It seems almost impossible to believe that Linkin Park's The Hunting Party was released five years ago today, proving to the doubters that they could still create the heavy, visceral sound that earned them a fan base almost two decades ago. However, this album did more than just prove that they still had that raw energy and aggression that so clearly put across their passion, but allowed them do so in a more mature and precise way, attracting the attention and talent of other rock legends, such as Rakim and [System Of A Down's] Daron Malakian.
The record showcases Shinoda's vocal and lyrical prowess in top form, allowing him to jump from swift rap verses to more sombre and melodic singing in some of the more atmospheric tracks, while Bennington's vocal style ranges from his prominent growling screams to an emotive and powerful singing which evokes feelings from seething anger at the capitalist industry to a harrowing sorrow for humanity. The instrumentals are polished, but not overdone, which adds to the authenticity of the biting guitar riffs and cutting bass that garnish the tracks and allows a flawless bridge between the musical elements used. This allows the band to weave in and out of different sub genres skilfully while keeping cohesion and continuity. The instrumental tracks on the record [The Summoning and Drawbar] emphasise this contrast and really allow the band to make a statement without saying a word. The tone of the album is comparable to that of A Thousand Suns, but with more anger and intent, possibly a result of years of vindication from naysayers and non-believers. The album doesn't try to replicate the earlier sounds of Hybrid Theory or Meteora, nor does it rely on the more electronic sound that the band had perfected over the course of their last three albums, but it doesn't need to. The Hunting Party masterfully combines the two musical elements, allowing the synths to underpin and contrast the sharp guitars and intense percussion that seems to be in the forefront of this record. It has aged phenomenally and continues to be the hard-hitting rock record that people have been asking for since the band's departure from their nu-metal sound. Why it isn't acknowledged for the incredible work it is continues to be beyond comprehension.
