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I have received a few emails/facebook requests to share my feelings about the new Linkin Park Music Video/Medal of Honor trailer given my history with the band and my affinity for music. I figured that since I am the only one on this website who appreciates that style of music, I will go ahead and humor these requests.
There are two very separate aspects of this trailer that I would like to comment on. With this being a gaming website, I feel I should comment on the game footage first and save my thoughts on the new Linkin Park track/album for after.
With that said, I should probably start by saying that I am really getting a sick of Call of Duty clones and the effect that CoD has had on this industry. Not to undermine the quality of these titles, but having to deal with prepubescent children who won't stop raving about how amazing MW2 was, day in and day out, has taken its tole on me. Don't get me wrong, I always give into the excitement around the time of launch since I do appreciate a good war-drama every now and again and we strive to provide a broad amount of coverage here. I'm definitely not the first person who sees the parallels between Modern Warfare and the new Medal of Honor but i'm not about to hold it against them. EA definitely saw an opportunity to improve their dwindling war franchise and took advantage of it.
This trailer definitely emphasizes the dramatic, cinematic feel that the team was aiming for. With the shaky-cam views, slow motion explosions, and numerous death traps sprinkled throughout, this trailer really seems to yell from the roof tops that Medal of Honor is going for that Modern Warfare (1) level of serious. By unabashedly taking players to modern day Afghanistan, I think they really have an opportunity to leave a strong impression, whether it be positive or negative, on their audience. If handled poorly, i'm worried that this might backfire in their face. It makes me think about why Infinity Ward chose to use fictional events in locales based loosely on real world locations. With EA handling the single player campaign and Dice handling the multiplayer, the gameplay should stand on it's own but I think the bigger question is going to be whether or not the real world content is going to be handled with enough tact.
As for my opinions on the new Linkin Park track that was revealed (yes, literally revealed) with the launch of this trailer, I would like to preface this by saying that I don't really qualified to comment too much on the quality of the new track. My musical tastes have changed quite a bit since the last time I would call myself a huge fan of this band. In fact, I am only interested in commenting on the track more out of respect for my former adoration of this band.
In a very unexpected turn of events, Linkin Park revealed just over a month ago that they would be releasing a new album entitled "A Thousand Suns" in September. A bit later, they revealed that the first single off of that album, "The Catalyst" would debut in a trailer for the upcoming Medal of Honor title from EA. Having watched the trailer several times and listened to the track enough to get a feel for the new sound, I can't help but feel like they are further cementing themselves as "the band who writes good music for anime/video game music videos." Not to say that I don't get a certain satisfaction from this new sound, but it seems like it's getting more and more soulful and dramatic making it the perfect fit for a dramatic trailer like this.
I know a lot of people out there are going to be in a fit of rage over how much they hate their new sound, I see it all the time. It is one of the most frustrating things I have ever witnessed. People will complain whether they change their sound or not, it happens with every band out there. I am one of those people who really admires a band who makes changes to their sound and concept as their career goes on. As much as I appreciate Hybrid Theory and Meteora, I would be a little off put if they kept releasing albums like that. For what it's worth, this song seems to capture the mood and tension of the game so in that regard, the song is a great fit (in my opinion). As for the quality of the upcoming album, I have no idea. It really won't fall within the realm of my current musical tastes no matter what it sounds like. I will purchase the album day one, listen to it a few times, and probably move on. I would encourage anyone who has ever liked this band to listen to it out of respect for the band before passing their final judgement because if this album is anything like the last one, the first single released is definitely not going to be the strongest track.
Comments
13 years, 8 months ago
I think what people dislike the most is that LP were the only ones that had so much sampling for an alt-rock oriented style in the late 90s. When they began changing you did not see that sound ever again, you rarely do, and when it does it tends to have the most simplistic lyrics that lack everything. Like if you were to listen to just a chorus arrangement.
This has happened with other style combinations like electronica sampling and trip hop with a "band" like Unkle (James Lavelle is the one that has the rights to it and for each album released he changes his partners, he began with DJ Shadow) and that feel, that tone of trip-hop is by no means existent anymore.
It's not bad that artists decide to change their style but that the style is not adopted by others, seems like artists nowadays look back.. way back from the 80s and backwards for their "inspiration", you still do not see many people saying they have been inspired by a 90s artist.. it's been 10 years, maybe in the next 5 we will be seeing people saying how they were inspired by LP.
13 years, 8 months ago
Having played the beta on PC for the past 3 weeks I can safely say this is nothing more than a clone of Call of Duty, but made to feel like Bad Company 2.
I also despise what has happened to the FPS genre thanks to Call of Duty. Dice were the big shots for FPS until CoD4 (Which i liked alot), but the release of Modded Warfail 2 has changed everything. Everyone wants perks and class set up's with custom attachments and some weird demented sense of realism. The idea of super realistic graphics (shiny people who stay clean in raining slums) and easy kills through super skill full technique like using a aim assist to help your scoping in.
Now, Dice are jumping on the bandwagon of making a game set in a real world situtation fought by people who jump around and worm all over the place, hoping their crosshair lines up before they reload
13 years, 8 months ago
meh, either i like a song or i hate it. I liked some of the songs from their recent album and didn't for others. i liked their breaking the habit song and video but didn't some of their other older stuff.
overall, not big on music and we always have their old stuff.
I will say, atleast they are not like Breaking Benjamin with their new songs sounding EXACTLY like their old. Least LP is trying something a little different and for that, i respect them for it.
13 years, 8 months ago
I don't know much about Linkin Park ,other then i can't turn on my radio without hearing The New Divide and its starting to get old, but I did like how that song fit with the trailer. Good music can almost always improve a trailer. I liked LBP2 trailer and I don't like Passion Pit that much, but it fit. This is why I kinda understand why Brad likes to listen to the background music in games. In Halo ODST if there was no music while you were walking around in the city as the rookie, I would have gotten very bored but the music gave me the feeling that the city is deserted other then the small groups of covenant, (IMO) it gave the city itself character. Music can make you feel like you need to hide or make you feel invincible. It can scare you, or give you peace.
13 years, 8 months ago
I don't really like Linkin Park, and i probably won't play this game anyway, because i'm not really into Cod, but what annoys me, though is how at the begging of this trailer it actually says "Linkin Park". I guess it's a big deal that their revealing a new song, but it seems like the trailer is almost more of a music video for the song, rather than a game trailer. I don't think the music even goes that well with it.
On a side note, those are some crazy graphics!
13 years, 8 months ago
The Game:
I have never played any of these games before. Shocking. I have friends who adore them, and have tried to talk me into playing them but they always seem to be lacking something significant in my eyes, making them shallow in a way. This game, for whatever reason, seems to have filled that void I felt in the other "clones" so I'm really rather interested. I wish I could better explain the "shallowness" that I feel but at the moment it isn't tactile enough to do so. It just feels, I suppose, that from a drama aspect the game is more well-rounded. I'm not into war in really any sense, so the story itself would need to pull me beyond the "war" topic and it seems like this game may have more to offer someone like me in terms of story than the others have. We shall see.
The Music:
I used to be a big Linkin Park fan back in the day. I really liked their music for a myriad of reasons, but the biggest one is the uniqueness of them. Regardless of what they did, it always had something special and unique to Linkin Park. When they changed their sound, they were trying to explore, grow, and move forward as artists. And as a fellow artist, I only have happiness for them in that venture. It is a wonderful thing. I did like their new album but it didn't "infect" me the way the others did. It seems somewhere along the lines they lost that "uniqueness." It does come up in some of the songs, but very few and in too small of quantity. They are moving forward yet again and changing their sound, and again, as an artist I am happy and excited for them. Whether it will be something that translates into great music to me and the rest of the world is yet to be seen.
13 years, 8 months ago
Some people in the community have spoken their concern for CoD going for that action movie/rambo feel for the games instead of team based stories like how the first MW worked. Honestly I can't say for sure but I really feel like MoH may pull it off with not only an emotionally packed experience but a realistic *for an FPS* story. My impressions of the trailers may be wrong though.
13 years, 8 months ago
As a musician my main problem with the song is that first drumbeat goes on for too long. It makes it sound as if most of the song is an intro for a song. I would have taken that last slow part and made that a recurring chorus (x2) throughout the song. It would have broken up the song better.
13 years, 8 months ago
Would be better without the generic FPS style and numetal. Oh wait-
13 years, 8 months ago
The trailer feels schizophrenic to me with all the switches between in-game and live footage. They're trying to market this thing as a "grittier" MW2, but any potential drama I could have derived from the trailer was utterly squandered by an overwhelming sense of "Yo, dude, our soldiers are badass! They listen to Linkin Park while they blow shit up!"
13 years, 8 months ago
[...] talks to Pulse of Radio about The Catalyst, 4Player Podcast reviews the single. And here’s what Ryan Schuck thought about the new Linkin Park record. Brad [...]
13 years, 8 months ago
Why? Why can't they use some thrash metal? Why do all the bands for these latest trailers have to come from Hot Topic?
I'd love to see Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Testament, Death Angel, Sodom, Kreator, Death, Exodus, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden... You know, list goes on. Anyone else agree?!
What's next, Final Fantasy and Leona Le... Oh my fucking--
13 years, 8 months ago
I didn't think the song went well with the trailer, I dunno it just didn't seem to fit with what was going on in the video. But whatever, I'm no expert in music.
13 years, 8 months ago
I remember the Medal of Honor games very well. I remember the old Linkin Park very well. If the new game is like the new Linkin Park then oh god we have a problem. I do think bands should try something differrent, but it seems like there is no trace of their old selves at all, that they are now just another generic rock band. All the energy is gone. The change needs to still bring the same excitement like what Thrice did.
13 years, 8 months ago
[...] talks to Pulse of Radio about The Catalyst, 4Player Podcast reviews the single. And here’s what Ryan Schuck thought about the new Linkin Park record. Brad Delson [...]