Faint

Faint is built on a four-chord loop typical of 2000s alternative rock, utilizing the natural minor (Aeolian) scale. The harmony is functional but secondary to the rhythmic interplay between the breakbeat-style drumming and the staccato guitar riffs. The inclusion of a fast-paced string ostinato provides the melodic character that defines the song's energy, while the guitars provide a heavy, foundational i-VI-VII-v progression. The use of the subtonic (C5) instead of a leading tone (C#) maintains a gritty, modal sound consistent with the nu-metal genre.

A demo version of the track was released on the Linkin Park Underground 9.0 Fan Club record, featuring Mike Shinoda performing different rap lyrics with minimal vocal input from Chester Bennington. In 2025, it was identified that the song's intro utilizes a reversed sample from 'Tania Meets Klebb' from the James Bond film soundtrack From Russia With Love.

The second single from the 2003 album Meteora, 'Faint' solidified Linkin Park's dominance in the alternative rock scene by reaching number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Its fusion of fast-paced breakbeats and heavy guitar riffs became a signature sound that later led to a high-profile collaboration with Jay-Z.