Released on June 20, 2012, Living Things is Linkin Park’s fifth studio album. It blends the electronic experimentation of A Thousand Suns with the heavier, guitar-driven energy of their earlier work, creating a more balanced and accessible sound.
The album focuses heavily on personal emotion, relationships, identity, and internal conflict, moving away from large-scale political themes.
Album Credits
Band Members
-
Chester Bennington – lead vocals
-
Mike Shinoda – vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar, production
-
Brad Delson – lead guitar
-
Dave “Phoenix” Farrell – bass
-
Joe Hahn (Mr. Hahn) – turntables, sampling, programming
-
Rob Bourdon – drums
Production Team
-
Producers: Rick Rubin & Mike Shinoda
-
Engineering: Ethan Mates
-
Mixing: Manny Marroquin
-
Mastering: Brian “Big Bass” Gardner
-
Label: Warner Bros. Records / Machine Shop Recordings
Shinoda once described the album as the band’s most personal and emotionally direct project up to that point.
Album Tracklist
-
Lost in the Echo
-
In My Remains
-
Burn It Down
-
Lies Greed Misery
-
I’ll Be Gone
-
Castle of Glass
-
Victimized
-
Roads Untraveled
-
Skin to Bone
-
Until It Breaks
-
Tinfoil (instrumental)
-
Powerless
Major Singles
-
Burn It Down
-
Lost in the Echo
-
Castle of Glass
-
Powerless
Album Cover Art & Design
The cover features a large abstract sculpture composed of fragmented, colorful human figures, photographed against a neutral background.
Design Highlights:
-
Sculpture created by artist Karyn Olivier.
-
The artwork represents fragmented identity and emotional complexity.
-
Each “figure” blends into the structure, symbolizing interconnected experiences.
-
The warm and cool color contrasts mirror the album’s mix of heavy and melodic elements.
The title Living Things reflects the human emotional themes explored throughout the record.
Commercial Success (Grossing & Sales)
-
Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200
-
Sold approximately 223,000 copies in its first week (U.S.)
-
Reached #1 in over 20 countries
-
Certified Gold in the United States
-
Over 4 million copies sold worldwide
It became Linkin Park’s fifth consecutive #1 studio album in the U.S.
Awards & Recognition
-
🏆 Nominated for Billboard and MTV awards
-
Castle of Glass received significant recognition in Europe
-
Burn It Down became a major rock and electronic crossover hit
Musical Direction & Themes
Living Things merges:
-
Electronic beats and programming
-
Heavy guitar riffs
-
Emotional melodic choruses
-
Personal lyricism
Key themes include:
-
Guilt and redemption (Lost in the Echo)
-
Anger and betrayal (Lies Greed Misery)
-
Reflection and regret (Roads Untraveled)
-
Emotional vulnerability (Powerless)
The album marks a return to more concise song structures after the conceptual flow of A Thousand Suns.
Fun Facts & Trivia
🔥 1. “Burn It Down” Chart Success
The single topped several rock and alternative charts worldwide and became one of the band’s biggest 2010s hits.
🎮 2. Medal of Honor Feature
Castle of Glass was featured in the video game Medal of Honor: Warfighter, and its music video incorporated game footage.
🎛️ 3. Hybrid Sound
The band described the album as a combination of everything they had done before—hence blending electronics with classic LP intensity.
🎤 4. “Roads Untraveled”
The song gained renewed attention after being featured in the 2014 film Need for Speed.
🎧 5. Compact Runtime
At just under 37 minutes, it is one of the band’s shorter studio albums.
