Out of Ashes is a mix of emotions
Jennifer Heil
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Opinion
By Jennifer Heil
Chester Bennington made himself stand out as he released his debut album, Out of Ashes. Bennington, originally the lead singer for Linkin Park, joined forces with other members of Julien-K, to create the band Dead by Sunrise. Out of Ashes, which was released in early October is already putting hits on charts, such as "Crawl Back In" and "Let Down."
The album has a much harder and more emotional feel than the Linkin Park albums. The lyrics are darker, for instance in the song "In the Darkness": "I want to cut through my skin/ And pull you within/ My heart burns like the sun/As our flesh becomes one." More acoustics and synthesizers have been added to the album, as a way to try and distinguish from Linkin Park. The songs "In the Darkness" and "Let Down" have a softer feel, with lyrics that draw you in, and a guitar sound that makes you want to pick up a guitar and strum along.
"Let Down", lyrically, is my favorite. It's a song that every teenager, every adult, every person who has ever had heartache can relate to. "And the tears fall like rain/Down my face again/Oh, the words you wouldn't say/ And the games you played/ With my unfoolish heart." I was drawn to this song because of the lyrics. It was not because of his voice or his style of music, it was strictly for the lyrics. Every person has gone through heart ache in their life. It's always reassuring to know that there is an artist out there who understands what you've gone through, even if it's for your own silent benefit.
I find the song "Inside of Me" to be my favorite from a musical stand point. I find myself tapping along with the beat of the drums. It makes me want to play it in my car and drive much faster than the speed limit really allows me to. "Fire" is the exact same way. You find yourself singing along and enjoying the rhythm. It's not too hard and not too soft, just the right amount of beat. It's enough to get adrenaline going, the way a good song does.
The album as a whole is a matter of opinion. For those of you who are huge Linkin Park fans, you may or may not like this album. If you loved Linkin Park for the lyrics, and always wanted something a little bit darker, then this is the album for you. If you like Linkin Park for their acoustics, this is also an album for you. It's a great mixture of rock, alternative, with just a touch of techno to keep you guessing what's coming next. For anyone else, the lyrics are a little dark and repetitive.
You might find yourself skipping songs just because lyrically they are a bit depressing. I know I did the first time I listened to the album, but try it if you're feeling daring and dangerous for the night, they're a few really great songs.
Chester Bennington made himself stand out as he released his debut album, Out of Ashes. Bennington, originally the lead singer for Linkin Park, joined forces with other members of Julien-K, to create the band Dead by Sunrise. Out of Ashes, which was released in early October is already putting hits on charts, such as "Crawl Back In" and "Let Down."
The album has a much harder and more emotional feel than the Linkin Park albums. The lyrics are darker, for instance in the song "In the Darkness": "I want to cut through my skin/ And pull you within/ My heart burns like the sun/As our flesh becomes one." More acoustics and synthesizers have been added to the album, as a way to try and distinguish from Linkin Park. The songs "In the Darkness" and "Let Down" have a softer feel, with lyrics that draw you in, and a guitar sound that makes you want to pick up a guitar and strum along.
"Let Down", lyrically, is my favorite. It's a song that every teenager, every adult, every person who has ever had heartache can relate to. "And the tears fall like rain/Down my face again/Oh, the words you wouldn't say/ And the games you played/ With my unfoolish heart." I was drawn to this song because of the lyrics. It was not because of his voice or his style of music, it was strictly for the lyrics. Every person has gone through heart ache in their life. It's always reassuring to know that there is an artist out there who understands what you've gone through, even if it's for your own silent benefit.
I find the song "Inside of Me" to be my favorite from a musical stand point. I find myself tapping along with the beat of the drums. It makes me want to play it in my car and drive much faster than the speed limit really allows me to. "Fire" is the exact same way. You find yourself singing along and enjoying the rhythm. It's not too hard and not too soft, just the right amount of beat. It's enough to get adrenaline going, the way a good song does.
The album as a whole is a matter of opinion. For those of you who are huge Linkin Park fans, you may or may not like this album. If you loved Linkin Park for the lyrics, and always wanted something a little bit darker, then this is the album for you. If you like Linkin Park for their acoustics, this is also an album for you. It's a great mixture of rock, alternative, with just a touch of techno to keep you guessing what's coming next. For anyone else, the lyrics are a little dark and repetitive.
You might find yourself skipping songs just because lyrically they are a bit depressing. I know I did the first time I listened to the album, but try it if you're feeling daring and dangerous for the night, they're a few really great songs.
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