Linkin Park is Back with a New Album and Unexpected Vocalist

Emily Armstrong steps in as the band’s new voice; world tour kicks off this September.

By Atticus Novak

Sep 5, 2024

Linkin Park shocks fans with From Zero, their first album in seven years, featuring new vocalist Emily Armstrong—Image: James Minchin III

Linkin Park announces new album From Zero, set to release on November 15, marking their first in seven years.
Emily Armstrong, co-founder of Dead Sara, joins as the new vocalist, bringing a gritty yet powerful voice to the band.
World tour kicks off September 11 in Los Angeles, with six dates spanning the US, Europe, Asia, and South America.

The Gist

Leave it to Linkin Park to make their return a three-ring circus. A flashy new album, a shiny logo, and a brand-new vocalist, Emily Armstrong, were all unveiled during a livestream that pulled over 100,000 viewers on YouTube and an extra 26,000 on Instagram. A spectacle, sure—but let’s get to the guts of it.

Emily Armstrong, co-founder of Dead Sara, is stepping into the colossal void left by Chester Bennington. Big shoes? Try Mount Everest-sized boots. Bennington’s 2017 death left the band largely in hibernation, with the occasional greatest hits cash grab keeping their name afloat. Cue the rumor mill: some said the replacement would be Deryck Whibley, others whispered about Amy Lee, and one overzealous fan even suggested Orgy’s frontman. Turns out, that last one wasn’t far off—it really is a female vocalist.

— More LINKIN PARK News:

+4 Photos

Linkin Park introduces Emily Armstrong, a revamped logo, and their first album in seven years, From Zero, along with a global tour.

And here’s the shocker: she’s good.

During the livestream, Armstrong launched into “The Emptiness Machine”, the band’s first new track in seven years. By the time they hit the classics—“Somewhere I Belong” and “Crawling”—it was clear she wasn’t just holding her own; she was owning the stage. Her voice hits all the gritty highs and soulful lows you’d hope for, nodding to Bennington without mimicking him. She’s got power, presence, and a touch of rawness that’s hard to fake. If you were worried about a karaoke act, don’t be.

But wait, there’s more.

Colin Brittain has taken over on drums, and the band showed off a new logo that looks like it was cooked up in some graphic designer’s 3 a.m. fever dream. The real headline, though, is the new album, From Zero, slated for release on November 15.

Mike Shinoda, ever the sentimentalist, explained the album’s title with a nod to the band’s early days:

“Before Linkin Park, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future—embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what Linkin Park has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead.”

Feel free to roll your eyes at the corporate-therapy tone of that statement. Still, the fans seem to be eating it up.

To top it off, they announced a world tour, hitting six cities starting on September 11 in Los Angeles and wrapping up on November 11 in Bogotá.

FROM ZERO WORLD TOUR 2024