After the death of frontman Chester Bennington and a subsequent seven-year hiatus, Linkin Park is back not only with new music but a new singer.
With Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, and Joe Hahn returning, the group added Dead Sara singer Emily Armstrong along with songwriter/producer Colin Brittain, who has worked with G Flip, Illenium, and One OK Rock, as their drummer.
Shinoda further mentioned “The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company, and the things we created. We feel really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”
New music from the band included the all new single “The Emptiness Machine,” which will feature on their upcoming release FROM ZERO the band’s first full-length since 2017.
FROM ZERO is scheduled to be released on November 15 and will consist of 11 tracks including:
- From Zero (Intro)
- The Emptiness Machine
- Cut The Bridge
- Heavy Is The Crown
- Over Each Other
- Casualty
- Overflow
- Two Faced
- Stained
- IGYEIH
- Good Things Go
Shinoda also elaborated on this new era for the band coming off some emotional years in the wake of Bennington’s death:
Before LINKIN PARK, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future—embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what LINKIN PARK has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead.
That’s not all for Linkin Park though. In addition to new members, a new single, and a new full-length, the band will also hit the road for a six-date tour starting this month:
09/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
09/16 New York, NY @ Barclays Center
09/22 Hamburg, Germany @ Barclays Arena
09/24 London, UK @ The O2
09/28 Seoul, South Korea @ INSPIRE Arena
11/11 Bogota, Colombia @ Coliseo Medplus
As far as Armstrong goes, it obviously may take some time to get used to hearing another voice taking the lead that isn’t Bennington. However, you can definitely tell why the band ultimately went with her. She’s very talented in the role and although she adds her own spin to the heavy parts of Linkin Park’s music, it fits with what Bennington laid out prior.