Linkin Park Leads a Rebellion

Boy Linkin Park looks great in System Of a Down's shoes. Why would I utter that sentiment? Because right along side the California lads, on loan from Serj Tankian no doubt, is its guitarist Daron Malakian. To the surprise of positively nobody Daron riffs his way to a frenzy, strapping us unsuspecting souls in for what's a pretty sweet ride. Linkin Park's Chester Bennington proves again that he can be deceptively subdued and ram piercing shrieks down our throats with equal, bone jarring dexterity. Crave a life simplistic? Chester knows what you're going through. In verse he points out how easily we're imprisoned by the things we own. Van Halen summed that up in 1992 as part of "Right Now" specifically with "The more you get, the more you want". The claim to jump at here is that conspicuous consumerism has a way of being an addictive drug unto itself. One hit satisfies, or so it would appear until you get antsy about making a beeline for the next must have item, and so on and so on. Such decisions are how credit card debt burrows into one's gut. "Rebellion" has the unresolved anger issues that go along with having scads of energy yet finding no ready outlet to place it. As has been shown by Daron's System Of a Down tribe Linkin Park's latest effort gets the hairs standing on the back of your neck through their shifting from racing to the edge of insanity over to a soup concoction that slowly, steadily reminds you these boys aren't necessarily playing with the full 52. There's this connecting passage where the intensity doesn't falter but the volume knob's pushed down just enough to keep us off balance, kind of like we don't mess around with a sniper who would appear to in fact be the smartest guy in the room, hence the description "criminal mastermind". "Rebellion pelts us from every conceivable angle and does so unapologetically. Rob Bourdon bashes drums maniacally. Whatever direction Chester's compromised cranium goes Rob's right there matching him stride for demented stride. That lower level demonic thrill I hinted at earlier wouldn't have been nearly as mesmerizing were it not for Dave Farrell whose bass reaches down to the darkness reaches of human comprehension. Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson have their aim directed right at the solar plexus and may heaven help you if you get in the way of their rapid fire annihilation approach. Chester has been Linkin Park's ace in the hole since its 1996 beginnings. He hasn't lost his way with grasping the right notes at the right time. Mental confusion is no small player in everyday life. Chester's desire to have it washed clean rings true for everyone who has a pulse at present. Making sense of the carnage takes up a lot of time in our lives, especially since a lot of what we see doesn't make much sense. Although wanting reasons for tragedy sounds like a Don Quixote undertaking at best it's a completely understandable reaction to tragedy. "Rebellion, rebellion we lost before the start." We're doomed to fail before we even sit down. "The Hunting Party" becomes a desirable social outing when one realizes "Rebellion" is on the menu. Rebels against oppressors never loses its cache, no matter where it stems from. Linkin Park's alliance with System's Malakian serves their overall cause well. In rebellion you need someone brazen enough to lead the charge. Daron comes out guns blazing merely asking Linkin Park to trust his instincts. Sounds like trust was earned, and therefore guitars were shredded. This rebellion's worth the sweat it costs you to participate. If you enjoy tired in a nice way, you'll savor the flavor through and through.