His performances across this record are so powerful, in fact, he outshines Shinoda every step of the way, which leads to this rather uneven mingling of hip-hop and rock. Though Hybrid Theory is far from a perfect fusion of styles, it is a compelling mix made more exhilarating by the agonizing quality of Bennington’s fiery vocals. Thankfully, that would be rectified to perfection on their masterful sophomore album Meteora. Unfortunately, Hybrid Theory struggles to maintain the same level of cross-genre fireworks of the opener through all its 12 tracks, mainly due to the label’s and producer Don Gilmore’s hesitancy to completely embrace the intersecting point between hip-hop and metal. The crazy part? All this happens within the very first minute! What would soon be established as their inescapable sound, this dynamic vocal interplay between Shinoda and Bennington is experienced through the remainder of the record. As Joe Hahn’s record scratches and drum programming quickly give way to Shinoda’s rapid-fire raps, shortly followed by Bennington’s snarling voice, opening track “Papercut” provided an instant taste of Linkin Park’s rap-rock-electronic style. Their rendering of nu-metal was them, and their debut made it clear as day from the drop of the needle. You see, Linkin Park was never one to mince words or create confusion about what kind of band they wanted to sound like – save for their muddled 2017 album One More Light, the last before Bennington passed. Fresh and on the cutting edge, this combination was somehow also accessible and utterly familiar for angsty teens of every walk of life who enjoyed any genre-a clear explanation of why so many copies of the record have sold. Then Linkin Park came along and changed that, which Shinoda recently attributed metal being “too white” before Hybrid Theory. Before its release, nu-metal was a scene that helped frame the truck-lifted, Metal-Militia-wearing, Monster-drinking archetype of the music I loved. Though Mike Shinoda’s rapping would become the biggest detractor to the band’s critical viability for the next decade, Linkin Park were unafraid to collide worlds, and for the moment in time, Hybrid Theory‘s take on rap-rock was a thrillingly fresh combination that reached far past the genre’s initial demographic. Hybrid Theory put Linkin Park on the map because it transcended the divisive genre it occupied. But alas, Hybrid Theory would be the last “rock” album to see this sort of success. it sold 12 million copies) in the USA an incredible feat for any artist, let alone a rock band in the 21st century. In fact, just last month, the already-diamond record reached 12-times platinum (i.e. The commercial success of Hybrid Theory is a long-running story that continues to become more impressive as time goes by. But, with 20 years gone now to reflect on, it’s time to give Linkin Park, and the album that birthed their influence, the deserved credit and critical recognition. Even after the pain in Bennington’s lyrics and voice resurfaced under a new light in the wake of his untimely death, it still seemed hard to look at Linkin Park under a different microscope, considering this spotlight came far after the initial nu-metal fad ran its course. And yet those bands, as divisive as they are, seem to have received a more favorable revisit than Linkin Park. With the recently rediscovered love for nu-metal, there has been a change of heart-critically-when it comes to bands like Korn, Slipnot, and dare I say it, Limp Bizkit. And, if you’re like me, Hybrid Theory was probably the first album that made you consciously say, “I like this whole music thing.” If you find yourself within that awkward cross-over between being a millennial and a zoomer, it’s highly likely Linkin Park’s monumental debut is one of the first records you remember. Hybrid Theory was the record behind this seismic shift. In the process, they cemented their reputation as not only the band that took nu-metal to tremendous popularity – but also the ones who killed it. And on this very day in October 2000, the thrilling era of nu-metal, for better or worse, reached its most pivotal moment, as Linkin Park released their debut album, launching themselves as one of the most influential bands of the 21st century. But, in a year shrouded by uncertainty of a new millennium, the previously Mike Shinoda-led rap-rock collective from Los Angeles pinpointed the visceral Chester Bennington as their lifeblood, which would lead them to becoming one of the most iconic brands and bands on the planet. A few years before the dawn of a new century, the legendary Linkin Park made music under a couple of different names and with a different lead vocalist.
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