February 23, 2008
The Gazette

If Linkin Park has lost any steam by going the maturity route on its new album, Minutes to Midnight, you wouldn't have known it from the attendance figures for last night's concert at the Bell Centre. A whopping 15,000 fans turned out for the show.

Although it released its debut album, Hybrid Theory, less than a decade ago in 2000, the California nu-metal band has already outgrown its old sound. That album sold an astounding 24 million copies, capitalizing on its slick, emotive streamlining of the rap-rock formula.

The group stuck to script on its 2003 followup, Meteora, squeezing the last drops of viability out of the genre. So it was inevitable that last year's third studio effort would have to show evolution. The disc bears only fleeting resemblances to Linkin Park's past, opting instead for a modern rock feel - less raps, more ballads and at least one arena anthem that treads boldly onto U2 turf.

The band grabbed the bull by the horns, leading off with the new song What I've Done, a tense slow number with a Twilight Zone-inspired keyboard line, that drew cheers from the first notes.

They followed with Faint, a rugged rap-rocker that featured Mike Shinoda dropping fluid rhymes, and singer Chester Bennington taking over for the emo chorus. The crowd roared its recognition of a familiar hit.

All of which could have set up a dangerous dichotomy of old vs. new - and sort of did. But by not shying away from it, the band brought its fans along for the ride.

After another new song, the roaring No More Sorrow (which was seriously sapped of its oomph when the sound cut out for the entire first half, but emerged unscathed thanks to some serious guitar riffage in the climax), the group pulled out some old favourites.

Somewhere I Belong, Lying From You, From the Inside and Points of Authority all got the audience pumped. But three new songs didn't fare so bad, either. Lighters and cellphones came out as Shinoda delivered his strident, politicized rap on Hands Held High; Bennington then ripped into the stunning Given Up, following which Valentine's Day offered a chance to breathe.

If the group's old smash Numb threatened to steal the spotlight, Shadow of the Day (the U2-styled rocker alluded to earlier) was an utter success, garnering a heartfelt singalong and sparking general euphoria.

Which, if you're Linkin Park, had to be encouraging. Fans are apparently more than ready to follow the group into new territory.

With that proven, the band dug into its back-catalogue in the homestretch, and the singalongs really kicked in.

"I don't know what it is about certain crowds that just have that extra-special something," Bennington said, in response to a tidal wave of cheers. "But you guys got it, man."

Neo-prog-metal act Coheed and Cambria delivered some epic jams in the middle slot, which garnered hearty applause. Chiodos started off the night.