Wow. I never thought we would be here again. A new Linkin Park album. Earlier this year we were introduced to the all new version of the band. Like many of you, I grew up on the original albums, Hybrid Theory, Meteora and Minutes To Midnight. I remember loving their music but I dropped off of them ultimately as I was introduced to more and more music that deviated me from that sound. So it’s been a good 10 years since I really listened to a full Linkin Park record and then with the tragic loss of lead singer, Chester Bennington, I thought that would be it. They were a legacy act and one that would remain as a shining beacon of nostalgia. So yeah, when Mike Shinoda announced that not only would the band be returning with a new line up, there would also be new music coming with it. I was apprehensive but excited all at the same time. The new lineup performing on the record consists of returning members: Shinoda, Dave Farrell, Brad Delson and Joe Hahn. However, this record would have new members performing on it notably Colin Brittain on drums and coming in as the new lead vocalist is Emily Armstrong. So a new dynamic was pretty much inevitable, though I would say it’s still arguably very much Linkin Park.
From Zero opens incredibly strong with a brief intro that leads into the debut single “The Emptiness Machine” a strong tune with a catchy chorus, and was a great way to slowly introduce Armstrong’s vocals to the mix. From there the album certainly has its ups and downs. The album has Shinoda’s signature fingerprints all over it. A healthy mix of authentic instumentation and electronic production, all blended together to create an open soundscape that breathes with life. So when the intense moments come in songs like “Casualty” and “Two Faced” you get this early 2000s nu-metal in-your-face attitude that heightens the ferocity of the vocals and you get that real roar of the guitars. Then when Shinoda wants to pull back, the electronic musical elements have more of a passive vibe where the performances can be a little more laid back like on “Overflow”. I think they’ve done a great job in recreating that mid-2000s nu-metal sound. Though, that could be to its detriment slightly. I think that’s something that frustrates me, it all feels quite derivative. There’s no real evolution of the sound; it's an album that feels a little lost in time. The genre has moved forward quite a lot and this album still feels stuck in the past.
I think the big question is…. How does Emily Armstrong live up to the legacy of Chester Bennington? Well, that’s a complicated question for me to answer. I love Emily’s vocal work. I’ve been a big fan of her other band Dead Sara for a long time so I’m very used to hearing her with that sound. So hearing her on a Linkin Park album feels super surreal. I will say this, I don’t think she’s trying to be Bennington. She’s not playing copycat, she’s definitely adding her own flair to the sound. She’s able to bring this real sweetness to her clean vocals if you listen to “Good Things Go”, the way she’s able to navigate between clean and rough vocals, all while bouncing off of Shinoda, I think she adds a real charm to the sound. Then when she’s just allowed to let go and go full screaming like on “IGYEIH”, “Heavy is the Crown” or “Casualty”, she really goes for broke and her voice hits the rafters. I think she’s a great fit for the band, she’s able to bring that gritty rough vocals and also able to project emotion. There’s alot of power in her voice that’s perfect for this style of music.
I think this album is going to split a lot of opinions, more so than they already have. There’s been a lot of conversations and controversies, ones I’m not going to touch in this review. Judging the music and the music alone, I think it’s solid. Sure it’s a little derivative of typical nu-metal. There’s nothing new being added, no boundaries being pushed, nothing is being challenged. However, I will say, as soon as the album was over I went to replay it almost immediately. It’s a very comfortable album. Maybe it’s the nostalgia for this type of music talking but I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t think I knew what to expect but it’s an album that I’ve been impressed by. I think Armstrong and Shinoda work well off of one another and the rest of the band brings their A-game to it too. I think there are going to be some people who will never be able to accept Linkin Park without Chester, that’s for sure, and I completely understand that. However, as a person who was relatively divorced from the band after the third album, I think it’s won me over. The songs are solid with catchy hooks and memorable lyrics, the dynamic seems to work and the overall production is top-notch (well I wouldn’t expect anything less from Shinoda). If you’re even vaguely interested, this might be one to check out.
Did you like this album review? Consider supporting on Buy Me A Coffee
Comments
Post a Comment