Linkin Park

HYBRID THEORY

(Warner Bros.)

Like a slicker version of Bay Area drama queens Papa Roach, LA's Linkin Park do Korn-style self-flagellation with a few interesting twists. For one thing, they've got two guys with contrasting styles on the mike: Chester Bennington is the traditional grunge belter, Mike Shinoda the hardcore rap-influenced MC. Bennington's the one who goes over the edge on the hit "One Step Closer," jettisoning his trademark warble at the end in favor of good old-fashioned screaming. Shinoda almost resembles Chuck D when his commanding bark is at its finest, as on the torrid first verse of "Forgotten" and the hip-hop breakdown of "Points of Authority." The band supply their share of funked-up Rage grooves for the guys to vent over, but they also make room for DJ Joseph Hahn's mellow scratching interludes and a bunch of sampled industrial clanging. They even cart in the Dust Brothers for the trip-hop-enhanced "With You," though Hahn's sinister DJ Shadow rip "Cure for the Itch" is actually the band's most compelling portrait of midnight in their not-so-perfect world. No matter what, Linkin Park always fall back on soaring Stone Temple Pilots choruses -- which, I'm sorry to say, is what they sound most comfortable with.

(Linkin Park play Axis this Wednesday, November 29. Call 423-NEXT.)

-- Sean Richardson