Express & Star

Chester Bennington's last-ever show: Our review from Linkin Park's Birmingham gig

They’ve been on the scene for more than 20 years, but last night Linkin Park proved they are better today than they’ve ever been.

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Linkin Park

With a mesmerising light show and stunning sound, the band played a wide variety of songs; some which fans knew, others which they didn’t. Some I loved, some I loathed - but more on that later.

Star of the show was undoubtedly co-frontman Mike Shinoda, whose intense, fast-paced, faultless rapping style is barely recognisable to his former style which now, when compared to the stunning performance last night, seems simple.

But the entire band were brilliant from start to end - and vocalist Chester Bennington was bursting with so much energy, it ran like electricity from the stage into the crowd, as the they jumped and sang along with him on almost every song.

The packed-out Barclaycard Arena, though blisteringly hot, was filled to the brim with bounding, dancing bodies - all of which were of a huge range of ages and backgrounds.

And it seemed they were all there to hear different things.

When Linkin Park started out, their first two albums were filled with heavy rock anthems - hits such as Papercut and A Place For My Head; which, for many, were the soundtrack to their youth.

But last night the band played so many different styles. There were several thrillingly heavy numbers, but also songs which fit into the genres of dance, rap and even soft pop. The latter was the least enjoyable; unfortunately some songs made me feel more like I was at a One Direction gig, than a rock concert. This wasn’t helped by the large amount of slow, poppy numbers the band chose to play during the two-hour set.

But what they did well, they absolutely stormed.

And despite the fact their most recent album has been heavily criticised, songs such as Talking To Myself and Good Goodbye sounded phenomenal. Admittedly, on numbers such as these, the band did not sound like their former selves - they sounded better.

Controversial, I realise, but they couldn't play Hybrid Theory and Meteora forever - and they now sound matured, rounded and professional. I was dubious as to how their new material would go down, but much of it was like a breath of fresh air.

That’s not to say I wasn’t secretly waiting for my favourite oldies throughout the show - and I wasn’t alone. Fans sprung to their feet and screamed and sang as favourites such as One Step Closer, From The Inside, In The End and Numb roared across the arena.

Their new stuff sounds great, but the band’s old material will always hold a special place in my heart.

“Thank you - man you guys are f***ing awesome,” beamed Chester, as fans below whooped and cheered.

“You know, we have the best fans in the world. I say it all the time because it’s true.”

Linkin Park - there’s little chance I’ll be Breaking The Habit of loving you any time soon.