Reviews 2008

MEN Arena
By Scott Zverblis

LINKIN Park were once cruelly labelled as a nu-metal band and grouped unfairly, with the likes of Limp Bizkit, P.O.D and Papa Roach but have quite rightly left these pretenders in their wake.

The band are now in their eighth year and their popularity is showing no signs of waning - their sold-out show at the M.E.N. Arena on Sunday night certainly proved that.

Silhouetted, ghost-like behind a giant white sheet - Linkin Park's ultra-cool guitarist, Brad Delson opened the show with a couple of hard-hitting riffs. The curtain dropped and rest of the band ran onstage, picked up their instruments and quickly launched into forthcoming single, Given Up.

Afterwards, Linkin Park's heavily tattooed singer, Chester Bennington announces that tonight's gig was being filmed for the single's music video. The audience screams in delight - excited at the thought of being video stars. There's a close connection between Linkin Park and their fans, with plenty of in-between song banter from Chester and his rapping co-pilot Mike Shinoda. This is definitely one of their greatest strengths. The duo certainly knows how to work a crowd - who didn't stop moshing for one minute.

Energetic

How could they stop, with the band unleashing one energetic pop-metal track to another - old and new songs including, Somewhere I Belong, In The End, Faint and Crawling. Recent singles Shadow Of The Day and What I've Done are both incredibly catchy songs and seem to be the biggest crowd-pleasers of the night, with the hyperactive band breaking into an on-stage freak-out. Other highlights of the night included a touching, yet slightly predictable and clichéd illuminated mobile phone in the air moment during My December and Delson's blistering guitar solo during a hard-hitting performance of Points Of Authority. Linkin Park played songs that spanned their career to date, including the songs that got them started and got fans hooked in the first place.




Linkin Park Manchester M.E.N. Arena
Sunday January 27, 2008
Live Review
With the release of their third full studio album, 'Minutes To Midnight', American quintet Linkin Parkhave looked to shake off the nu-metal tag which dragged down the likes of Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach. Featuring less rapping from Mike Shinoda, it signalled their intention to break previous boundaries and be established as a respected rock group.

Shrouding the stage in curtains ups anticipation, so when they finally drop to reveal the band with a minimal setup, it's somewhat of a surprise. Regardless of this, 'Given Up' is a guitar-heavy and energetic way to get the crowd going and what follows is a good blend of old hits, new songs and the odd surprise. 'Somewhere I Belong' is epic, while the thumping 'No More Sorrow' reveals a gigantic light screen to aid visual enjoyment of the show. During a snippet of X-Ecutioners collaboration 'It's Goin' Down' Shinoda breaks off in laughter before declaring 'you guys fucked me up, that never happens!' referring to the energy of the crowd, before launching into 'Points Of Authority'. They replicate their studio sound with ease and this is particularly impressive from co-vocalist Chester Bennington who powerfully executes the growls and screams on numbers such as the awesome 'Numb'. During a stripped-down section he also shows he is as adept at a softer approach, making old b-side 'My December' a highlight of the evening.

After indulging in some cheerleading with their respective sides of the arena, the vocalists then give the perfect example of how their styles compliment one another on a well-received 'In The End', which signals a flurry of their bigger hits. The simple riff of debut track 'One Step Closer' is as thrilling as when it first hit airwaves, evident by the thousands of pumping fists on bouncing audience members, while the first encore is ended by 'What I've Done' which has quickly found favour with Linkin Park's followers, judging by the huge applause it is afforded. Returning for a final time, they then roll out two of their most up-tempo tracks, 'Bleed It Out' and 'Faint', whose energy is fantastic way to end a show. As with the previous 90 minutes, they are note and beat perfect, leaving the only gripe being the omission of 'Papercut', but it is forgivable given the enjoyable entertainment that has been on show.

Alex Lai




Lisa Verrico at the O2 Arena, London

If young rock acts are struggling to sell albums, someone forgot to tell Linkin Park. Seven years since their debut, Hybrid Theory, won a Grammy, the Californian sextet have shifted more than 50 million copies of just three studio albums, including Minutes to Midnight last year, which topped the charts in 16 countries, including Britain. Variously labelled rock-rap, nu-metal and rock-pop, Linkin Park proved to be a bit of all three at a riotous London show that barely paused for breath and often felt like a competition between band and fans as to which could make more noise. From the moment Linkin Park appeared, silhouetted behind a white curtain, the O2 floor was a mass of bobbing heads. When the curtain dropped, a mix of fists and camera phones shot into the air, where they stayed for the next 90 minutes. The crop-haired, black-clad, tattooed singer Chester Bennington immediately revealed how he stays so skinny - he bounced around like a ping-pong ball, pausing only to leap onto a box at the front of the stage before he was off again. Bennington's vocal default setting is scream, but with as much pop as hard rock in the guitar riffs, subtle electronics and catchy choruses, the sound never came close to genuine aggression. Indeed, when they performed Minutes to Midnight's schmaltzy slowie Valentine's Day, the spectre of Nickelback loomed large. With Rick Rubin at its helm, the latest album edged away from the rock-rap hybrid with which Linkin Park first made their mark - a wise move, since the older songs sounded distinctly dated. The crowd might have lapped up Faint, clapped through Somewhere I Belong and chanted every line of Points of Authority - all driven by Mike Shinoda's raps and backed by hip-hop beats - but the hymnal Hands Held High, where Shinoda switched to singing, had a fresher, punchier impact, while the night's highlight was a blend of two new tracks - Wake and Given Up - that boasted an apocalyptic intro, juggernaut guitars and a dash of fun, Sex Pistols punk. If Linkin Park truly want to toughen up, however, Bennington will have to ditch his daft chat. “Leave it to London to build the biggest, baddest venue on the face of the Earth,” he yelled, surveying a sterile arena that looks like a big high school sports hall. And, when he jumped into the crowd, he took two bodyguards with him and stayed behind the barriers. Big softie.




Live : Linkin Park @ O2 Arena
By Amanda Greenwood

Linkin Park and the O2 Arena suit each other: modern, experimental, and both entered the world in the new millenia. After support Julien-K dropped out, and a disappointing set from Biffy Clyro (although 'Machines' was beautiful), Linkin Park storm on the stage with 'What I've Done', and you just know this is going to be a good show.

The hits keep coming from all three albums with passionate and amazing delivery, especially during the slower songs and ends with the stomping 'Bleed it Out'. There is even a small rendition of Rihannas' 'Umbrella'!

The encore brings a stunning piano version of 'My December', followed by the brilliant 'Breaking the Habit', the audience and band showing no sign of stopping. The band leaves the stage after huge applause but the lights don't come back on.

After a long, long wait some of the crowd have left (Fools!) and eventually Linkin Park return with 'A Place in my Head' and finally finish with 'One Step Closer'. With the crowd screaming more than ever, everyone climbing out of their seats; an amazing show from an amazing band.

Rating : 4/5




Linkin Park The O2 Arena
29 January 2008
Review by Katie Spain

I’m not the tallest of critters but I feel like a giraffe on stilts when my new gig buddy and I find our seats on the fourth level of the O2 Arena. Will we see the roaring fury of Linkin Park from way back here? Luckily, we needn’t worry. The show is a spectacle from wherever you’re sitting and Chester Bennington’s voice packs such a punch we feel it where it hurts. Fan-bloody-tastic. But I’m ahead of myself. The vibe before the gig is electric too. The restaurants aren’t packed but the line-ups for beer are longer than I’ve ever seen them at this venue. You could say this says a lot about Linkin Park fans. I just think they know it’s going to be hot in that mosh pit. Steam rises from the sweat bath before us; never before have I seen such a pulsating mass. I gave a nod of respect to the moshers at Simple Plan’s gig earlier this week but they were babies in a play pen compared to this lot.

From the moment the lights dim, the fans are beside themselves. The monstrous stage explodes beneath a wall of flashing white spotlights and the masses reach a state of hysteria when their heroes are revealed from behind a towering curtain. Oh my… the fun is about to begin.

The next hour-and-a-half is a blur. Some of it has to do with the booze we’ve guzzled, but mostly it’s the sheer force of the spectacle we’re witnessing. The sextet prowl the stage with more energy than your average puppy. We get a mix of electro, nu-metal, guitar riffs, rap and even a bit of banter. The latter hardly seems necessary – these Californians have adoration on their side.

Not many artists can perfect the difficult art of melodic roaring. Bennington has it down to a tee. Our insides shudder along with every word. This is the way a concert was meant to be. The band has sold over fifty million copies of their three studio albums and the punters know every last word.

‘Faint’, ‘Somewhere I Belong’, ‘Points of Authority’ and ‘Hands Held High’ all make an appearance. New tracks – ‘Wake’ and ‘Given Up’ prove that in the eyes of the fans, the new is even better than the old. ‘Numb’ receives the expected mass sing-along and the shining cameraphones sway to the beat. Don’t people do lighters anymore? The security guard does his best to force rising bums back to their seats.

We leave with new friends by our side and smiles on our sweaty dials. The biggest smiles however, come from the people in general admission. The frontman’s impromptu jaunt through the barriers provided some up-close-and personal action for a lucky few. Then again, maybe I’m mistaking the smiles for barrier-bruised grimaces of pain.




Live: Projekt Revolution @ Milton Keynes National Bowl - 29 June 2008

The fifth Projekt Revolution tour saw Jay-Z joining Linkin Park live onstage for one night only.

Danny Montana was in Milton Keynes to witness some stadium-sized extravagance.

Linkin Park are the biggest-selling band of this century. That is a fact. No other artist has sold more records than the Californian nu-metal band. This is why, just like other superstars like Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth and Slayer, they’re able to host their own global tour.

New Pennsylvanian electronic rock act InnerPartySystem impressed early on while dour New York alt.rockers The Bravery are barely worth mentioning. St Albans hardcore/trance fusion experts Enter Shikari however, were the first act to really let rip and whip the crowd up properly.

Pioneering funksters N*E*R*D were as droll and sexy as ever with their socially-charged lyrics and experimental tunes while plugged-in Aussie drum ‘n’ bass mainstreamers Pendulum ploughed out all the hits from their recent breakthrough album, In Silico.

The day after being the first hip hop artist to headline Glastonbury Festival, Jay Z wowed the crowds with a stellar solo set which sampled AC/DC and The Prodigy amongst others. With the massive screen behind him used to maximum effect, Shawn Corey Carter proved once again that he can do it all on his own. Jay-Z doesn’t need anyone’s help.

It’s time for Linkin Park take to the throne. Projekt Revolution is their baby. As early as 2002 they felt they were established enough to form a money-spinning, high profile arena tour across the US. In 2008, they had enough worldwide status to bring the tour to Europe. This baby’s not just eating solids now – it’s devouring them.

Jumping straight in with 'One Step Closer' was a bold move but they knew that they had more than enough material to fill their 90-minute headline slot, and they did.

Chester Bennington was on firey form while Mike Shinoda did his best to continue the hip hop-based shenanigans. However, he did look far more comfortable when reciting more familiar lyrics or when sitting behind his piano.

The appearance of Jay-Z during ‘Numb/Encore’ and 'Jigga What/Faint' was a wonderful showcase of how their Collision Course project works outside of the studio and gave a real sense of occasion to a fast-emptying MK Bowl.

It’s a safe bet that after the success of an expanded Projekt Revolution, we’re going to see them again.