"Burn It Down" Linkin Park

Was it all the angsty teenage hormones that made Linkin Park bearable? Because, upon reflection, the aggro nü-metal that seemed so great in seventh grade is actually a fairly unpleasant listen. Fortunately, screamo vocals and sludgy guitars were banished to the underground back in 2003, but that hasn't stopped Linkin Park, which is preparing to release its fifth studio album this summer. Lead single "Burn It Down" is more of the same—literally, this could be on the group's 2000 debut, Hybrid Theory—now with more electric organ! The song has some intriguingly moody verses, driven by a restrained, hauntingly layered vocal performance from Chester Bennington. But, as usual, the chorus is too much of...everything. In particular, its discordant melody will get crawling in your skin. C+