A Thousand Suns' has actually always been my favorite, it's devoid of metal but also their most adventurous release.