Linkin Park made an explosive entrance into the new millennium with their debut album, “Hybrid Theory,” released in 2000.
They quickly made waves on rock radio and achieved massive sales, delivering emotionally charged and intense tracks such as “One Step Closer,” “Crawling,” and “In the End.”
Whether labelled nu-metal, rap-rock, or alternative metal, Linkin Park resonated with fans in ways few bands of the early 21st century could.
Their success soared further with their second album, “Meteora”, another multi platinum achievement featuring iconic tracks like “Numb,” “Breaking the Habit,” and “Faint,” solidifying their position as one of the world’s most prominent rock acts.
Sadly, vocalist Chester Bennington passed away in July 2017, leaving fans heartbroken and bringing the band’s journey to an apparent halt. Although they held a tribute concert later that year, the group largely stayed out of the spotlight until recently.
On September 5, 2024, Linkin Park revealed plans for a comeback album and tour, introducing Dead Sara’s Emily Armstrong as their new co-vocalist.
This announcement signifies the start of a fresh chapter for the group, following a legacy that left an indelible mark on music history. The interplay between Chester Bennington’s vocals and Mike Shinoda’s rapping became the band’s hallmark, supported by a skilled lineup whose instrumentation encapsulated the spirit of their era.
The multi-award-winning band is currently embarking on their “From Zero World Tour,” marking the band’s first tour in seven years. Unsurprisingly, Linkin Park tickets have sold very well with fans desperate to see the group in action.
With the band now united, we take a look at six of the American band’s greatest hits.
“Numb/Encore”
“Numb/Encore” is a 2004 collaboration between American rapper Jay-Z and rock band Linkin Park, featured on their EP “Collision Course”.
Released as a single on December 13, 2004, through Warner Bros., Machine Shop, Def Jam, and Roc-A-Fella Records, the track is a mash-up blending the lyrics of Linkin Park’s “Numb” and Jay-Z’s “Encore,” both from 2003. This fusion of rock and hip-hop was a standout moment in both artists’ careers, showcasing their ability to cross musical genres.
“Numb/Encore” was the sole single from “Collision Course” and achieved significant commercial success. It reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked 93 on Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2005. Internationally, the track peaked at number 14 in the UK, number five in both France and the Netherlands, and spent three weeks at number one in Ireland. In June 2024, “Numb/Encore” became the third song by both Jay-Z and Linkin Park to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. At the 2006 Grammy Awards, it won the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
“The Catalyst”
Linkin Park took their boldest risks with “A Thousand Suns” in 2009, crafting an album that felt like a deliberate attempt at their magnum opus—and nearly achieving it. “The Catalyst” served as the band’s equivalent of “Paranoid Android,” a multi-layered, ambitious lead single launched like a precision strike on the airwaves. Unlike Radiohead, however, Linkin Park possessed the commercial momentum to make it explode, earning the track No. 1 spots on rock and alternative charts.
Defined by its progressive structure and relentless drive, the song may not be the first that comes to mind when reflecting on Chester Bennington’s legacy, but it’s one that lingers, ensuring his impact endures well beyond the moment.
“A Thousand Suns” lead single strikes a balance between delivering a radio-friendly anthem and embracing the band’s new, experimental direction. The track succeeds in merging both, with its synth-driven sound and dystopian themes, such as the haunting line “God bless us every one, we’re a broken people living under loaded gun.” This marks a bold shift for the band, delving into a more artistically and intellectually challenging phase of their career.
“When They Come For Me”
Still a highly polarizing album, 2010’s “A Thousand Suns” marked a seismic shift, showcasing the band as bold revolutionaries rather than the platinum-selling hitmakers they had been known as. Often seen as a concept album, it delves into themes of humanity’s uncertain trajectory—addressing issues like rampant technology, nuclear power, and societal evolution in the digital age. Even its title, drawn from the “Bhagavad-Gita” and famously quoted by atomic pioneer Robert Oppenheimer, brims with layered symbolism and ominous undertones.
“When They Come For Me” captures the album’s explosive heart, with tribal drums and sampled guitars forming a backdrop for Shinoda’s fiercest vocal delivery, inspired by legends Chuck D and Notorious B.I.G., alongside Chester’s haunting, Eastern-tinged chant. This track exemplifies the album’s bold experimentation, making it one of the band’s most demanding yet profoundly rewarding offerings.
“Faint”
Before stepping away from their polished take on grunge’s loud-quiet dynamics, Linkin Park mastered it with “Faint,” a blistering 2:43 of electrifying rock that defined the 2000s. Mike Shinoda’s precise, methodical delivery on the verses transitions seamlessly to Chester Bennington’s raw, visceral roar in the chorus, culminating in the unforgettable line: “Don’t turn your back on me/ I WON’T BE IGNORED!!”
While both vocalists deliver career-defining performances, it’s the haunting string riff that takes center stage, grabbing hold of listeners before any preconceived judgments about the band can take root.
“Shadow of the Day”
Linkin Park’s first major stylistic shift came with this anthemic ballad, where Chester Bennington’s most uplifting vocal performance takes center stage, carried by shimmering guitars, a gentle bass hum, and sparkling synths.
At a time when metal still had mainstream clout, stepping away from it was a bold move, but the band’s knack for melody ensured its success. With each verse and chorus, the song grows brighter, culminating in a radiant crescendo as the guitars fully lift the blinds, flooding the track with brilliant, undeniable light.
“In the End”
“In the End,” the eighth track on Linkin Park’s debut album “Hybrid Theory” (2000), became the band’s most successful US single. Released as the album’s fourth and final single, it debuted at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two in March 2002, staying on the chart for 38 weeks.
The song topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart for five weeks starting in December 2001 and spent a total of 44 weeks on the chart, making it their longest-running song there. It also reached number three on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, staying for 40 weeks, second only to “One Step Closer,” which spent 42 weeks.
“In the End” achieved further chart success, reaching number one on the Pop Songs chart for five weeks and staying on that chart for 27 weeks. It ranked as the seventh best-performing single on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002 and was the second best-performing rock and alternative song of the decade on the Alternative Songs and Rock Songs charts, trailing Trapt’s “Headstrong” and Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me,” respectively. By June 2014, the single had sold 2,555,000 copies in the United States. On February 27, 2024, it was certified Diamond by the RIAA.
On the ARIA Charts, “In the End” debuted at number 44 on December 2, 2001, and peaked at number four on February 10, 2002. It is tied with “One Step Closer” as the band’s second most successful song in Australia, behind “New Divide.” Following the death of lead singer Chester Bennington, the song re-entered the ARIA Charts on July 30, 2017, peaking at number 10, over 15 years after its last appearance in the top 50.
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