Linkin Park's final album with Chester Bennington sparked a fierce debate over artistic evolution
In short: Released in 2017, One More Light marked a dramatic shift for Linkin Park, trading their signature alternative metal for a polished, pop-focused sound. The departure triggered accusations of selling out, leading to intense public confrontations from frontman Chester Bennington, who felt the criticism was a deeply personal attack on the band.
Produced by Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson, One More Light was recorded between September 2015 and February 2017. The band fundamentally changed their creative process, prioritizing lyrics and melodies over heavy instrumentation. For the first time, they recorded vocals before the music, aiming to build songs from conversations and chord progressions rather than starting with tracks. This approach resulted in a diverse stylistic blend, incorporating pop, electropop, and electronic rock, while intentionally omitting the screaming vocals and heavy guitar riffs that had defined their earlier work.
The album's release was met with mixed reviews, with critics polarized by the band's pivot. While some praised the record for reflecting the band's current identity, others labeled it a contrived commercial move. Bennington, visibly angered by the 'selling out' narrative, publicly lashed out at critics and detractors, though he later recalibrated his perspective after receiving advice from Corey Taylor of Slipknot. The album’s lead single, 'Heavy', featured Kiiara, marking the first time a Linkin Park studio album included a female vocalist.
Commercially, the album saw significant success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 111,000 copies sold in its first week. It also reached the top spot in Canada and peaked at number four in the United Kingdom. Despite the commercial performance, the era remains defined by the tragic death of Chester Bennington in July 2017, just two months after the album's release. The subsequent North American and Japanese tour legs were cancelled, marking a somber end to the band's work with one of its most iconic members.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: One More Light
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