"Living Things" is the fifth studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on June 20, 2012, under Warner Bros. Records and Machine Shop Recordings. The album was first released in Japan on June 20 and subsequently worldwide in the following week. Production duties were handled by vocalist Mike Shinoda and Rick Rubin, who had co-produced the band's previous two albums, "Minutes to Midnight" (2007) and "A Thousand Suns" (2010). "Living Things" marks the band's final collaboration with Rick Rubin and was recorded at NRG Recording Studios.
Linkin Park described "Living Things" as a synthesis of elements from their previous four studio albums, aiming to create a cohesive new sound. After years of experimenting with different musical directions on their previous albums, the band felt they had returned to a more familiar and comfortable musical territory with this release. The album's title, "Living Things," reflects its thematic focus on personal topics that are deeply meaningful to the band members.
The lead single from the album, "Burn It Down," was released to radio and digital music retailers on April 16, 2012. It was followed by three additional singles: "Lost in the Echo" (October 5, 2012), "Powerless" (October 31, 2012), and "Castle of Glass" (February 1, 2013). "Living Things" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 223,000 copies in its first week in the United States. The album achieved Platinum certification by the RIAA in August 2017, indicating sales of over one million units.
Critically, "Living Things" received positive reviews for its blend of electronic and rock elements, as well as its lyrical depth and thematic coherence. The album's commercial success solidified Linkin Park's position as one of the leading rock bands of the early 2000s, with their innovative approach to blending genres and addressing personal and societal themes through their music.
