More than just an expensive CD case with silver Frisbee!

excited I as the owner of all previously released Linkin Park albums the new album 'Living Things' of 6 Californians expected and longed for the release date. Now it's there, and I get partially exactly what I expected and delivered but on the other hand also some musical surprises. What is this in detail, I will explain below.

Normally I reject the comparison 'old' LP and 'new' LP vehemently. But in the media often 'hybridized' of a plate (ie a mixture of styles from all albums) has been talk, I think it is useful, 'Living Things' to be seen in the context of all previously released studio albums and evaluate.

After the rock NuMetall discs 'Hybrid Theory' and 'Meteora' and the somewhat experimental 'Minutes to Midnight', was Linkin Park's last studio album 'A Thousand Suns' (ATS) sometimes heavily criticized. Let 'electronically' to, 'which is no longer Linkin Park' or 'too specific on radio, too pop' were some of the comments I overheard from fans, friends and acquaintances. If your opinion is reflected in it, I would honestly advise against this album completely to buy and perhaps choose more individual songs for download. For as 'Hybrid Theory', this album is certainly not!

As a listener of the first Linkin Park an hour but you can feel that the guys have tried to use as possible and satisfy all fans. So I think that the album 'as the old Linkin Park' is in some places again rockier and more, yet elements of the last album, namely electronic, to get involved. Even supporters of the calmer, more soulful fraction be served (if you can call it that at all in the LP). I, too, was of 'A Thousand Suns' rather disappointed when I found the album succeeded. Consistently bad but I did not find it. 'Living Things "like feeling better, because here the old style of the band is recognizable in some places.
Lyrically the songs move, as expected, at a relatively high and a good level. So lyrically what I'm used to record and have also expected.

LOST IN THE ECHO (10/10)
The opener starts with an electronic techno intro, which I just find strange or novel in a rock band and record as certainly follows the current electro sound. The song, however, is still strong. Again, more electric guitars than with ATS, more Rap (good rap!) And singing, which alternate. Sounds like a very successful symbiosis of the older albums and ATS. You could say 'In the end kisses the Catalyst' also. Best track on the CD and is already one of my favorite songs of the band.

Warm-up succeeded, I'm looking forward to the next track

IN MY REMAINS (8/10)
Also rocking again. At ATS I think you had already listen carefully to any time to hear the drums. Here it is different. Only Chesters singing, after 2 minutes, a Cut, and then singing of Mike (no rap!). Melodic just a beautiful song that is radio friendly certainly, but finally picks up typical rock elements.

BURN IT DOWN (10/10)
About the song has already been reported as much and you get the intro at every European Championship game by ZDF peppered around the ears. Here, however, it shows again the last Mr.Hahn still is member of the band when it silently and in the background delivers his Scratches. But he is definitely there!

LIES GREED MISERY (8/10)
Even so, a song that reflects the new LP for me. At the beginning of rap and singing (Mike and Chester) alternately. The song ends with a typical finally back on the old LP 'Shouting end'. That we do not get me wrong, the song is already accompanied by electronic side effects, but the basic structure Mike (Rap), Chester (vocals) and at the end of Chester (Shouting) is just right wiedermal here.

I''LL BE GONE (8/10)
A song without major electronic side effects, but with honest electric guitars, honest and genuine singing.

So far, I feel serves as LP fan of the old school pretty well.

CASTLE OF GLASS (8/10)
Quieter number are at the forefront in the song and voice. It's a nice song, but I'm missing the certain Pep here. It's like 'Leave out all the rest'. The song I like, too, but to rock it invites not really a.

Victimized (9/10)
A very short song that again 'earlier' recalls. Chesters vocal cords are placed correctly to the test here, Mike's rap sounds fantastic. Unfortunately, somehow too short song. But it intensively. Hardest number of plate.

From here, the disk is clearly 'unrockiger'

ROADS untraveled (6/10)
Quiet number, when not really want to skip with me the spark. This 'Ohhhhh' in the chorus, the mass but great sing along at a concert. Guitars and drums only concomitantly also quite subdued in the background and.

SKIN TO BONE (8/10)
Electric intro, what else ;-) Oh moment this intro runs through the whole song. I like the song, but that's definitely not for fans of earlier. Much electric, hardly guitars. What I like? The beat and the 'flow' of the song.

UNTIL IT BREAKS (2/10)
Electric intro (now no longer surprising) means, electronic distorted rap and after one minute then Chester and then Mike. Suddenly, a very quiet passage. One wonders which way the guys want with the song? Can I use most as outro. The last minute languishes as the song to himself. So definitely a flop in my eyes.

TINFOIL
Joa, that sounds like the extended outro 'Until It Breaks'. So nice that you get to hear Mr.Hahn at the turntables again, but really all I can abgewinnen the track. Especially since he's also just 1 minute.

Powerless (6/10)
Powerless? Yes, the board heard unfortunately. At the end of a cuddle number, otherwise I can not call it. Would have liked a bit more again crashing conclusion. Not really bad, because I like Chester's voice and the end finally the electric guitar a little more clearly come to the fore, but my skin does not order that.
Others, however, like this quieter, more emotional final policy.

Conclusion
No, the disc is not like the last track, but also involves a lot of power. It is again more rocked on this disc, however. Almost always with electronic influence Just as 'Meteora' is the slice in principle never and therefore should also finally the very last have accepted that Linkin Park will no longer sound like the beginning of the millennium. I have the expected radio songs get (Castle of Glass, Powerless), but also of earlier times reminiscent Songs (Lost in the Echo, Lies Greed Misery), which were however still embedded electronically. But does not sound bad, especially at the beginning of the album. Revue passing remain noted that the album pretty much flattens at the end for my taste. Nevertheless, some catchy tunes and RockBare numbers are on it, so I forgive 4 stars. Finally, it should be noted that the album has fallen relatively short. 12 tracks and no more than 4 minutes. In the point to LP therefore remains faithful.