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One of the greatest musical forces of our generation return with a sleu of mixed messages in eighth, From Zero.

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As new vocalist Emily Armstrong’s scientology controversies surge the Internet with many taking the view that it’s damaging Chester’s legacy, Linkin Park’s risky return didn’t get off the best of starts. But following the release of From Zero last week – has it paid off?

Much like a television in the corner of a room or a toilet in a bathroom, 2000’s Diamond-certified Hybrid Theory became a staple on many rockers’ shelves. The work of Linkin Park has forever provided a hard-stamped inprint into music and culture.

When colossal vocalist Chester Bennington passed away in 2017 however, a void was left in the centre of the bands’ nuceli. With Chester’s last breath earmarked on mightily beautiful One More Light, the band were in battle within themselves to stop or continue. With many solo projects and hiatuses after, the band announce their return in early September with a new vocalist on the throne. All controversies aside, new vocalist member Emily Armstrong is a true force to be reckoned with. Encapsulating both the cut-throat screams and the soft side of vocal (careless) whispers, Armstrong is certainly a worthy vocalist to take on the Chester mantle. But is it a worthy bargaining chip to continue the Linkin Park legacy?

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At first glance, the album is heavy metal cult-hood classic that – if came out ten or twenty years ago – it would’ve certainly turned a few heads. Hard hitters The Emptiness Machine and Heavy is the Crown are a brilliant bludgeoning while Over Each Other is a nostalgic machine lifted straight from ’90s pop rock, which you can’t really miss with. The rest of the album hits the nu metal bombastic bombshells of screeching vocals and hard guitar riffs, besetting for any first-shooter campaign. While the talks of Emily permeates, the album is rifling out a metal stomper. It’s not a drop off by any stretch – with Shinoda seemingly having a load of gems tucked away over these years. It’s a straightforward formula – but seems to make the reunion all the sweeter. Whether or not the contentions will dry out is another story, but if we’re looking solely at the music side of things – it’s easy to say that Chester’s legacy remains safe and sound.

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