On 20th July 2017, Chester Bennington from Linkin Park passed in a tragic, heart-wrenching series of events. Like me, many had never even met the charismatic, talented singer of the mammoth band. Yet, I wept for more than a second, like a voice within me had also gone. Linkin Park was over in my eyes, no frontman-no band. I am one of the millions of LP fans that felt like their music understood my social and mental stature. When the band announced their return around 6th of September 2024, I was sceptical, like many whose entire faith rested on the legacy of the band. Where would they start from? From Zero.
Of course, there was a fair share of controversy. Any singer who would be “replacing” Chester would face their share of backlash. It didn’t help that Emily Armstrong, the new singer, had ties to the Church of Scientology. Critics ate into it, blaming Mike Shinoda for tarnishing the bands’ legacy, and having a “money hungry” approach to reviving this band. Mike Shinoda started Xero, the first rendition of Linkin Park, when he was 21 years old. He has known this chemistry all his life, of course he was going to do something to keep the message alive.
The Message
If you have listened to the band on CDs and MTV like I have, you know the one strong message that they have always propagated. Resilience. Through hard times, through conflicts of the mind. Through social disdain. It is what keeps us going, the will to keep going on. If the band would have self-dissolved after the death of the lead singer, would the legacy be graffiti art? Or something more, that truly believes in the message that they have made almost all their music with?
So when the band had their first show in the Kia Forum in LA on the 9th of September 2024, Mike said something quite poignant. After introducing the new lead singer, he said, “…and in the role of Chester Bennington this afternoon, is all of you.” It encapsulated the respect he had for his brother, what the band meant and the journey they were out for from the beginning.
The first single was a kicker. It had all of Mike Shinoda’s classic chord changes, hooks and chorus that brings the house together. Every time. The man has a certain way of writing, and being the composing powerhouse, he hasn’t been dormant. When you hear Emily Armstrong’s voice the first time, you are left impressed. From the range to the power, you can feel it all. However, does she have that guttural scream that released angst from your head when you heard Chester?
Well, maybe not exactly the same, but you cannot compare the essence of a scream. In Heavy is the Crown and Two Faced, you can hear Emily going berserk to prove her own worth in her own way. She has amazing vocal chops as well, as heard in Over Each Other. So of course, she wasn’t just going to cover 20 plus years of Linkin Park. If this is the new era, then might as well be in her own style. There are songs like Cut the Bridge that are upbeat, great starting numbers-something like Bleed It Out in essence. Emily’s vocals in Casualty will remind you of the raw rage with which Chester used to open the songs.
If you’re looking for expression, this is encapsulated frustration done the Linkin Park way. The band was in limbo for 7 years, so most of the songs are fast-paced, rock smashes. Don’t do the mistake of comparing this album with their first 3–4 albums. Those are not only career-defining, but genre defining as well. Heavy is that crown, so don’t make them wear it again. The king wears it now, long live the king.
Yet, there is a heavy reason for redemption here which inspires. If you’re going through an especially difficult time in your life, listening to Linkin Park is a cathartic session. Not only the music, but what they have done for their expression in music, and how they inspire generations of musicians. To come forth, heal together from trauma and allow love from people to have that washing, healing effect on you.
Make no mistake, this isn’t the old Linkin Park we knew. Perhaps in this time, any version of Linkin Park is a gift to me, personally. Listening to Mike’s voice makes me by default wait for Chester. The initial shock is something that you might never get over. It doesn’t get any better, it just is. With the same passion and respect for legacy, the band heals, rages and expresses through a very good album. How do you return to something that meant everything to you, without someone? From zero.
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