Number 28: Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park
Release: October 24th, 2000
Genre: Nu Metal
Favorite Tracks: Points of Authority, Papercut, A Place for My Head
Where I heard it:
As far back as I can remember, I can't seem to recall any significant moment that brought me on to Linkin Park. Honestly, I feel as though I was listening to them my entire life. In reality, Linkin Park was among one of two bands (the second to be featured later on!) that I would consider my favorite as a kid. Uncoincidentally, my fixation towards these to groups was due largely in part to seeing them live for one of my first concerts. I attended Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution festival in 2007 at the ripe age of 11, and proceeded to spend the entire time screaming until my voice gave out and headbanging my way into mild whiplash. I was already listening to the band at that point, but my status as a super fan was undoubtedly solidified that night. I combed through every corner of their catalog, I asked for their latest album Minutes to Midnight for Christmas, I watched all their concert documentaries on YouTube...I simply couldn't get enough of these guys. What I wouldn't give to have the experience of listening to their albums for the first time again. Listening to a new Linkin Park song was like an instant rush of adrenaline to my juvenile system, which gradually led up to my discovery of their debut Hybrid Theory. Not having consumed any true metal music at this point, this album was by far some of the heaviest content I'd ever heard, maybe apart from Rage Against the Machine. Both groups have the same scheme of balancing rap and rock in common, but the dual dynamic Linkin Park possessed took the idea so much further than Rage ever did.
I kept everything inside
And even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be a memory
Of a time when I tried so hard and got so far
But in the end, it doesn't even matter
~ In The End
What to expect:
By the turn of the millennium, there was plenty of excitement towards the direction music was headed. New ideas were popping up left and right, which demanded many groups have a caveat that could make them more marketable. This coincides perfectly with the timeline of the Nu Metal explosion that brought us groups like Disturbed, Staind, and of course Linkin Park. Paved by predecessors such as KoRn and Limp Bizkit, Nu Metal is characterized by the industrial basis of metal music that then integrates elements of other genres, such as hip-hop or electronica. Linkin Park is a hodgepodge of several artists that offer their own individual contributions to produce unique tracks that are one-of-a-kind. Most notoriously, Chester Bennington brings the sharpness to Linkin Park's vicious edge, famously belting out his emotionally intimate lyrics with a duality of tender passion and extreme fury. Most of the choruses will feature the grittier, unfiltered vocals of Bennington, while verses switch back to a gentler purr that will make you question whether these two voices are coming from the same person. Otherwise, Mike Shinoda takes the responsibility of stringing together songs with catchy raps that demonstrate impressive flow for a band that transcends multiple genres. In addition, Linkin Park's in-house DJ Mr. Hahn helps deliver those hip-hop flavors that are equally as prominent as the blasting instrumentation of Brad Delson on strings and Rob Bourdon on drums. The symbiotic relationship of these two clashing styles is put on full display throughout Hybrid Theory, constantly fighting for supremacy between tracks like One Step Closer and In The End. Linkin Park's success hinges upon its careful execution that juxtaposes two opposite forms of music into one brilliant combination. One of its few common denominators is the depth of songwriting, provided by Bennington's struggles with depression that ensnares him along with countless others. Songs like Crawling and By Myself are prime examples of the pessimistic outlook Chester has on life, despite achieving fame through his accomplishments. Hybrid Theory's candid approach is a large part of what helped Linkin Park achieve notoriety; their audience truly relates to the music on a deeper emotional scale. Perhaps at the expense of Bennington, the staying power of the band relies on the darkest recesses of Chester's mind. Hybrid Theory is brave enough to confront its demons eye-to-eye for all to see, reminding us all that we're not alone in the battles we fight internally.
Before somebody takes you out of the frame
And puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last
~ Points of Authority
Why it's my favorite:
On the morning of my daughter's birth, only a handful of hours after delivery in fact, I woke up to immediately see a news headline on my phone: Chester Bennington dead at 41. I rubbed my eyes a bit and read the headline again. I thought this was some sort of sick joke. I didn't want to believe it. There I was, laying in the uncomfortable pull-out chair the hospital provides, absolutely stunned in silence. Admittedly, I drifted away from Linkin Park in later years, but I still felt such a potent connection between Chester and the part he played in the healing process of countless personal tragedies during my teens. I remembered all the times their songs were the soundtrack to my late-night sobs in the darkness of my bedroom. I thought about the incredible memories I had of seeing the duet of Cris Cornell and Chester sing duets at Projekt Revolution years ago. Now, both of these wonderful humans were gone. I didn't know what else to do but cry. To this day, I still get emotional thinking about the pain and torment Chester must have endured to resort to taking his own life. He poured his heart and soul out on every record for all to see, whether those songs were about triumphs or tribulations. Linkin Park was a band that seemed to grow with me in my age, with their later entries speaking a message of hope and redemption. Suddenly, all of that seemed so hollow. In the wake of this tragedy, the fan community has banded together stronger than ever with the help of Linkin Park's remaining members. Mike Shinoda even took it upon himself to post several blogs to preserve the memory of Chester Bennington. Whether or not we will ever see new material from Linkin Park will have to remain a question for now, but the group will certainly never be the same without Chester's presence. Albums like Hybrid Theory are all we have now to reminisce upon, showcasing the remarkable talent of a tortured soul that has now found peace. Rest easy, Chester. We all miss you so much.
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