Released on June 17, 2014, The Hunting Party is Linkin Park’s sixth studio album. After the electronic experimentation of A Thousand Suns and the melodic approach of Living Things, the band returned to a raw, aggressive, guitar-driven sound, aiming to recapture the intensity of early nu-metal and rock.
The album was positioned as a reaction against the “soft” trends in contemporary rock, deliberately embracing a heavier and more energetic style.
Album Credits
Band Members
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Chester Bennington – lead vocals
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Mike Shinoda – vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar, production
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Brad Delson – lead guitar
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Dave “Phoenix” Farrell – bass
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Joe Hahn (Mr. Hahn) – turntables, sampling, programming
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Rob Bourdon – drums
Guest Musicians
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Daron Malakian (System of a Down) – guitar & vocals on “Rebellion”
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Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) – guitar on “Drawbar”
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Page Hamilton (Helmet) – guitar on “All for Nothing”
Production Team
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Producers: Mike Shinoda & Brad Delson
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Mixing: Manny Marroquin
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Mastering: Brian “Big Bass” Gardner
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Label: Warner Bros. Records / Machine Shop Recordings
The collaboration with renowned rock and metal musicians helped amplify the album’s raw energy.
Album Tracklist
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Keys to the Kingdom
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All for Nothing (feat. Page Hamilton)
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Guilty All the Same (feat. Rakim)
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The Summoning
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War
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Wastelands
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Until It’s Gone
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Rebellion (feat. Daron Malakian)
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Mark the Graves
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Drawbar (feat. Tom Morello)
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Final Masquerade
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A Line in the Sand
Major Singles
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Guilty All the Same
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Until It’s Gone
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Final Masquerade
Album Cover Art & Design
The cover presents an abstract, chaotic digital collage of colors and textures, reflecting the album’s raw, aggressive, and untamed sound.
Design Highlights:
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Art direction by Mike Shinoda, known for blending digital and traditional media.
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Fragmented shapes suggest tension, conflict, and unpredictability.
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Dark and fiery tones echo the album’s heavy, confrontational musical style.
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The chaotic design aligns with the band’s “back to basics” philosophy of intensity and aggression.
Commercial Success (Grossing & Sales)
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Debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200
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Sold approximately 98,000 copies in the first week (U.S.)
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Peaked at #1 in Canada, Australia, and Switzerland
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Over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide
While not as commercially dominant as earlier albums, it was praised for its energetic return to heavy rock.
Awards & Recognition
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Nominated for Kerrang! Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards
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Final Masquerade and Guilty All the Same received rock radio airplay recognition
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Lauded by critics as a return to heavier, aggressive rock roots
Musical Direction & Themes
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Heavy guitar riffs, aggressive drums, and powerful choruses dominate
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Rap elements appear less frequently than in early albums
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Lyrics focus on conflict, betrayal, personal struggle, and societal critique
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Experimentation with guest collaborations provided diversity in sound
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The album is intentionally loud, direct, and visceral—an antidote to softer contemporary rock trends
Fun Facts & Trivia
⚡ 1. Return to Aggression
The band aimed to make “the heaviest album since Hybrid Theory,” rejecting the electronic and polished sounds of the prior two albums.
🎸 2. Guest Guitar Legends
Tom Morello, Daron Malakian, and Page Hamilton contributed signature guitar work, giving tracks an extra edge.
🎤 3. Rakim Feature
Legendary rapper Rakim appears on Guilty All the Same, marking one of the few rap collaborations since Hybrid Theory.
🏟️ 4. Live Energy
Many tracks were designed to be performative in stadiums, with high-energy riffs and chants.
🎧 5. Production Approach
Shinoda and Delson deliberately mixed guitars louder than usual to achieve a raw, live feel.
Legacy
The Hunting Party is remembered as Linkin Park’s heaviest, most aggressive studio album. It represents a conscious effort to reconnect with the band’s rock and nu-metal roots while incorporating modern production.
Although polarizing among fans due to its raw sound, it demonstrated the band’s willingness to challenge trends and prioritize artistic intensity over commercial safety.
