The multi-award-winning band Linkin Park has dropped the previously unreleased single “Friendly Fire” from their upcoming compilation album “Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023)”. Originally meant for the 2017 album “One More Light”, this track was a favourite of guitarist Brad Delson during the recording process.
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The song is a heartfelt ballad that showcases Chester Bennington’s softer vocal side, reminiscent of “Powerless” from “Living Things” and “Shadow of the Day” from “Minutes to Midnight”. While leaning more towards pop than rock, I’ll be generous and call it a pop-rock song. It surpasses half the tracks on its intended album in my opinion, making me wish it had made the cut.
The song’s strong musical accompaniment compliments the vocals, building with intensity as the song progresses, ensuring the lyrics resonate with listeners. The track focuses on the turmoil in relationships with lines such as “We’re pulling apart for no reason” and “Somehow forgot when they told me we hurt the ones we loved”. Every single word of this song holds weight and meaning and Bennington’s delivery is heartfelt making you truly feel the emotions behind the words. This I feel is his best feature and is a unique quality many other singers lack.
Despite my preference for their earlier alt-rock-rap style from albums such as “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora” this song still captivates me. Whilst the music video, which features previously unreleased footage of the band with Chester, adds a special touch to the overall experience of the song. The band’s other previously unreleased songs “Lost”, “Fighting Myself” and “More the Victim” are more to my taste, but at this point I feel like any new Linkin Park song is a blessing.
Linkin Park fans as well as fans of Bennington’s other bands, “Grey Daze” and “Dead by Sunrise”, are in for a treat with this song. While it’s not my favourite style from the band I still admire the effort and craft put into it. However, I can’t help but long for more presence of Mike Shinoda as I’ve always found the dynamic between the two vocalists to be the highlight of this band.
5/10
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Review written by Fox Reviews Rock
Review edited by Cozzer
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