Yeah, I mistakenly quoted you. I hope to get the answer from someone. BTW, I can't believe Xero track like Two Faced will be a single. They have GTG and Stained for it.
I don't believe there will be a music video. Just a promotional single with visuals. Maybe Two Faced is really a no brainer single... Cut in the middle!
Lyrically I don't know how much input Colin had but Emily definitely co-wrote a bunch of songs in this album. It stands out immediately (in a good way) compare to their older work. Seems like Mike also took his songwriting in interesting directions working with Emily.
You're not wrong, Casualty to me feels like a mix of Hybrid Theory/HTEP and where they were going post-Meteora with stuff like Qwerty. It exists in the space between those two, but then Qwerty could definitely also fit on THP, so it basically feels like THP + Hybrid Theory EP. I think I specifically get HTEP vibes bc the scratches sound exactly like the ones on "And One", just pitched higher. I also love the gritty electronic flourishes here and there that give it this industrial feel in places, that little glitchy outro that segues into Overflow is so sick. That's the type of interesting production THP was missing imo, so I was a little worried with all the THP/War comparisons people were making but I was pleasantly surprised after actually listening to it.
The final chorus to CTB is a double entendre, if you want it to be. I’m torn about all the stupid things I could say about that.
I’m 31 years old and have been a fan of the band since 2004, so with this legendary return, I decided to share my humble opinion here as well! From Zero – A lot of people are saying that is Emily in the song, but it’s not. And From Zero > Foreword, sue me! The Emptiness Machine – The building rhythm and Emily coming in midway... simply perfect for a comeback! It kind of feels like it could fit on Minutes to Midnight, right? Either way, it’s already a classic and captures the band’s essence really well. Cut the Bridge – Another one that I think would fit on Minutes to Midnight. As some people have pointed out, it has a bit of "Bleed It Out" in it, but I also hear traces of their earlier albums. The chorus is super catchy, and this might end up in my top 3 from the album. Heavy is the Crown – Full Meteora vibes with a touch of Living Things—it’s like a Faint 2.0. The chorus also really reminds me of Mike’s song “Already Over”. And what about Emily screaming for 15 seconds? Amazing. Over Each Other – A super pop song that comes in next to slow things down after the previous tracks. It could fit on One More Light, especially considering Jon Green’s involvement in the production. When it first came out, I thought it was just “okay,” but after a few listens, I got completely hooked on the chorus. Casualty – Absolutely visceral! This would’ve been perfect for The Hunting Party. To me, it’s like a War or Victimized that actually worked. Mike’s super aggressive verses, which we’ve never heard before, were such a great surprise. Overflow – As many people have already pointed out, this is the most experimental track on the album, and because of that, it’s the most divisive. I’ll admit, it was the one I liked the least at first. It felt a bit out of place, but after a few more listens, I’ve come to appreciate it more, though I still think it’s a step down compared to the rest. Two Faced – Two Steps Closer, Figure 10... call it whatever you want, but this is a clear callback to Linkin Park’s classic nu-metal sound! Especially with that little Fuse snippet at the end of Overflow. And after the music video came out, the song just kept getting better! This track really represents the legacy of the sound that made the band famous. Stained – Here we have another pop track like Over Each Other, but with Mike in the mix. It’s got those “summer vibes,” and the production reminds me a lot of Post Traumatic. In fact, I hear a lot of Post Traumatic influences throughout the entire album, and not enough people are talking about that. IGYEIH – Mike and Emily back together again, but this time in a more pure and aggressive rock style that I think would fit on The Hunting Party. Beautiful verses, a great chorus, and another one that will definitely get the crowd going wild live! Good Things Go – Another pop song to close the album, and once again Mike and Emily are on point with their dynamic. It’s a great ending and also gave me Post Traumatic vibes. I think this could be the fifth single, along with Cut the Bridge. Overall, we’ve got a really solid album here, a great return with songs that are already instant classics. This is how I see it: Hybrid Theory and Meteora > Classic nu-metal Minutes to Midnight and The Hunting Party > Pure rock Living Things and A Thousand Suns > More electronic and experimental One More Light > Full pop From Zero > A mix of everything they’ve done so far. I’m already looking forward to possible bonus tracks and demos, and I’m super excited for the next album! I also think Colin and Emily have added so much, bringing a fresh energy to the band. Colin is super versatile and really connects with Mike in terms of production, and Emily... she was just born to be a rockstar. Mike got it right finding Chester over 20 years ago, and now he’s done it again. And to think that just two months ago, people were saying Linkin Park was “dead”… They’ve really risen from the ashes like a phoenix, bringing a new album, tour, music videos, and everything else. I can’t wait to see them here in Brazil on the 16th!
Boy does it feel good to be a LP fan right now! I’m new here and decided to join with the return of the band and have always come to the LPA for news, updates, and thoughts on all things LP. I’ve been a fan of the band since the days of Kazaa, Limewire, and Napster where I discovered them through Dragonball Z and Final Fantasy AMVs long before YouTube was ever a thought. Believe I discovered LPA around the time of Mintutes to Midnight which was the beginning of hate geared toward the band for the switch up in music style. It was also probably the time where I fell in love with the band the most because it was the beginning of the realization that maybe this band can become much more than nu metal. With every album since MTM they have showcased many styles for better or for worse but I’ve always admired them for always trying to switch things up. Now I don’t like every album they’ve done but I’ve always enjoyed at least something from all of them minus OML. Don’t want to get into it cause it’s all been said already before, but simply put that far into the pop realm just isn’t my thing. Anyway I just wanna say this new one makes me happy and with everything the band has been though it’s truly a marvel it even exists. I’m pleasantly surprised at how much I’m enjoying it and it makes me incredibly excited to see where the band goes from here!
Okay having heard the album at the Toronto listening party and now owning the Vinyl, I'll outright say this: Casualty is the least exciting song on the album for me. Like yes, its heavy and loud and the beats are interesting. But it kinda feels like 'War' to me. It feels like its loud for the sake of it, to me. But its definitely one of the heaviest songs LP has ever put out. I'll give it that. Outside of the 4 singles we have so far, 'IGYEIH' and 'Good Things Go' are unironically the highlights of the remaining songs in the album. 'Overflow' & 'Cut The Bridge' are also VERY interesting songs. 'Stained' I need more time with. Its very interesting see Mike do different flows in the album. He brought his PT energy here and I'm all for it. Emily and Mike's vocals compliment each other really well, we knew this already but it stays true for the rest of the album as well. And yes, I dont know how Emily does it but somehow there are moments where she channels Chester perfectly. Like its not an intentional thing, she's just being herself with her vocals. But I think its primarily Mike's production and how he uses her voice. Very interesting album. This album has VERY poppy moments but doesn't fall into the one dimensional trap that OML fell into. The songs are actually very interesting and almost very different from each other. This album is definitely a mix of all eras of LP. 8/10 for me. I feel like it could've used 2 more songs.
First impression: From Zero is a strong comeback album, and one that hits home on many levels. There is a nostalgic 2000s rock aesthetic to the record, with atmospheres and sounds that remind me of walking around 15 years ago, with an MP3 player, blasting Hybrid Theory, Deftones, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, or Massive Attack in my ears. One thing that immediately comes to mind when listening to the songs is how much fun the band must have had writing it. At many points, Mike sounds so youthful, over-energized, and over-excited —Cut The Bridge is a great example of that. There are moments here where the band goes so over-the-top in channeling their Xero/HT roots—looking at you, Two Faced—that it becomes hilarious, in a good way. You can be sure the band knew exactly what kind of song they were writing with this one, and they just went in 150%, almost as if it was for the meme. And honestly, they aced the essence of their early sound so much on that one that it becomes a sweet tribute to their very beginnings, and one of my personal favorites off the record. Another element to the album is how incredibly well the interplay between Mike and Emily works. I think every track, besides OEO, has them sharing vocal duties, exploring different singing styles, and switching back and forth. There’s no moment where you think, "Okay, now is the aggressive Emily song," or "Okay, now is the soft Mike song." Everything is fluid and constantly evolving between loud and quiet, Mike and Emily, singing, yelling, screaming, rapping, whispering. This is perhaps the most fundamental feature of the band that made records like HT and ATS so special, and they exploit it so well on From Zero. Also, Mike trying an aggressive vocal approach on Casualty was absolutely badass, simply for diving in and giving it a shot. If I had to pick standout tracks, they’d be Overflow and Good Things Go. Overflow is just neat; it’s a type of soundscape I totally love, and I think the band pulls it off flawlessly. And Good Things Go is an instant emotional trigger. What a beautiful tune, with great composition, a gorgeous performance from Emily, and a bridge containing one of the most intense deliveries Mike has ever given us. Overall, the album is likely to be a no-filler/no-skip for me, something that hasn't happened since ATS. I think HITC is possibly the weakest track, and I like it a lot too. There is so much more to say, but I think it is long enough already Welcome back, LP!
I've been ill all week with a cold that's going round from work but I've found out my Amazon Alternative Artwork CD is arriving today along with the Zoetrope Vinyl, with the Mike Shinoda designed alternate artwork cassette expected to arrive tomorrow and my other bundle hasn't been dispatched yet. However, with the CD and vinyl arriving today, this has made me feel a whole lot better and I can't wait to blast this later on after I finish work. I've been very intrigued by some of the feedback on here and descriptions of certain songs and this has piqued my interest even more. I've held off listening to the other tracks besides The Emptiness Machine, which I loved. Usually I tend to listen to 2-3 tracks before an album is released but due to how short the album is, I wanted to hold off and I'm pleased I have as I know I'll find a few surprises on this album. I'll try and give my initial thoughts at some point over the weekend if I get chance but really looking forward to finish work today and listening to this highly anticipated return album. It's so awesome being a Linkin Park fan right now. Happy From Zero release day everybody!
Release day thread here if you want to cross-post your thoughts or give updated thoughts now the album is officially out: https://www.lpassociation.com/forum/threads/from-zero-out-now-release-day-thread.47068/