Best new release: Linkin Park: “From Zero” ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Linkin Park have returned – and they’ve got a new ace up their sleeve
Comebacks in rock are a bit like bad kebabs: unpredictable, occasionally dodgy, but sometimes, they hit just right. For Linkin Park, their return after six years wasn’t just a hill to climb – it was an entire mountain range, and “From Zero” is the summit.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Chester Bennington. The man was an absolute force of nature, a frontman so electric he could’ve powered the entire Download Festival on his own. When he tragically passed in 2017, it felt like the curtain had fallen for good. Chester wasn’t just the voice of Linkin Park; he was the soul. Replacing him – a near-impossible ask.
But here’s where the plot twist kicks in: Emily Armstrong. Yep, their new female vocalist has stormed in, not to mimic Chester, but to carve her own space. And boy, does she bring it. Even the staunchest Chester diehards are going to have a tough time denying she’s a natural fit for the band.
The album, cheekily titled From Zero as a nod to their former name “Xero,” is like a greatest-hits medley on steroids. It’s a mix of nostalgia and fresh energy, giving fans the classics they crave while tossing in enough new twists to keep things spicy.
Take “The Emptiness Machine”, the opener that could blow your speakers clean off. Armstrong and Shinoda tag-team the vocals like the pros they are, creating a wall of sound that’s pure Linkin Park magic. Then there’s “Two Faced,” which slaps so hard you’d swear it was some rediscovered treasure from the band’s back catalogue.
“Heavy Is The Crown” is pure Linkin Park. Expect this one to become the anthem of every stadium they pack out on tour.
Sure, there are a couple of tracks that don’t quite hit the mark, but on the whole, From Zero is proof that Linkin Park still has fire in their veins. The raw emotion is there, the riffs are colossal, and the evolution feels natural, not forced.
Linkin Park have pulled off what few bands can: they’ve risen from the ashes, kept their soul intact, and delivered an album that bridges generations. Whether you’re a die-hard oldie or a newcomer, this one’s for you.
Linkin Park 2.0 is here – and they’re ready to rock.
Stand-out tracks: “Heavy Is The Crown”, “The Emptiness Machine”.
