Continuing their slow crawl toward middle age,
Linkin Park
opt for moody over metallic on
A Thousand Suns
, their fifth album. A clear continuation of 2007's
Minutes to Midnight
,
also trades aggression for contemplation, burying the guitars under washes of chilly synthesizers -- a sound suited for a rap-metal band that no longer plays metal but hasn't shaken off the angst, choosing to channel inward instead of outward. So few rap-metal bands have chosen to embrace their age -- they fight against it, deepening their technical chops while recycling ideas -- that it's easy to admire
's decision not to shy away from it, even if their mega-success gives them the luxury to pursue musical risks. The subdued rhythms, riffs, and raps of
maintain a brooding mood, a feeling that is sustained via the brief bridges between songs, sampled speeches, and easy segues. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine