First of all, I have to say that I am a complete Linkin Park fan so I was waiting for "Minutes To Midnight" with eager anticipation. Having said that I know a bad song when I hear it and likewise, a bad album. This is not one.

"Wake" - A short album opener and one of the tracks that will sound the most familiar. It kicks in just after half way and really gives a nice taster of what's to come.

"Leave Out All The Rest" - This is where the pace slows down considerably. Some fans would jolt at the sound of a slow Linkin Park song but there is a nice kick to the chorus that really reminds you of who you are listening to. Like most of this album, there is a sense of self reflection whether it is of the individual or society as a whole. This has those in bags with a taste of, dare I say it, love thrown in. It really has a positive feel to it and is all about growing for the better.

"Shadow Of The Day" - Another slow down of pace and another song that appears to be about relationships. The lyrics, in fact, seem quite melancholy but the sound underneath really doesn’t have that feel. A steadier and more louder beat kicks in half way and there is a turn towards their familiar epic sound. Overall, this song has a really excellent quality to it and is one of the stronger tracks.

"Hands Held High" - Blatant political message from the start and unfortunately, it's one of the tracks that I skip the most when listening on an MP3 player. Not because of the message itself but mainly because of the pace of the track. For me, unlike some of the other slow songs on this album, this one really brings down your mood. Mike is wonderful on this track and even produces some solo singing near the end which really gives it that extra something. Even though I can enjoy this song, sometimes, you just want to hear Linkin Park for the energy that their songs hold. Be aware that this song is something quite different.

"In Pieces" - Subdued vocals from Chester Bennington but with a steady pace. I love the way Linkin Park’s songs usually kick off near the chorus but this song lacks that to a certain extent. It runs along steadily and towards the end, this is remedied after a nice bit of guitar work.

To sum up, if you go into this expecting the same songs as previous albums, you will be disappointed. I find it refreshing that Linkin Park have opted to explore their artistic abilities and have produced an album that doesn’t pander to all the ‘Linkin Park rules’. As a long term fan, I can identify their signature style within and enjoy the album for what it is. The album does have slow songs and this is in no way a bad thing. Slow doesn’t necessarily translate as boring. They are well written and all of them have something different to say. Plus, there are fast and heavy songs lying within so you get a taste of both worlds. The songs are also longer than you expect which I think is an added bonus because previously they have always been quite short. However, I still feel like I am left wanting more just like those previous albums. When it comes down to it, I enjoyed this album immensely and truly believe that it is worthy of its place next to “Meteora” and the others. Go ahead and give it a chance. Listen to the lyrics … listen to the sounds … soak it up and open your mind to new things. It will be worth it!