'From Zero' marks Linkin Park's triumphant return, overcoming challenges with renewed energy

The world of music lost a true icon when Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington tragically passed away on July 20, 2017. The band canceled its ongoing tour, mourned its loss, and went on an unannounced hiatus. That changed in September 2024, when the band announced a new album and tour and recruited a new vocalist, Emily Armstrong, and drummer Colin Brittain.

The announcement sparked controversy, as many fans questioned Armstrong’s singing abilities and criticized her public defense of convicted rapist Danny Masterson. Her association with the Church of Scientology also became a point of debate amongst fans.

Despite the backlash, the band released its new album, From Zero. With the release of From Zero, fans' doubts about the quality of the music have been dispelled.

Featuring ten tracks, the album flows like a culmination of Linkin Park's best musical moments in their two-decade-long career. From the haunting slow burn of 'Good Things Go' to the ferocious intensity of 'Casualty,' the album spans an impressive emotional and sonic range.

Mike Shinoda gives probably the most diverse vocal performance he has ever given, displaying everything from his signature fiery rap verses to beautiful harmonies and screams.

Colin Brittain fills in on drums for former drummer Rob Bourdon and does a stellar job, infusing the band’s sound with a dynamic intensity that feels fresh and familiar.

Brittain also helms the album's production and adds more value in that regard, as From Zero is indeed sonically one of the best albums produced by the band. The production is impeccably clean, packing a punch without compromising clarity

The Emptiness Machine

This song introduced the world to Emily Armstrong as Linkin Park’s new singer. The song features elements from the 'Minutes to Midnight' album, leaning towards the fast melodic rock sensibility popular with fans today. Armstrong captures echoes of Bennington’s raw intensity while carving out her space in the band’s legacy.

The guitar and drums sound massive, probably more significant than they ever have on a Linkin Park record, and that’s a big up. It showcases an approach where the band wants to put itself in the forefront, having the vocals take more of a backseat.

Cut the Bridge

This song continues on the 'Minutes to Midnight' sound pallet, reminiscent of several of the band’s hits, such as 'Bleed it Out' and 'What I’ve Done'. Mike Shinoda stands out with his signature rap flows coupled with some stellar singing on his part.

While Armstrong's strained high notes convey passion, they occasionally falter here, detracting from the song’s overall impact. The drums stand out in the song as Colin Brittain makes his presence known with a flurry of fast drum fills and tight grooves.

Heavy is the Crown

As soon as the opening sample of the song plays, any old-time fan knows they’re in for a treat. The opening guitar riff transports one back to the 'Meteora' album, with its heavy octave riffage and thunderous drums taking hold of you instantly. Mike Shinoda once again proves that rap is indeed his strongest performative suit.

Armstrong delivers a fierce performance, especially in the intense screaming bridge—a signature Bennington hallmark. This song is indeed one of the more vital releases on the album.

Over Each Other

Probably the weakest release on the entire album, Over Each Other sees Emily Armstrong take center stage on her first solo outing as the new Linkin Park vocalist. The song sounds nothing like a Linkin Park song.

While some may argue that the band is trying to expand their musical horizons, there are better examples of that expansion on this record. Compared to the album’s stronger tracks, 'Over Each Other' feels uninspired.

Casualty

This song is a prime example of a musical experiment done right. Taking cues from the band’s lesser-known 'The Hunting Party' album, 'Casualty' is probably one of the heaviest songs of Linkin Park’s career, as the song sees the band firing on all cylinders and shows the full potential of Emily Armstrong as a viable vocal option for the band.

Mike Shinoda impresses with his ferocious vocal delivery, channeling raw intensity reminiscent of Trent Reznor. Armstrong screams her heart out, adding a layer of crazy to the mix. The thrash metal-inspired guitar riff and blistering drums carry the song perfectly through.

Overflow

Another fantastic musical experiment is 'Overflow', which takes the band into industrial rock territory, reminiscent of bands like Nine Inch Nails. It also has elements of the band’s album 'A Thousand Suns'.

Emily Armstrong gives one of her most substantial vocal contributions to the new lineup, and Mike Shinoda also sings his heart out on this one. The single-string guitar riff in the bridge adds a sense of urgency and menace that works wonders for the song.

Two-Faced

This song takes you back to 2000 when Linkin Park dropped 'Hybrid Theory' and changed the alt-rock world forever. Everything in this song is pure perfection, which is why Linkin Park is one of the greatest bands in music.

From guitarist Brad Delson’s insanely heavy guitar riff to Shinoda’s fiery rap to Armstrong’s screams, this is undoubtedly the best song on the album and makes one want more of the same. It is also the song that may remind longtime fans of Chester Bennington and what it may have been like had he been able to sing this one.

Stained

Another weak release from this album, 'Stained' sounds like a song you would most likely hear on an album by Avril Lavine. While not a bad song, 'Stained' feels out of place among the album’s other tracks.

Although it tries to follow the sound pallet of the band’s last studio album, 'One More Light', it deviates from it considerably, with Armstrong’s chorus melody sounding like something you would hear on a Disney movie soundtrack.

IGYEIH

Another heavy hitter, IGYEIH, sees the band explore more variations of their heavy nu-metal sound. The song seems to be a nice mixture of sounds from various band albums, ranging from 'Minutes to Midnight' to 'The Hunting Party'. Being another relatively solo vocal journey for Armstrong, she does well and carries the song with her powerful vocals.

In this case, the straining vocals work for the aggression that needs to be projected through the song. The outro guitar riff echoes the dark, brooding tones of Tool and Filter, adding a gritty edge to the track.

Good Things Go

'Good Things Go' ends the record with an emotional slow burner that seems an ode to the late vocalist Chester Bennington. The song carries forward the 'Minutes to Midnight' sound pallet, mixing atmospheric elements with an emotional chorus melody. Like all Linkin Park albums, this one also ends with one of the most lyrically charged songs in the collection.

Verdict

Linkin Park truly delivers one of the strongest comeback albums by any band in recent history. Even though there are teething issues, particularly from Emily Armstrong, Shinoda, and Co. take the lead and intend to prove to the fans that Linkin Park isn’t just back—they’re pushing their legacy forward with new, bold and exciting music.