Released on March 25, 2003, Meteora is Linkin Park’s second studio album and the powerful follow-up to their debut Hybrid Theory. Expanding on their signature blend of nu metal, rap rock, and electronic textures, the album delivered a darker, more atmospheric sound while solidifying the band as one of the biggest rock acts in the world.
Album Credits
Band Members
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Chester Bennington – lead vocals
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Mike Shinoda – rap vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar
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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
Production Team
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Producer: Don Gilmore
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Mixing: Andy Wallace
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Mastering: Brian “Big Bass” Gardner
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A&R: Jeff Blue
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Label: Warner Bros. Records / Machine Shop Recordings
Album Tracklist
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Foreword (instrumental intro)
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Don’t Stay
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Somewhere I Belong
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Lying from You
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Hit the Floor
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Easier to Run
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Faint
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Figure.09
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Breaking the Habit
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From the Inside
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Nobody’s Listening
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Session (instrumental)
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Numb
Major Singles
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Somewhere I Belong
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Faint
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Breaking the Habit
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Numb
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From the Inside
Album Cover Art & Design
The cover features a graffiti artist painting on a concrete wall, set against an urban, industrial background. The art direction was heavily influenced by street culture and modern urban aesthetics.
Design Highlights:
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Art direction by Mike Shinoda and Joe Hahn.
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The graffiti artist in the image is Delta, a well-known street artist.
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The muted beige and gray tones reflect the album’s emotional heaviness.
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The album title Meteora is inspired by the Greek rock formations known for their towering stone pillars and isolated monasteries—symbolizing emotional isolation and inner conflict.
The artwork complements the album’s themes of frustration, identity, self-reflection, and emotional tension.
Commercial Success (Grossing & Sales)
Meteora was an enormous commercial success:
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Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200
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Sold over 810,000 copies in its first week in the U.S.
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Over 16 million copies sold worldwide
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Certified 8× Platinum in the United States
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Reached #1 in multiple countries
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Numb became one of Linkin Park’s most-streamed and most recognized songs globally
The album confirmed Linkin Park’s staying power beyond their debut.
Awards & Recognition
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🏆 MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice (Breaking the Habit)
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🏆 MTV Asia Awards & MTV Europe nominations
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Grammy nominations for Faint and Numb
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Frequently included in “Best Rock Albums of the 2000s” lists
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Numb/Encore (with Jay-Z, 2004) won a Grammy Award (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration)
Fun Facts & Trivia
🎨 1. Title Meaning
The name Meteora refers to the towering rock formations in Greece—symbolizing emotional isolation and monumental inner struggles.
🎵 2. “Numb” Became a Cultural Anthem
Numb became one of the band’s biggest hits and later gained renewed global attention through collaborations and viral resurgence.
🧠 3. “Breaking the Habit” Was Different
Originally written by Mike Shinoda years before Linkin Park formed, it was intended as a hip-hop track before evolving into the electronic-rock version heard on the album.
🎧 4. “Session” Was Grammy-Nominated
The instrumental track Session earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
🎤 5. Refined Sound
Unlike Hybrid Theory, the band aimed for tighter songwriting and more polished production, making Meteora feel more cohesive and focused.
📀 6. 20th Anniversary Edition (2023)
A 20th anniversary deluxe box set included previously unreleased tracks like Lost, which became a major hit two decades later.