Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park

Fans of Linkin Park will find Minutes to Midnight either fresh and interesting or totally disappointing. With its latest offering, the band seems to have extended its boundaries to the limit.

The Californian nu-metal band spent 14 months working on their new album, and they wrote more than 100 demos.

They band have thrown in as many new elements as they could find, and the result is a mix of rock and just about everything else. There are heavy metal numbers, such as Given Up and Bleed It Out, and slow rock ballads such as In Between and In Pieces.

There is also a bit of rap in Hands Held High.

What I've Done is the best song on the album. It is a bit slow for punk music, but the lyrics go deep and there is a head-bopping chorus. Given Up has what it takes to become a hit, featuring the band in its familiar nu-metal mode.

The sheer variety on the album should ensure a wide audience, and it reflects Linkin Park's desire to evolve. But hard-core metal fans who enjoyed the band's previous albums may find its latest a bit bland. They may also worry that the group is in danger of losing its identity and becoming just another generic rock band.