In a move that could only be described as “Okay, didn’t see that coming, but also… didn’t we kinda?” Linkin Park, the iconic masters of angsty jams, have done the musical equivalent of flipping over the Monopoly board and starting a new game. And they did it in epic fashion by dropping a surprise single, “The Emptiness Machine,” on Thursday (September 5), along with enough announcements to make your head spin like Joe Hahn’s turntables.
That’s right, guys. Seven years after the world collectively sobbed in their cars following the tragic passing of Chester Bennington, the remaining members of the band—Mike Shinoda (a.k.a. the tech-savvy music wizard), Brad Delson (guitar guy with infinite patience), Phoenix (the mysterious bassist), and Joe Hahn (professional button-pusher and DJ ninja)—have reunited. But wait, there’s more! They’ve leveled up their lineup with not one, but TWO fresh faces: Emily Armstrong as co-vocalist (yes, another vocal powerhouse!) and Colin Brittain on drums (who probably hits the kit so hard it qualifies as a cardio workout).
In true rock star fashion, the band isn’t just dipping a toe back into the scene. Oh no. They cannonballed in with a new album From Zero, a world tour, and a mountain of anticipation that fans will probably need hiking boots to scale. The album? Dropping November 15. The tour? Starts September 11 in Los Angeles. The vibes? Off the charts.
For those of you furiously Googling “LP Underground pre-sale,” yes, your membership pays off, because you get first dibs on tickets on September 6, while the rest of the world joins the Hunger Games of concert sales on September 7. May the odds be ever in your favor.
Mike Shinoda, the band’s resident philosopher, released a statement that was part poetry, part TED Talk, where he dropped this knowledge bomb: “Before LINKIN PARK, we were called Xero.” (Imagine an alternate universe where everyone walks around in Xero t-shirts. Wild.) Anyway, the title From Zero is a nod to the band’s humble beginnings and their present-day power move. Mike assured fans that this album is like an emotional time machine, covering past, present, and future feels. But don’t expect them to crank out the same old tunes—this album is fresh, alive, and packed with enough energy to power a small city. Maybe even a large one.
And what about the newbies? Shinoda couldn’t stop gushing. “Emily and Colin? Yeah, they’re incredible. World-class talent. We basically hit the musical jackpot with them.” Translation: The band is feeling really good about their new sonic team, and they’ve whipped up music that’s a blend of vintage Linkin Park goodness with some futuristic spice. In short: it’s going to melt faces and possibly cause spontaneous head-banging in public places.
So, get ready, world. Linkin Park Version 2.0 is here. And honestly, we’re not sure if we’re emotionally prepared for this level of awesome. Buckle up.
