The return of Linkin Park has been a long, winding path. The seven years since Chester Bennington's passing have swirled with speculation over what the long term future for the California nu-metal icons would look like.
The picture suddenly became clear in September as a 100-day countdown ended (after mysteriously counting back up for another week), revealing a five-hour livestreamed event confirming the bands return, new vocalist, new drummer and new album: From Zero, the band's eighth overall.
With the introduction of Emily Armstrong as a new vocalist, an air of contention has followed since the reveal. Anyone stepping into the space left behind by Bennington was going to face a mountain of scrutiny and decent amount of fan backlash, but with Armstrong some controversy has also followed relating to parts of her personal life.
However, the response to their return and lead single "The Emptiness Machine", a juggernaught of listenable, yet powerful rock, coupled with tour dates selling out world wide, has been a marked success. And Armstrong proves herself more than adept to handle the variety, as throat searing screams abound on "Two Faced", meanwhile she demonstrates her power on the dramatic pop ballad "Over Each Other".
With the album overall, there is an energy and intention that signals this is no half-baked comeback. Mike Shinoda and crew mark this new era by iterating on elements of what came before, but succeed in forging something new and avoiding it coming off as a pale imitation.
Instead, From Zero steps forward with intent. Though there is much that feels familiar, or can be traced to something in the band's back catalogue, such as "Heavy Is the Crown" which echoes the band's classic track, "Faint". Or, "Overflow", which takes on the electronic rock sheen of 2012's Living Things.
In all, From Zero – a nod to the band's original name, and recognition this new chapter is also starting over – does so much in its only 30-minute run time. Its defining quality is how well the band have balanced this reintroduction and also continued on their trajectory. Graceful and well earned, From Zero captivates with newness but is true to the band's heritage.
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