Linkin Park’s ‘Meteora’ still impacts music twenty years later

In 2003, Linkin Park knew they had to live up to their previous releases that dominated the charts. Fan were anxiously awaiting the nu metal band’s new music. Would it live up to “Hybrid Theory,” their iconic debut? They had to wait and listen for when the album would be released on March 25, 2003. 

It is safe to say that “Meteora” did not disappoint. From start to finish, the album has absolutely no skippable songs. “Breaking the Habit” and “Numb” are the biggest songs to chart, with “Numb” getting a remix featuring Jay-Z. “Somewhere I Belong,” “Easier to Run” and “From the Inside” are also worth listening to as the combination of Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda’s vocals are phenomenal. 

In 2023, the band announced that they would be releasing a compilation of albums and unreleased music in a box set of 89 songs called “Meteora 20” to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of “Meteora.” A release with that many songs is huge news from the band, as they have not released much music since lead singer Bennington’s death in 2017. To say fans were excited is an understatement. 

“Meteora 20” made its way to fans’ ears on Friday, April 7. It cannot be listened to in one sitting, but it is worth your time. The songs that resonate the most are the unreleased songs and demos because they bring out a side of the band fans have never really had the chance to experience. The live songs transport listeners as if they were actually there at the concert, something that can be hard for live albums to achieve. 

“Lost” was released as this edition’s first single and is one of the best songs the band has created. It was a previously unreleased song and it features Bennington’s vocals, something fans have missed. The lyrics are just as relevant today because the song is about feeling lost. 

It is truly amazing that a band that was thought to only have a few hit songs would still be culturally relevant 23 years since their debut album was released. 

Linkin Park still has original fans who were old enough to remember when the band was just getting started, along with a whole new generation of fans, thanks to their older fanbase exposing younger people to this amazing band.

The early 2000s would not be the same if there was no Linkin Park. The world would be a boring place if you could not scream the lyrics of “Numb” at the top of your lungs while in the car. Linkin Park defined a whole generation, and they will continue to impact newer generations as the years progress. 

“Meteora 20” can be streamed digitally on music platforms or purchased physically as a boxset. You do not want to miss out on listening to this album as it is some of the band’s best work. Here’s to hoping they release more anniversary editions of their other albums.