To start, the absolute exception song "Keys to the Kingdom". After 25 seconds distorted vocals of Chester, the intrument uses that have been missing long: The electric guitar. And Brad Delson here I played the hell out of them. Of course he is not a virtuoso of his instrument, but he knows how to play cleverly catchy riffs and how to use a tool. Quite big music theater. Chester screamt tidy, even though his voice by now already 15 years more or less strong wear adduced, Mike's rap vocals immediately brings to mind old times and creates an inner urge to sink into a huge mosh pit. 5/5 star. Linkin Park is back!
The second song is the strong rap-heavy "All For Nothing", on which another passage is switched back. Partly reminds me of the song on "Hollywood Undead". Mike raps, Chester sings, something different. Quite the song can not blow me, but he knows how to convince and forwards with a great outro to the song already known "Guilty All The Same" a. 4/5 star.
"Guilty All The Same" is the first single and should already be known by fans. Guest star Rakim fits perfectly into the thundering drum sounds of drummer Rob and the catchy riffs of Brad and Chester's vocals makes the 1:30 minutes long intro quickly forgotten. Class song, class guest star, again 5/5 stars.
"The Summoning / War" is actually two "songs", an intro and the actual song, its allocation I can not quite understand. While the previous song has a half-minute intro, here is a song intro and a mere 2:11 minutes long song. But the song turns back on the pace and could easily come from Motörhead (if Lemmy fans have strayed, please do not stone). Stark punk heavy rolls the song like a steam train through the facility and tears the listener from the chair. Class, quite different than expected, yet again typical Linkin Park. For the intro I forgive 2/5 stars, for the song 5/5 stars.
The sixth track "Wastelands" is also be for a few weeks to find on the Internet and should be already known. Typical Linkin Park, Mike raps, Chester takes over the chorus, finally can also be heard Joe Hahn on his turntables. Great song, for real this time again TYPICAL Linkin Park. 5/5 stars.
"Until It's Gone" turns the pace down there and is the first (semi) ballad of the album. This song is known for some time and was even provided with a music video. Here comes the first really quiet side of Linkin Park to the public and I am inclined to say that to me this page has been missing almost anything. Chester is here again deutlichst that he is an absolute master singers and well mastered his body. Class Song and stunningly beautiful. 5/5 stars.
"Rebellion" was recorded with SOAD guitarist Daron Malakian and shows the band again from another angle. The song does have a great sound and strongly reminiscent of trumpets sound in the background brings a certain freshness with it, but you are looking for that certain something that one can jump up and tempted to bang your head. Not quite as good as the previous songs, but still worth hearing and an interesting song on the album. 4/5 star.
With track no. 9 "The Mark Graves" These equity related to the first small disappointment of the album. The song starts strong an d loud, but then drops sharply and bobs for a while in front of him, only to find himself at the end to increase again neatly and deliver a halfway crashing finale. Not quite my cup of tea, so only 3/5 stars.
The second intro track of the album "Dwarbar" was recorded with the fourth guest star Tom Morello and consists of a great piano-liner and a soft guitar. I wonder if it has ever since been worthwhile to hire an additional guest musicians. Anyway, a nice, albeit unnecessary intro, which instituted toll in the Dream Ballad "Final Masquerade". 3/5 star.
"Final Masquerade" is also known for some time and is the only real ballad on the album. Clear the song is punchy and powerful in its sound, but compared to "Until It's Gone" this one is a better choice for the term "ballad". Lovely to listen to, another highlight of the album. 5/5 stars
"A Line in the Sand" sounds at first a bit the first few seconds of "The Catalyst" and you have a bad feeling to hear another instrumental track here, but as for Mike's vocals start the drums, you quickly realize that you do has vastly mistaken. As quietly as the song also begins, the louder it is by the minute and discharges shortly before the finish in a massive fireworks display. And when one hears again Outro Mike singing. Very beautiful song, unusually long and versatile for the band with 6:35 minutes duration. But unlike "The Little Things Give You Away" here not a second is wasted with unnecessary gap fillers and one even surprised that the song lasts as long.
Summary conclusion:
The album is in my opinion a typical Linkin Park-disc for fans of the old school. Clear here not Nu Metal á la "Hybrid Theory" is played, but all those who have turned away from the band for "A Thousand Suns", will come here mostly at their expense. It's loud, it's hard (more or less), it is rocking, it is typical Linkin Park. But besides all the rock songs also come back to light the quiet and melodic side of the band. While the boys play here the soul from the body, they do not forget that you can more than just neat to cut the crap. And that's exactly what Linkin Park make. Align itself again and again from start with every album from scratch and see where your journey takes you.
I forgive for "The Hunting Party" full 5 out of 5 stars because this album symbolizes exactly what many fans have been waiting for: The fact that Linkin Park do again what she once identified: hearty Hard Rock, with which one the can blow hearing. Although the sound is strongly reminiscent of earlier times, but is in no way an imitation of the first two albums, but has a completely own style, which can be even with metal, even with rock, sometimes with Punk and sometimes describe with Pop. Typical Linkin Park just.
