Hybrid Theory

The ironic thing about bands like Linkin Park is that they truly believe that what they're doing is fresh. However, their regular use of electronica samples, Deftones-esque guitar tracks and rap vocals layered with shouty metal vocals shows little or no divergence from the hundred and one other industrial bands that sound exactly the bloody same. Hybrid Theory is not a bad album, it's just based on an exhausted concept.

Sounding like a concoction of Filter, Korn and A Perfect Circle with a sprinkle of Lit on the top, Linkin Park employ several killer hooks, the odd power chord chorus and a couple of electronically ambient verses, the best example being the current single, 'One Step Closer'.

Another goodun' is 'Crawling', a dynamic track with lashings of guitars, and 'In The End' sees the LP go all narrative with searing crescendos and piano tracks.

However, while this is all well and good, it still doesn't defeat the fact that the whole thing has been done umpteen times before. Bad it ain't, but riveting it ain't either.