Linkin Park is back with the highly anticipated new album From Zero, releasing on November 15, 2024. It will be the band’s first studio album since the tragic passing of co-lead vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017.
From Zero is supported by a guest appearance in the form of Emily Armstrong, no stranger to delivering power laced emotive vocals with Dead Sara. Armstrong shows up on a number of tracks on this album, offering new twists on the sound so widely associated with Linkin Park.
With a new lineup, tour, album and collective outlook, @LINKINPARK is BACK — prepping its first album in eight years ‘From Zero’ with newcomers Emily Armstrong & Colin Brittain.
Go inside their secret comeback in Billboard’s exclusive digital cover story: HTTPS://T.CO/IEO23C3IOJ PIC.TWITTER.COM/TLN6CBD58L
— billboard (@billboard) SEPTEMBER 5, 2024
Further underlining the band’s evolution, two new members have been added: co-lead vocalist Emily Armstrong, minus her raw, unbridled energy from Dead Sara, and addition Colin Brittain on drums and production duties, taking over the role vacated by Bourdon. Both bring a new energetic dynamic to the band and expansive soundscapes, updating the iconic sound of the band in some very exciting ways.
Zero fans got their first taste when Linkin Park dropped the lead single, “The Emptiness Machine,” on September 5, 2024. The song expertly balances the signature sound of the band in pounding rhythms, atmospheric electronics, and emotionally charged vocals against new flavors that Armstrong and Brittain brought to the table. It’s glowing proof of creativity; Mike Shinoda, being the co-lead vocalist and title-holder of driving force behind the band’s creative vision, praised this track for its emotional depth. The track has perfectly documented the themes of loss, resilience, and rebirth throughout the album.
To complement the release of From Zero, Linkin Park has embarked on a six-date arena tour in support of the album, which will be their first live tour since Bennington’s death.
It kicked off in Los Angeles on September 11, 2024, and will make its way through major cities across the United States, the U.K., Germany, South Korea, and Colombia until the end date in Bogotá on November 11, 2024. In some ways, for the fans, this tour is not only a concert performance but also a celebration of how this band Linkin Park has maintained its trademark relevance with ongoing evolution.
From Zero is an emotional jam package that reflects on the processes of grief, healing, and strength. It opens with the title track “From Zero (Intro),” presenting in capsule form what ought to be expected from such a journey. Strong tracks that make up the album include “Cut the Bridge,” “Heavy Is the Crown,” and “Two Faced,” each investigating the different nooks of resilience and change.
Album closer “Good Things Go” provides a reflective and hopeful conclusion to an at-times emotional journey, reminding the listeners that after every string of utter darkness, there is, in fact, light.
Linkin Park has always had an unusual relationship with their following, and that doesn’t change with this comeback. The band promoted the album with a cryptic 100-hour countdown that kept the fans on their toes until they finally revealed the From Zero details. They have also arranged an exclusive event for their fan club through their community, Linkin Park Underground-wherein the most hard-core could get up close and personal with the era of a band.
With From Zero, the story of Linkin Park starts anew yet looks to the past. The title of this album refers back to its “Xero” days, which the band is now launching to allergy-noticed fame. It’s about time for Linkin Park to finally forge on with their new lineup and recapture some energy with a new sound, all in the shadow of not forgetting where they came from.
