Linkin Park are a group which always get a reaction from people, and that is that they either love them or hate them, there is rarely a middle ground. They have been slated by a lot of the media, and the most laughable criticism is that they are a manufactured boy band!!!! This is their second album, and it has been eagerly awaited, as their debut album 'Hybrid Theory' took the music world by storm, selling nearly 8 million copies, and they rode their success just long enough to stop people being bored with them, and the gap between the two albums have left many salivating at the thought of what was to come.

There is no major difference in style, only an added maturity and confidence that you expect from a band who are no longer classed as newcomers, but the fusion of rock and rap is still there in abundance, and it still works. I will try my best to make this a balanced review, but I tell you know that I am a huge fan and therefore there will be some bias, although my opinion will always be an honest one, so please try to keep an open mind, and don't dismiss them as too many people do with new rock groups.

A little background information for those of you who have never heard of them. There are six band members in total, and taking most of the limelight are lead vocalist Chester Bennington, and MC Mike Sinoda, whose contrasting styles compliment each other perfectly. They are supported by drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Darren Farrell and DJ Joseph Han. All of the band except Bennington were friends and formed a group called Xero, but changed to Hybrid Theory in 1999 when Bennington joined, but then had to change it again to Linkin Park after a legal wrangle.

The album starts with a 13 second piece called 'Foreword' which is nothing really, and I started to worry a little that they had lost the plot, but then the album quickly kicks into 'Don't Stay', which is a brilliant opener as it blasts life into you, and really makes you eagerly anticipate what is to come. This is the song which reminds me of 'Hybrid Theory' the most, and maybe that is why it was chosen as the first track (forgetting the intro) in order to lure doubters in, and then once they are listening they are sure to stay.

The first single released from the album, and rightly so in my eyes was 'Somewhere I Belong'. It has a really catchy hook, which will always be a plus point for me. The chorus blasts out of the speakers, and Sinoda's vocals are smoother and less aggressive than on other tracks, and the alternating of vocalists throughout the song is something that worked well in the past, so it is a format they have stuck with. 'Lying from You' is my favourite track on the album, and it is all about how a partner can take over your identity as you try to become the person you think they want. Chester's vocals are at their best, and as usual the passion in his voice grips you.

'Hit the Floor' is in your face right from the opening note. It looks at the very business they work in and how one minute you can be on top of the world, but come crashing to the floor just as fast. It is full of energy and life. 'Easier to Run' is one of those songs that gives me a really warm feeling, and I know I am listening to brilliance. It is here that I really noticed the improvement in the vocal performance of Mike Shinoda, and the song is a beatiful affair (something I thought I would never day about a Linkin Park song).

'Faint' is a song which I think should be released as a single. Chester screams rather than sings, but it certainly makes you sit up and listen. The start of the song sounds totally different to anything I have heard from the band, but then it quickly becomes familiar. 'Figure.09' is a strange choice of track, and I really cannot work out where the inspiration for it came from, as it seems to be a real mix and match of the styles and moods that we have seen from the band so far, but mainly on the first album.

'Breaking the Habit' is about as chilled as this band get and it will probably shock a lot of people when they first hear it, as it does not even closely resemble anything the band have released to date, but that certainly does not mean that this is a negative point on the album. It is a mature approach to songwriting, and it pays off well, and I am sure that they will release it as a single, as it is exactly the kind of track which will get a lot of airplay, which will then switch on a lot of new fans.

'From the Inside' is a song which has been panned by many music press reviewers, and I have to say that it is my least favourite track on the album. I get the feeling that they feel the need to sell out a little bit in order to keep on the right side of the fans and the critics, but here that backfires, and it is the worst track I have heard by them. It is even worse than the tracks on the remix album they released last year, which was the most blatant sell out I have ever witnessed, but I can't help myself, I like them and I keep coming back for more.

Coming towards the finish now, but there is no sign of the band letting up on the energy and pace that they put into their songs. 'Nobody's Listening' is the song that I can see many teenage fans adopting as their own personal anthem, something that gives them an outlet for their rage and frustration, and the fact that it is the least rock based track will appeal to a wider audience. This is where Shinoda and Hahn really get to give us a taste of the more hip hop side of the band,and it is very effective and extremely listenable.

'Session'is the track where the band really get to show off their talents on their individual instruments, and this is something which always irritates me when I go to see a band play live, as I know they are proud of their talent, but I want to sing and jump around, and I can never do this when they are showcasing their talents. Selfish? I know I am, but I want what I want. The last track on the album 'Numb' is the most lyrically brilliant song the group have ever written, and if there is one track that can convert you then this will be it.

Like its predecessor, the album is short at just under 40 minutes (the advantage of this is that there are certainly no filler tracks), but it is an album that with only one listen you know the words, and send it straight back to track 1 when it ends. They have shown that they are more than capable of matching the standard they set themselves with their debut album. I would recommend it to existing fans of the group, but if you did not like 'Hybrid Theory'then there is not enough diversity on this album to change your mind I feel.It is a smooth album with some very catchy hooks, and it is now a firm favourite in my house, my wife and even my 3 year old is quite into it, and I am sure that it will sell just as well if not better than its predecessor.