Album review: Linkin Park – From Zero

The return of Linkin Park hasn’t been a simple one. After we all patiently waited for the 100-hour clock to strike zero, it started counting up again, much to the despair and confusion of fans around the world. Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley was forced to issue a statement that he wasn’t joining the band, despite rife speculation. When the news finally came out, it was quickly noted that original drummer Rob Bourdon has decided not to take part at all.

And of course there is the continued discourse surrounding the appointment of vocalist Emily Armstrong. No matter who stepped into Chester Bennington’s shoes, they were going to find themselves facing something of a backlash, and her addition to Linkin Park’s ranks certainly hasn’t been without controversy.

The fact that Linkin Park sold out all of their reunion dates pretty much instantly, however, proves that their star power hasn’t dimmed and that previous connection still binds tight. The energy and raw emotion at their show at The O2 struck like lightning, with OG fans having waited seven years to scream Crawling at the top of their lungs once more, standing shoulder to shoulder with fans who still feel those words on a molecular level.

But when all is said and done, what about new material? A celebratory brief jaunt across the globe firing out the hits is one thing, but can this 2024 version of Linkin Park reach the highs and capture some semblance of the magic that they spent almost 20 years perfecting?

Let’s get this out of the way now: From Zero is not the best Linkin Park album of all time. But it doesn’t have to be. It represents so much more – a resilience and resolve to carry on in the face of tragedy; a message that was carved deep into the aura of the band from day one. It’s also a return to somewhere they belong – standing on the cutting edge of alternative music. From Zero isn’t a nostalgia play trying to recreate those heady nu-metal days to try and win fans over, but rather the result of Mike Shinoda’s continued pursuit of challenging himself and what people expect from Linkin Park.

After the eponymous intro welcomes us to this new dawn, barnstorming lead single The Emptiness Machine revs into gear, sounding like a band truly reinvigorated and bursting with life. And it’s a masterstroke to have Mike starting proceedings, reminding us of what we’ve been missing all these years, before Emily comes crashing in with all the rage and rancour of a wild animal being let out of its cage. The roaring chorus with her scratching, impassioned delivery flies in like a punch to the gut, and the infectious ‘I only wanted to be part of something’ hook will no doubt be echoing around arenas for years to come. But it’s this collision of Mike’s flow with wide-eyed metallic fury that hits hardest, that cataclysmic sound we’ve been deprived of for the best part of a decade – which is no better exemplified than the monstrous Heavy Is The Crown.

It's important to note that Emily isn’t a replacement for Chester – nobody is going to replace the voice and soul of a band – but as a way of extending Linkin Park’s lifespan and bringing their magic to the masses, her vocal power and dexterity is sensational. This comes into sharp focus in the one-two of the soaring Over Each Other, in which Emily laments a doomed relationship, and the rampaging, fist-swinging Casualty, where she gnashes ‘I won’t be your casualty!’ against one of the hardest songs LP have put their name to. They take further steps beyond their comfort zone too with the dubbier, groovier Overflow, pushing against what people think they want from the nu-metal-turned-stadium-rock titans.

Despite exploring all these new sonic horizons, however, From Zero never forgets who Linkin Park are and what made them so special in the first place. The dual vocal interplay of Mike and a more guttural counterpart, embellishments both mechanical and mercurial from Mr Hahn, being a vehicle for venting and channelling all your pain and negativity, all wrapped up in pristine production.

Sure, not every song is something to write home about, and not everyone is going to be on board with a new singer, but as a piece of work, it’s a clear reminder of why Linkin Park reached the heights they did and continue to influence multiple generations of artists. Welcome back.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Bring Me The Horizon, Bad Omens, Spiritbox

READ THIS: The secret history of Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory: In their own words