Linkin Park
Hybrid Theory

I have always hated those who say all nu metal sucks because they've only listened to Linkin Park, so I tried to review this CD and tortured myself by listening to it a dozen times (fortunately it's short).

Right from the first 2-3 songs, I noticed some errors. In this CD, there is nothing nu metal, except for the guitars playing a bit in the background. What they have is a nice pop rock sound, with just enough heaviness to excite children used to MTV and All Music. In some songs, the DJ and the keyboards almost count more than the guitar and drums. I never heard the bass.

I will try to review it objectively, from the point of view of someone who is not used to Metallica and Slayer. If we want to define this CD as "Nu Metal" it requires a truly spectacular imagination, because when listening to Nu Metal bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones, I don't see even the slightest comparison. The rapper is too calm and smooth, and in many songs, I long for the angry rap of Fred Durst from Break Stuff. The singer deserves credit for his voice, but in the end, it is just pop rock. Moreover, the production is too perfect. There are no flaws, no mistakes. One of the numerous things I can't stand about Linkin Park are the screams looped in the songs, making the whole album too smooth and pompous. It is certainly the best among the three they made (Meteora and Minutes To Midnight magnify the flaws of the first one to the point that they make you want to jump off a balcony, and between the two, the only track worth saving is Given Up) because it contains episodes that deserve some recognition, for instance, One Step Closer and In The End. In the end, it also has the merit of being the band that more than any other is (or rather, was) a springboard for kids who transition from MTV to Metal (it did it for me and many of my friends) but in the end, it is a commercial band for kids addicted to fruity yogurt, and when you move further, you realize there's better out there.

Post Scriptum: if you want something from Linkin Park that vaguely resembles Nu Metal, look for QWERTY. It's almost unknown, I was surprised.