Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda releases Post Traumatic EP

As the world slowly moves on following the tragic passing of Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington last year, fans have been wondering and asking the question "what will happen with the band and it's members moving forward?" Well, didn't we get a big surprise when co-frontman Mike Shinoda out of nowhere dropped his Post Traumatic EP which features three brand new solo songs and corresponding videos.

The first track is 'Place To Start' which leans more towards the synth pop side of music and is an obvious follow on from how he has coped with life after Chester and everything that is going on inside his life and around him. The song ends with voice mail messages from family and friends checking in on him and sending their condolences and the video finishes with a shot of his Celebrate Life Concert pass in a box of toys.

My interpretation of the lyrics: "I don't wanna know the end all I want is a place to start" is how he's trying to figure out what to do next, whether it be with Linkin Park or life itself.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tEQoF_8Z7s&w=640&h=360]

 

The second track is 'Over Again' and this one is more heavily hip-hop/rap infused (like his side project band Fort Minor). Part of it was written on the day of the Chester Bennington tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl and the rest in the days/weeks that followed. For those who wanted to know what was going on inside Mike head following the news about his friend and band mate, you only need to read through the soul crushing lyrics posted with the video:

"There’s no way that I’ll be ready to get back up on that stage
Can't remember if I’ve cancelled any show
But I think about what I’m supposed to do and I don’t know
Cause I think about not doing it the same way as before
And it makes me wanna puke my fucking guts out on the floor"

Its raw, emotional and brutally honest.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk_2NB0RIaA&w=640&h=360]

 

The last track is 'Watching As I Fall' and this one is more akin to that of the more recent Linkin Park albums like The Hunting Party and Living Things with an electronic, pop rock vibe throughout and focuses on Mike's feelings and emotional journey. The video ends with a "diary entry" styled piece to camera where he talks about all the chaos in the world right now and what his future plans are, including working on his own music and art, whilst being appreciative of all the things he has in life.

It's a pretty full on video to watch as you realise this is a guy who has been putting his heart and soul into a band for the majority of his career and now he's at a crossroads trying to find out what the right thing to do is... Continue with Linkin Park without Chester or go solo, doing his own thing. In the past, his side project/band Fort Minor did well, but in the end, it wasn't as successful as LP.

https://twitter.com/mikeshinoda/status/956601196290064384

Here's hoping Mike and the rest of his band mates figure out what they're going to do moving forward as a collective and that they'll have the ongoing support of the LP family and fanbase.

If you like what you hear from Mike Shinoda's Post Traumatic EP, grab a copy here

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW52pp_qKeM&w=853&h=480]