The summers of the early 2000s were satisfactory for many kids. The days were jam-packed with playing sports, hanging out, and listening to the one and only, Linkin Park. The electronic genius behind many of Linkin Park’s greatest hits was what fueled us pre-teens on a daily basis. Since the band has split, however, there has been a general lack of revamping synth lines and catchy rap-rock rhythms in all of our lives. Those of us who have matured into the more rock-influenced walks of life will find Linkin Park front man Chester Bennington’s side-project Dead by Sunrise a decent addition to the 2009 rock scene.

Dead by Sunrise’s debut album, Out of Ashes, puts together Bennington’s unique vocal sound on top of fundamental hard rock that does not overwhelm the listener. Those who worried that Ben- nington would overpower the album with relentless noise and unforgiving screaming can breathe a sigh of relief. The hit single “Crawl Back In” preaches non-conformity and much like every song on the album, has a catchy chorus. “Fire” has a grabbing beat that will guarantee head banging for all who get into it. The intriguingly mellow keyboard in “Let Down” is a good contrast to the popular guitar-drums double team to which listeners grow so accustomed. Also, “My Suffering” brings back to life that up-tempo, futuristic sound that Linkin Park fans will appreciate.

Setbacks on the album include a noticeable degree of unoriginality. I was a little turned off by the number of cheesy lyrics present, especially on some of the album’s most popular songs. However, I did respect Out of Ashes. It brought back good memories of the Linkin Park glory days, and, for a side project, was an exceptional installment by the multi-talented Chester Bennington.

Edsman Rating: 7/10