Review Summary: “The hardest part of ending is starting again.”
“The hardest part of ending is starting again.”
Who knew that this one line in Linkin Park’s song “Waiting for the End” would become so eerily prophetic of the band’s career? Nobody saw the rebirth of Linkin Park coming because after all, who could step into the footsteps of an iconic frontman such as Chester Bennington after his unexpected passing on July 20th, 2017?
The answer to such a question wouldn’t be answered for an agonizingly long seven years and it would come in the form of their first single from their latest album “From Zero”, “The Emptiness Machine”. The song is the perfect vehicle to introduce the dynamic between Mike Shinoda and new vocalist Emily Armstrong as the song harkens back to a familiar sound established on “Minutes to Midnight” mixed in with some elements of "Living Things" and “The Hunting Party”. It’s emotional, it’s hard hitting, and it’s anthemic, the perfect way to announce a comeback and show that despite all that time passing, the band hasn’t lost an ounce of their star power and stride.
After “The Emptiness Machine”, we got three more singles. The first being “Heavy is the Crown” which is a throwback to the Meteora days of the band (and sounds like a spiritual successor to “Faint”), next was “Over Each Other” which sounds like something the band would have written during their “One More Light” phase with a particular emphasis on the strong and emotional vocal performance from Emily Armstrong, and finally “Two Faced” which straight up sounds like something the band dusted off the shelf from their “Hybrid Theory” days which I’m sure will please many of the older fans of the band.
While these singles managed to deliver and stand on their own legs for the most part (the weakest of the bunch being “Over Each Other”), how was the rest of the album going to hold up? I’m pleased to tell you that every era of the band’s previous works is represented here while still being a peek behind the curtain as to what the future could hold.
The pristine production, the dual vocals of Mike and Emily, and the massive sonic soundscape provided by Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, Brad Delson, and Colin Brittain make this an album that embellishes in being a love letter to the fans and a showcase of a band that despite all their struggles and tribulations with grief, have never forgotten who they are.
Not every song sticks the landing and not everyone will be on board with Emily Armstrong stepping into the place of Chester Bennington, but that’s perfectly fine.
This is a new chapter in one of the most successful Rock acts in the past twenty-five years and ultimately this is a celebration and a testament to their hard work and perseverance. Only time will tell how well this will rank amongst Linkin Park’s very divisive yet influential catalogue, but at this moment in time, it is a thrilling and nostalgic piece of work that I implore everyone to give a chance.
Welcome back.
