With an open bar and a warm welcome, I thought Christmas at the listening session for Linkin Park’s soon to be released A Thousand Suns.

Not released till September 10, it will be hard to keep my cool till that date. I long to hear this album over and over again, as it left a hell of an impression and by the end of the session there were no inhibitions about head banging and foot tapping.

There are 15 tracks on the album, commencing with The Requiem and The Radiance, the first of several interlude tracks which feature throughout the album. Third track Burning the Skies is one of those that will feature heavily on the radio, whose dynamic edge, beautiful lyrics and crisp sound caught my attention and became a favourite. This feel spilled into the fourth track Empty Spaces, illustrating how the album is sequenced – no pauses between songs with a concept album feel.

There was a defined mix of influences where rap meets metal, blends with African beats and soars into the classical skies. A prime example of this is found on Blackout, that begins with a brutal rap thud as one imagines themselves cruising on the highway, something leaps out of nowhere and a crash evolves, changing the direction of the music and the visions implored.

Other standout songs included Wretches and Kings and Iridescent. Vocalist Chester Bennington’s great vocal range is realised time and time again as he hits the heights with all the different rhythms and tones the songs employ.

I smirked to myself at the end of the evening as I though of a conversation earlier in the day with a friend, who noted that the Linkin Park’s first few albums were great but he no longer listens to them. This album is bound to change that sentiment and very likely to bring a host of new fans to the marvel of Linkin Park.

Watch Linkin Park making the video for the album’s lead single The Catalyst