August 22, 2007
Toronto Sun

Linkin Park went away for a few years, but you wouldn't have known it judging by the way fans went ape for them on Tuesday night.

The band, headlining their Projekt Revolution tour, dazzled the near capacity crowd at the chilly (note: scarves in August are overkill) Molson Amphitheatre with a decent blend of tracks from three albums for the better part of 90 minutes.

And while the group was far more energized in terms of working the stage on previous tours, this current version of Linkin Park has found that pacing is preferable.

Appearing in silhouette behind a two white curtains, the six-piece group tore into the militaristic No More Sorrow off the latest album Minutes To Midnight. With a rather simple backdrop and stage design, the band rarely came up for air during a good portion of the show.

But the stars of the set were Mike Shinoda and especially Chester Bennington, the former specializing in rapping lyrics while Bennington simply content with reaching down deep for guttural, primal, throat-shredding screams as was evident during Lying From You and the evening's first nu metal chestnut Somewhere I Belong.

Although Bennington early on paced the stage like he was ready to rumble, he was the most active of the lot, with bassist Dave Farrell and guitarist Brad Delson doing little to get the crowd going. However, unlike most stoic Toronto crowds, this one was into it from the start, helping Bennington belt out parts during Points Of Authority and Pushing Me Away.

Musically the group has mellowed somewhat from earlier albums but the edge hasn't been lost in the lyrics. Whether it was Hands Held High during which Mike Shinoda rapped about the current U.S. President "stuttering and mumbling" or The Little Things Give You Away which featured images of Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath in New Orleans, there was definite political bite in both.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was how well the song Shadow Of The Day went over, resembling some close cousin of U2's With Or Without You. Yet Linkin Park had a few more in store with the hit single What I've Done along with In The End prior to the encore.

Earlier in the evening, My Chemical Romance mixed the fireballs of Nickelback and the hokey theatrics of Meat Loaf into their set of emo punk pop. Led by singer Gerard Way, whose painted face resembled a skeleton's, the band tore through songs such as This Is How I Disappear along with the dramatic Welcome To The Black Parade and Helena.

Other highlights of the day were British band Placebo's strong set which opened with Pure Morning and included Taste In Men. Taking Back Sunday meanwhile shone with a crisp, punchy brand of rock that also featured an impromptu cover of Michael Jackson's Human Nature.

Meanwhile Finnish group HIM covered Chris Isaak's Wicked Game but was briefly booed by one heckler later on. Lead singer Ville Valo, cigarette in hand throughout, didn't take too kindly to the slight. "We're not scared of ghosts, motherf--ker!" he quickly replied, once again proving chain smoking also causes thin skin.

SUN RATING: 3.5 out of 5