 Back in town to test the UK waters with their warm-up tour, Linkin Park prove that no matter what critics and cynics make of their music, their fans will always support them. The evidence being the fact that this show sold out in less than a day, making this 4,000 capacity venue still seem intimate for a band who have only released one studio album and played at many arenas around the world ever since.
 The band waste no time in teasing the crowd with their new album Meteora by starting with new songs Don't Stay, Somewhere I Belong and Lying From You, before performing familiar tracks such as Papercut, Points Of Authority and Runaway.
For a band who seem as though they were the result of winning a nu-metal talent contest, Linkin Park certainly know how to stay on top of their game. Maybe months of research was carried out before the band were told what outfits and hairstyles to wear to fit in with the trends. And maybe they are the leaders of the new trend - youthful boybands and singers invading the pop scene who play their own instruments. One thing is for sure; as performers they manage to maintain their appeal to the baggy-jean wearing youth along with being easy on the ears to target those who would not normally be seen at a Pantera or a Sepultura concert.
 The show ends with the songs Easier To Run and A Place For My Head, with One Step Closer played for the encore. Both Mike Shinoda and co-vocalist Chester Bennington have an engaging dynamism which sits well with the activities of the rest of the band members. This live ability is surely the reason why, sadly, that rumours of live performances being mimed never seem to end. That along with the fact that a lot of samples are used in each of the band's songs is no reason not to enjoy Linkin Park as they do represent a strong, enjoyable element of what music should be about.
:: Ben Lewis |
