Linkin Park has introduced a new lineup and is releasing their first new music since the passing of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017. The band launched a livestream event on Thursday featuring new vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who will join returning members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, and Joe Hahn.
Emily Armstrong and Mike Shinoda will alternate vocal responsibilities, and they kicked off the event with their latest single, “The Emptiness Machine.” Armstrong’s vocal performance maintains the band’s legacy, echoing Bennington’s style without trying to imitate him, as evidenced in the subsequent song “Somewhere I Belong.”
“This is a very special day for us,” Shinoda expressed during the introductions, noting Alex Feder as a temporary guitarist filling in for Delson. “You all are stepping into the role of Chester Bennington this afternoon,” he told the audience.
The band also announced the upcoming album titled “From Zero,” which is set to be released on November 15. Linkin Park, known for their commercial success in the 2000s largely due to Bennington’s influence, experienced a significant loss with his death at 41 following their last album, “One More Light.” Since then, they have released several re-releases, including 20th anniversary editions of “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora,” and a compilation of greatest hits named “Papercuts.”
Shinoda mentioned that the album’s title reflects both their beginnings as the band Xero and the new path they are charting. Armstrong comes from the alt-rock band Dead Sara, while Brittain has collaborated with artists like Papa Roach and All Time Low. He replaces original drummer Rob Bourdon, who has chosen to step away from the band.
Shinoda expressed enthusiasm for the new members, stating, “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, weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’re known for while still exploring new ones.”
Additionally, the band announced their “From Zero World Tour,” which will feature performances in five cities: Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, and Seoul this month, with a sixth show in Bogotá, Colombia, scheduled for November.
The tracklist for “From Zero” includes:
1. From Zero (Intro)
2. The Emptiness Machine
3. Cut The Bridge
4. Heavy Is The Crown
5. Over Each Other
6. Casualty
7. Overflow
8. Two Faced
9. Stained
10. IGYEIH
11. Good Things Go