Linkin Park Sings Gospel

The latest single by Linkin Park "The Catalyst" has elements of a gospel song to it. It is saturated with a sense of sin, condemnation and damnation. The lyrics confess "the sins of our tongue / the sins of our father / the sins of our young." Condemnation is symbolised by "living under a loaded gun." It is not something we can outfight, outmatch, outdo or outrun. We cannot save ourselves from our sins. We feel overwhelmed by them -- being in a state of damnation, wondering if our only future is burning "inside the fires of a thousand suns?"

But typical of a gospel song, there is a solution: "God bless us everyone" beseeches the song, for it is only God who can "lift me up / let me go"; i.e. save me, from my sin.

The song has numerous biblical and apocalyptic reference worth further exploration. Apart from its intriguing lyrics, the song is a successful--typical Linkin Park--song, with a beautiful blend of traditional "church" instruments like the organ and piano, mixed with modern synthesizers, electro beats and electric guitars.