April 6, 2007
Today Online

Their first two albums may have won them legions of angsty teenage fans, but with their latest offering, Linkin Park seems to be moving into different territory.

JULIANA JUNE RASUL suggests four signs that the band is morphing into mainstream rockers.

Their musical influences sound awfully familiar …

… like they've been dipping into the catalogues of adult top 40 favourites U2, Coldplay and Muse. While the music is still loud, the sound is more melodic and leans towards the grand crescendo

They've gone all serious and political …

… tackling issues like the ongoing war in Iraq and 2004's Hurricane Katrina disaster. The music video for first single What I've Done is filled with snapshots of what the band thinks are the most pressing problems in the world today.

They're latest album needs a Parental Advisory sticker …

… despite the fact Linkin Park proudly proclaimed a few years back that they were the only band that didn't resort to profanity to sell records. When asked about this, Bennington said with a laugh: "We used to find better ways to express ourselves, but we can't find anything better now. Personally, it's fun for me. I'm a big fan of explicit language."

All six members appear on the cover of the new album …

… as opposed to the graffiti-like graphic designs that graced their previous two records. They're all dressed up, too, and look like normal, decent guys. Also, in the video for the first single What I've Done, Bennington is decked out in a leather jacket and black shades, a la U2's Bono.