“Post Traumatic” Review

By Allison Colsch

            In his debut solo album, LINKIN PARK co-founder and guitarist Mike Shinoda tackles the emotions following the death of his friend and bandmate Chester Bennington. “Post Traumatic” tracks his journey through denial and numbness before giving a glimpse of healing.

            The album aptly begins with “Place to Start,” a slow, melancholic plea for help navigating the grieving process. The track ends with real phone messages left by Shinoda’s friends offering their support in the wake of Bennington’s death. This is immediately followed by “Over Again,” which examines the constant reminders and subsequent emergences of grief that occur after a death. The themes of aimless drifting and repetition continue in “Nothing Makes Sense Anymore” and “About You.”  

            While the first half of the album details the pain and anger Shinoda felt, the second half chronicles the slow journey towards healing. With “Crossing a Line,” a sincere request for forgiveness as he moves to a solo career, and “I.O.U.,” a fast-paced response to critics, Shinoda starts shifting his focus from his pain to his future. The album ends with “Can’t Hear You Now,” a triumphant song that tells its listeners that he can’t be brought down from his newly recovered position.

With “Post Traumatic,” Shinoda manages to convey his deeply personal journey in a raw,accessible format that resonates with listeners. The process of healing is long and hard with obstacles to be expected, but this album offers hope that recovery is achievable.