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Hybrid Theory
11/15/2000 1:09 PM, Yahoo! Music
Janiss Garza
The longevity of heavy rock is due to its ability to constantly develop and evolve; what worked for AC/DC and Judas Priest in the late '70s, or Metallica and Anthrax 10 years later is not going to cut it today. At the moment, hard music is nearing the end of a phase that began somewhere around Korn--harsh, extreme and edgier than ever before. Along the way, various bands have added elements of hip-hop and electronic noise. Linkin Park is a solid, meaty outfit and if it doesn't quite have the distinction of some of its predecessors, that's only because it's so hard at this late date to bring something new to the mix. Keeping this handicap in mind, the group's debut disc has quite a bit to offer.
One thing Hybrid Theory has in abundance--besides volume--is catchy hooks, as evidenced by "With You" and the single "One Step Closer." And having two vocalists--Chester Bennington and MC Mike Shinoda--enables the Southern California sextet to offer singing, screeching and/or rapping without a compromise in any area. This disc is loud to be sure, but the group also understands dynamics; "In The Head" lays back with attitude and "Cure For The Itch" is intriguingly atmospheric. If, at times, there's a bit too much anxiety-ridden navel-gazing (as in "By Myself," for example), that's about par for the course these days. Overall, Hybrid Theory is a skillfully done album which deserves the brisk sales it got coming out of the box. It'll do until heavy music reinvents itself yet again.
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