Wywiad - Rock Sound 2/2003 ( Zespół )

Nu-metal pop kings Linkin Park return to action with new album 'Meteora' - the follow-up to their 12 million selling debut 'Hybrid Theory'. Released on March March 24 through Warner, accordig to vocalist Chester Bennington, the only pressure involved in making this album was the pressure the band put on themselves. "People who loved 'Hybrid Theory' will also love this record," he explains to Rock Sound. "It reflects where we are today, we've travelled the whole world, we're older and have more perspective and it represents where we are in 2003. We've pushed back the evvelope musically and lyrically. "A lot of people, I think, basically assume there's pressure as we sold so may records before and if we dont sell the same then we are a failure and that's a preconceived thing that comes out. But for us we're our toughest critics, we've just finished the record and I think we're all really, really happy and excited about this record. I feel that we have had a success already even though its not out yet! At least we're going to sell six copies 'cos there is six of us in the band!"

The album - which features tracks 'Dont Stay', 'Somewhere I Belong' (the first single which features a video directed by Joe Hahn, DJ) 'Breaking The Habit', 'Session' - also sees the band incorporate Japanese influences, acoustic guitars, a 10 piece orchestra, and vocalist and classically trained Mike Shinoda play piano. Named after a Greek rock formation, similarly to 'Hybrid Theory' the album was again produced Don Gilmore and according to the 'Park has been written over the past 18 months. Bennington said the sextet rigged up studios on their tour bus and also set up pro-tools rigs at ban members' houses. "It's allowed us to focus on this record and really weed out the garbage, which there was a lot of, as we had 80 songs and 69 of those sucked basically!" Chester is also adamant that his new role as a father hasn't changed his writing style on this new release. "What being a father does for me is it gives me a distraction," he explains. "Rob (Bourden, drums) will drive himself insane and he'll play for 10 hours and then he goes home and dreams about drums, he eats with drumsticks and so on. I have the same problem myself when it comes to writing and singing, but then all of a sudden I have to go and change a diaper and then I'll play with my son and it distracts me and it's really fun, and I can use it to de-stress! I didn't use any of my experiences as far as writing is concerned, although it works for some people. A lot of artists have used that inspiration in an great way, I don't know if that would happen in the future, it was a wonderful meoment in my life but I don't think the super happy love song about my son would fit into a Linkin Park record!"