LINKIN PARK - MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT (Single LP, Double Gatefold)

Linkin Park: Chester Bennington, Dave Farrell , Rob Bourdon, Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn.

After a multi-platinum debut, Grammy nominations, a successful sophomore album, sold-out tours, and a collaboration with Jay-Z, the pressure was on for Linkin Park to deliver the goods with their 2007 release, MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT. Interestingly, the alternative metal outfit, best known for mixing rap, rock, and electronic touches, deviates from their aggressive, angst-filled sound on their third outing--opting instead to dabble in moody, atmospheric rock.

Opener "Wake" establishes the ethereal, synth-driven feel that characterizes much of the disc. Crunching electric guitars are few and far between, and most of the swirling, electronica-textured tracks weigh in at mid-to-downtempo. There are still moments of rock intensity, such as "Bleed It Out" (featuring one of rapper Mike Shinoda's few appearances), but the overall mood seems better suited to pensive bedsitting than a festival mosh pit. Co-producer Rick Rubin makes the dreamy soundscapes gleam, but longtime fans may miss the fist-pumping energy of early Linkin Park. Still, the new sonic palette of MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT shows a band willing to push past their own tried-and-true formulas.

Tracklist:

1. Wake
2. Given Up
3. Leave Out All the Rest
4. Bleed It Out
5. Shadow of the Day
6. What I've Done
7. Hands Held High
8. No More Sorrow
9. Valentine's Day
10. In Between
11. In Pieces
12. Little Things Give You Away

RMFN Notes:

"Minutes To Midnight is a criminally underrated album that has aged brilliantly. Yes, it's  departure from LP's Numetal sound to more Alternative Rock, but that doesn't take away from how quality this record is. There are gorgeous ballads, heavily metal influenced moments (the breakdown in Given Up is the heaviest moment of LP's career), and new rock flavors in M2M. If you didn't like it when it first came out, now's your chance to fix it." - Chris