Linkin Park - Burning In The Skies

Linkin Park have developed a knack of writing emotional, intensely melodic ballads recently. I'm almost tempted to call them 'power ballads' but that conjours up images of cheesy middle-of-the-road rock and bad hairstyles. No, these are ballads done the Linkin Park way - in other words, laden to the brim with angst, immaculately produced beats and big guitar solos. Say what you want about the band, they've got a formula and it sure as hell works; latest single Burning In The Skies is a real standout. One of the best tracks from an exceedingly good album, it's great to see it getting a proper release.

Following in the tradition of Shadow of the Day and Waiting For The End, the apocalypic themes continue - but destruction and desolation have never sounded as beautiful as this. The chorus of 'swimming in the smoke, of bridges I have burnt' is enchanting; a tear-stricken tale of relationships fallen by the wayside. What I've always admired about Linkin Park is that their skill at writing a fantastic chorus has remained utterly consistent throughout the decade since they released their landmark first album Hybrid Theory. The Nu-Metal leanings and frenetic raps may have quitened down, but the choruses remain - each and everyone ready-made to be shouted out with gusto across arena's and stadiums the world over.

For Linkin Park, Burning In The Skies is just another chapter in a truly remarkable career - but to us, the listeners, it represents another brilliant case study in what it means to make a great rock record. Oh, and the video is brilliant too. Nuclear explosions and arty slo-mo? Well cool.