Linkin Park fused nu metal's aggression with electronic production and Chester Bennington's raw, emotionally exposed vocals to create the biggest rock band of the early 2000s. Hybrid Theory sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and its follow up Meteora wasn't far behind. Mike Shinoda's rapping and production gave the band a dual identity that set them apart from the Korns and Limp Bizkits of the era.\n\nMinutes to Midnight and later albums showed a band willing to shed its heaviest elements in pursuit of something more atmospheric and electronic, which alienated some fans and attracted others. Bennington's suicide in 2017 was devastating. The band's continuation with a new vocalist speaks to the strength of Shinoda's vision, but Bennington's voice remains irreplaceable.
Key Albums
"In the End," "Crawling," "One Step Closer." The biggest rock debut of the 2000s. Thirty million copies sold.
"Numb," "Somewhere I Belong." Refined the formula without losing the intensity.
A concept album about nuclear war that abandoned the nu metal template entirely. Divisive and ambitious.
Why They Matter
Linkin Park brought rock back to the top of the charts in the early 2000s by fusing metal, hip hop, and electronic music into something genuinely new. Bennington's vocals gave a generation permission to scream about their pain.