BY COLIN X. BIRKMIRE
Linkin Park… Where do I begin? Numb, In the End, Crawling, and so many more are modern classics. More so, they are anthems of a generation of people who know that in the end it doesn’t even matter, life continues around us. Linkin Park has become a global phenomenon, so it came as a shock when lead singer Chester Bennington, father of six children, and musical genius, tragically died in 2017. While Chester had suffered from many issues throughout his life, it was still a shocking death to his followers. To celebrate his life and music, the other members of Linkin Park released a live album of their final show with Chester.
The album, One More Light Live, opens with Talking to Myself, a song that truly highlights Chester’s vocals while also producing addictive song lyrics which exhibit many emotions that he must have been experiencing. Next up is Burn it Down, another song highlighting the lead singers vocals, which never gets old to listen to, and never disappoints. Onto Battle Symphony, a song that makes one mentally prepare for their own battle, all the while hearing Chester tell the listener to, “… never back down.” This message from Chester gives the listener the feeling that he is speaking to them. The album continues with a selection of other great hits, including Invisible which highlights Mike Shinoda’s vocals which listeners rarely get to hear. Finally, the last song on the album is Bleed it Out, a great way to end the album, which really highlights the style of Linkin Park. The whole album is a great way to celebrate the life of Chester Bennington, and the legacy that he leaves behind. His music will outlive him and the rest of his band. Rest in peace Chester, and thank you for your beautiful music.