Linkin Park - One more light

Brought out in May 2017, One more light is the 7th album by US rock band Linkin Park. I have followed this band right from the outset since Hybrid Theory came out way back in 2000. I loved seeing this band develop over time and really grow as musicians. Some have said this album was a step too far and disliked the direction they have now gone in. Still hanging on to the hope that they will go back to their heavier side especially the nu-metal sounds of their first few albums.

This is a lot more pop-rock and electronic than previous albums but still has that hip hop element on some of the tracks as Mike Shinoda puts his trademark rapping on them.  Also on "Good, Goodbye", Pusha T and Stormzy put their mark on the album. Another song which Linkin brought someone else in to sing was lead single "Heavy" where Kiiera shares vocals with Chester. I like how these guys just don't get a wee snippet in a song to sing but are given a fair chunk.

Its also interesting that Linkin Park brought in other people to help write the songs, with Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, IIsey Jubar, JR Rotem, Ros Goslen, Frances White, Justin Parker and Jesse Shatkin. In fact well over half the songs on the album. I know many people critisise bands for not writing all their own songs but I actually don't mind at all. If they want help moving into a new direction and use people whose job it is to write songs to make themselves better. Then what is the problem?

When I look down the track list for this album now it is very difficult to spot a weak link. It is just 10 tracks, so really a bare minimum for a pop album but the quality is sky high.  Personal highlights include "Talking to myself" which is such an energetic and jumpy about kinda song. "Battle Symphony" is another classic and as the title suggests is a classic rivalry song. I have heard it being used during the NBA playoff final trailers this year and it is so fitting.

There is one song however which now stands head over heals above any other track now and I think it is the song that stands out for a lot of Linkin Park fans and that is title track "One more light". Sadly lead singer Chester took his own life earlier this year and this track is what a lot of tribute videos used to commemorate his life with standout lyric "Who cares if one more light goes out in a sky of a million stars, it flickers, flickers..............well I do".  It was difficult to even listen to this album after his death, I really can't even imagine what the band and their families were going through.

Overall the band should be proud of this album. The thing is about this band is that they are perfectionists and the quality they have maintained across their albums is so high.  And to keep evolving the way they were doing while still being one of the biggest rock acts in the world says it all. But now Chester is gone, if they choose to continue as a band, this will be their biggest challenge yet. But I certainly wish them all the best.