An expansive look into Linkin Park’s second album
Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition retains all of its original traits while including so much more. With the album’s impressive 89 songs, it’s hard for the listener to run out of content, especially for fans of the original Meteora. The project begins with its original 13 tracks, which are then followed by live renditions of songs, demos and throwaway mixes.
Since its birth, Meteora has been an explosive, iconic album. The guitar riffs are distorted, dirty and piercing. The drums and bass are tight and booming, giving off heavy hip hop influence within a sea of alternative rock. Special effects are sprinkled throughout these tracks, providing an additional edge of ear candy. Prominent features include phaser effects, vinyl scratches and delay, all common effects yet placed in a masterful and necessary way. The vocal cadences hit hard along with the rest of the instruments and every song invokes a specific mosh pit energy. Certain tracks like “Somewhere I Belong” start off undeniably somber, adding a painstaking level of struggle, intention and reflection throughout the melodies. Meteora is the home of catchy choruses, anthemic verses and electric instrumental sections.
The live recordings on this album are plentiful and fun to listen to. With multiple variations of individual songs, it’s an experience to pick apart the differences. These differences bring life to the tracks, specifically highlighting the humanity of the band. Late singer Chester Bennington’s lyrics are eerily reminiscent and cutting as they are sung throughout multiple mediums.
The demos on Meteora provide another perspective to the album. Songs like “Faint” and “Figure.09” are portrayed in their evolutionary, raw form. The lifespans of these tracks are accentuated and granted appreciation through their respective demos. Tracks like “Broken Foot” and “Ominous” are featured as demos but were not used on the official album. Unlike demos of existent tracks, these throwaways shine light on the lifespan of the album as a whole. They contributed to this album’s construction process and as a result, are part of its growth. Overall, Meteora 20th Anniversary Edition is worthwhile, extensive and high quality. This remastered piece pays homage to the original in so many ways – it’s simply up to the listener to keep track of them.
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