Mike Shinoda recently said this a Linkin Park Underground Chat, when asked about the genre of the new album, "I just think the styles we're mixing right now are all over the place. We have really been pushing things outside the box. But even like my Fort Minor album - it's a hip hop album, but a lot of the stuff isn't conventional. The LP album won't sound like FM, but it has its own unique sound that still sounds like LP - just different." In a recent interview with MTV.com, Chester explained that the nu metal sound from their previous albums is completely gone. He also stated that the new album is a mix of metal, hard rock, and hip-hop beats. "Rick has brought more of a stripped down, classic-rock and hip-hop kind of feel. We're using vintage guitars and drums carved out of wood and skin for a more tribal sound. It's definitely not nu-metal."