Linkin Park: Ooh, check out their new direction

Yesterday, we had the prospect of Blink 182 telling us how their new comeback album won't be like anything we'd expect of them. This week's NME has My Chemical Romance saying a similar thing.

Clearly, pretending that you're taking on a whole new musical direction is the new grinding group-think flocking point in rock circles. For here now are Linkin Park saying, yes, much the same thing:

"We make records as a challenge to ourselves," Shinoda smiled. "And the challenge this time is: 'Nobody else is making a record that sounds like this, only we can do it.' "

I suppose if you're going to set yourself a challenge, you might as well make something that's going to give you a stretch. On past experience of Linkin Park records, they'll earn half a point - not making a record nobody else could, but certainly one nobody would ever want to make again.

Mike Shinoda is convinced it's a thing all of its own, though:

"It's been going great, I feel like it's an entirely different process and an entirely different style of music than anything we've done before. It's hard to place. People keep asking me, 'What does it sound like?' and it's hard to describe. When people hear it, they're going to have a tough time saying that it falls into a category."

Even so, if you run a record shop, I think you'd be safe enough making space in the 'pubescent rock' section for the record.

Seriously, though, where do Linkin Park find people who still want to listen to them this far in to the new century? Seriously?

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd asked Prince William what music he liked.

The prince replied, "Mine's very varied - I like rock, Linkin Park ... Kanye West. I normally get the piss taken out of me, for my choice of music".

That would make sense.