Oh man, this reminds me how the OML cycle took flame wars to another level. While it is interesting to have polarizing reactions, I'm glad this cycle has been celebratory for the most part, having fans of different eras being excited about the band and grateful it is all happening, instead of being confrontational.
Cut The Bridge? More like Cut The Umbilical Cord, cause they delivered! Seriously, this album is awesome.
I'd even agree with him that it isn't a particularly challenging genre on average. But I think there is nuance to that in that there are bands like LP or Deftones who took a certain element of influence that made their flavor of the genre unique. With LP, it was Mike, Joe, and even Brad all being really into different kinds of hip-hop, and the sample work, turntablism, and other electronics showed just how embedded they were in it compared to some of the other acts of the time. Look no further than Step Up for Mike's early thoughts on the nu metal appropriation of hip-hop. I'm really happy that this album seems to imply that they've recaptured that idea while still branching out. We get some of Mike's more recent hip-hop work embedded into it, or even some of the more modern pop influences the band and him have branched into. I mean, I could go on. My thoughts on this album still really stand at "It's solid but not dethroning their best works by far," but here I am gushing still lol. This album cycle has made me really happy and given me a lot of inspiration. It's such a good time to be a fan.
Maybe he can amp them up and challenge himself. There is no telling due to the reactions on some of LP's earlier albums at how floored people are with how good the shit sounds. Also, the reactions to HITC and some of the reactions here indicate that with the earlier sounds people are floored. If we're talking about completely new content.. Emily's vocals on Stained absolutely need to be utilized more in upcoming LP albums please. The DJ'ing in this album is also incredibly welcome and glad to hear roots being returned to. They're amazing. I know the next album will be completely different and realistically, people will be pissed off at how different it sounds. Correct me on that in 2-3 years if it isn't completely different and it's own thing lmao.
After letting it sit for a few hours, some additional thoughts: Heavy is the Crown and Two Faced were unnecessary. Leave those out, bring in other songs that push more creatively. These two tracks seem to only exist as a "see we're still able to do nu-metal" statement and are a waste of space. Aside from those two, an absolutely stellar album.
I don't think the concept of "waste of space" / "should push more creatively" are fair in this context. "From Zero" was not born from a situation where the band was standing on solid foundations and trying to push its boundaries further by experimenting out of its comfort zone. Instead, we come from a situation where the band was on the verge of not existing anymore. Yet, through the process of making music as friends, music that sounded like Linkin Park, the band could rise up again. In other words, the songs on "From Zero" are what re-created Linkin park as a band, not the other way around. Regardless of musical preferences, I'd hardly describe anything that helped my favorite band come back to life as "wasted space" More experimentation is likely to come on future records. If there was ever a perfect moment to throw in nods to LP beginnings, it was now, on a comeback album with a new singer. A kind reminder of what the band was once all about. Cheers to that!
This is their most interesting album since A Thousand Suns and the second half of Living Things. Though I wish it was longer and they let the songs breath more.
Joined the LPA again, haven’t posted here in damn near 7 years. Happy to see all of the familiar names and faces. I just wanted to give a quick review. My review is going to be unorganized. I’m kind of on the same boat as everyone else. A few of these songs feel nu-metal just to show people “hey we still got it!” and it comes off pretty underwhelming. I’m also on the Overflow and Good Things Go train, these two are easily my favorites on the album. When I first heard The Emptiness Machine I was very excited. I would argue it’s still the best song from this album but I really need to digest the others and listen to them at different times (walking, driving, gym, late night, early morning). Heavy Is The Crown threw me off. It almost sounded like if you were to go into an AI music generator and type in “linkin park song” and that was the result. It sounds like they covered an AI version of what Linkin Park is supposed to be. The song writing is average for a band that’s worked so hard on improving their lyrical content, a lot of these verses and lyrics are so simplistic it nearly rivals Meteora. I wasn’t looking for “spit drips from the jaws of witless witness cryptic” type of bars from Mike, but man the regression is real. Emily sounded good and bad throughout the album, standout being Stained and Good Things Go. All in all, nothing really gave me goosebumps or gave me that laughing/geeking joy when hearing it. I was kinda like “oh thats… cool” or “haha….nice”. Nothing made me go WTF like “When They Come For Me” or “Blackout”. Nothing melted my face like “Keys To The Kingdom” or “Rebellion”. Nothing made me emotional like “Sorry For Now”, or “One More Light”. And nothing fed my nostalgia like “Lost In The Echo”, or “Wasteland”. What really makes me happy though is that the band is happy, they are touring again and doing what they do best. Overall score: 5.5/10 -Standout: The Emptiness Machine, Overflow, Good Things Go -Second chance worthy: Over Each Other, Casualty, Stained -Skip: Everything else
Three listens so far, one in the car and two with headphones. I can safely say Good Things Go is the emotional catharsis I missed from this band for seven years. While you call it “wasted space”, in my opinion, nothing else in the record was as jaw dropping and unexpected as that 15 second scream. Thats the beauty of music. One listener’s trash is another listener’s treasure.
I love how IGYEIH doesn't repeat the chorus a third time, more stuff like this please. Definitely my favorite heavy song of the album.
I think had we gotten more of the Arcane elements of HITC it would have elevated the song. I don't hate it, but it's the weakest of the three singles we have so far for me. Two Faced I can't decide on. I on one hand actually like the more modern produced Meteora-style it brings, and even for as much as it sounds like Figure.09, I think it blows that song out of the water. The bouncy pop melody of the choruses is an earworm if you ask me. Chorus lyrics are better than a Meteora song to me as well. But also, it seems like it retreads a lot of ground overall, and we already had a throwback one with HITC. Overall, I wouldn't call them wasted space though. If the band really wanted to make these songs, then I'm okay with that, even if they're not my favorites on the album. I would like to hear the background behind Two Faced more. It makes me wonder if it was born from Mike messing around during the M20 era, or if maybe even it was when they started trying out older songs with Emily they had the idea.
Cut the Bridge is gonna be such a fun song live, sounds like it made specifically to be a live song that gets the crowd jumping.
To put on the tinfoil (heh) hat, I really like the idea that a lot of the aggression and lyrical themes on the record have to do with escaping Scientology. It really humanizes Emily who we still really barely even know.
Okay first listen through is finished, sitting here collecting my thoughts before I go back to individual stuff (or maybe play it through again haven't decided). I have to mention Good Things Go immediately, both because it's fresh from the end of the album and because it deserves it. Thank you, Mike, for everything you've shared and yet to share with us over the years. We're all grateful to have an opportunity to do this again. Casualty does in fact rip, among other albums I listened to a lot this summer were the first System of a Down album and The Hunting Party. This song fits perfectly in there. Contender for early favorite with Good Things Go. Maybe we know this already, did Jon Green or any other songwriter work on Stained? I'd be curious, I try to keep an ear out for these things. Okay so Two Faced does push into "stanning yourself" territory at times, but I think we'll forgive the very direct nu-metal references given that this is a Linkin Park renaissance in so many ways. And because we could just use some new hard rock music period. Overflow is kind of hard to give a one-time instant reaction to. But if I remember correctly, this was the one being compared some to Imagine Dragons and Twenty One Pilots at times? I don't listen much to either but Linkin Park is one of their cultural daddies IMO. But also this song obviously is not just like those groups. That'll be the first relisten. Cut The Bridge was OK. Over Each Other hit really well in album context, Heavy Is The Crown didn't feel much different but maybe that's just my indifference to the song in general. The Emptiness Machine is still great. That's all I got.
Been visiting LPA since 2010 and commented maybe once or twice but really just love reading everyone’s feedback and seeing the news. Felt I had to comment on the album, it’s too huge of a deal this is happening right now lol. Btw I’m a fan of LP since 2003 in 3rd grade, Numb was the first song I heard and rest is history. I think Hunting Party and OML were fun to listen to, but the last time I really felt that spark in their music was BID and COG from Living Things. Then TEM came out. I think their best song since. I listen to it every day lmao. I do think TEM is still the best on the album I will say. But the below songs are great: Casualty Overflow IGYEIH - probably my 2nd favorite after TEM. This feels like MTM Good Things Go all others I’ll give more time. Hey, ATS at first listen I was like “hmm..okay that’s pretty cool, definitely different though” almost not knowing how I felt, now it’s my favorite album by them front to back. Cut the bridge feels like that one song where I bet down the line it’ll grow on me. My experience with ATS has literally taught me to trust this band and give it time.
I think the biggest compliment I can give Emily is that, and I’ve been iterating this since The Emptiness Machine released, I can close my eyes and hear Chester’s voice. Both when she’s singing and screaming. That's not to say she’s copying him - her voice is distinctly her own - but she’s certainly channeling his spirit. It’s comforting and electrifying at all once. That’s magic.
Good Things Go is is certainly one of the best LP songs released imo. The last chorus with Mike singing alongside Emily is just so damn good.
Yeah, the album definitely feels like the statement exists in a meta context-- "We're back and we figured out what we want" -- vs the last several albums of "We're here, here's what we want". That would always have resulted in something that feels less overall cohesive as a piece of art. I expect that to be remedied from the next album onwards. We have benefited in the past by there being a clear vision going forward rather than a struggle to exist.