Linkin Park return with new singer Emily Armstrong, new album From Zero out Nov 15, new tour dates

Hope you watched the 4K version, it's out on YouTube now and the camera angles are so much better! Got so pumped when the video showed Emily coming in.

 

Composition-wise, Mike singing the first verse and chorus of the song is a super clever move. The impact /surprise when Emily comes in is great.

 

I think Badflower could do it better than Linkin Park if their new album is as good as their first and as good as the lead single “Teacher has a Gun” and Linkin Park still may not top Amy Shark and Taylor Swift for me but I think there’s a good chance it could be AOTY.

it’ll be one of those 4 albums, Boston manor, or a surprise sleeper for sure. Provided Badflower and Linkin Park live up to the greatness of the first single anyway.

I guess Fever 333 is a sleeper pick too if they live up to how good their first album was.

Or if State Champs manage to release an album as good as The Finer Things again they would get my AITY. So many variables.

But just a guess that it will come down to LP vs Badflower vs Amy Shark vs Boston Manor (it’s out but I still haven’t heard it yet) vs Taylor Swift.

Amy Shark’s album is flawless in my opinion meanwhile Taylor Swift managed to release a 31 song album with only one bad song in my opinion. But the LP album is so short if every song is as good as TEM it’s you my to be hard to top.

 

When Mike points at her, she delivers. He knew what was happening.

 

Didn't Mike say in the Zane Lowe interview that the song was already pretty much done when he asked Emily to have a go at singing it? (Edit: I see now that this has already been pointed out above.)

The lyrics are pretty typical of Linkin Park. "Gave up who I am for who you wanted me to be." ~ "I'm tired of being who you want me to be."

Obviously you can interpret the song however you want, but I think this could just be a song denouncing the expectations that the music industry and/or critics (even fans) have of the artist. "Once you've got a theory of how the thing works, everybody wants the next thing to be just like the first."

"Your blades are sharpened with precision." The blades of critics.

"I let you cut me open just to watch me bleed." I'm being vulnerable in my songs, pouring my heart out, only to have you ruthlessly criticise them.

"I only wanted to be part of something." Part of a band.

"The emptiness machine" refers to the vacuousness of the capitalist music industry.

Of course, other interpretations are also possible. It could also be seen as referring to some kind of interpersonal relationship, but then it'd be harder to explain the choice of words: "part of something," "machine."

 

People who go in with their expectations set for disappointment will criticize no matter what. Emily could give the greatest performance in the world but they'd say "Chester was the heart of the band he was better". They glorify Chester unhealthily.

I've had people tell me Emily sounds horrible full stop and that she should leave the band. And also that "female voices are meant for soft gentle parts". There's no arguing with these people. They have very strong biases.

 

So after digesting the onslaught of news that came with the presentation/performance I am really happy with Emily as the new singer. I think TEM is a great choice as a lead single from the album and really showcases her ability to fit in to the sound of the band effortlessly.
Then the tour announcement, and especially hamburg, which makes me very happy. Gonna get my tickets ASAP for that. Plus the fact that we already have the album date with a track list kinda blows my mind. I honestly thought that a new record might show up next year, but I don't mind the November release

It's good to be back with a bang. Stoked for the future with the band.

 

I honestly think the song is about changing yourself to satisfy a relationship/marriage to the other person.

 

Agreed. It’s a poetically removed anti-establishment song, classically LP in that it’s vague and catch-all. That much is 10/10 for me, it might be the best of its type in my opinion.

Personally, I think “blade” as in tools of extraction, their point of view is cold efficiency. And already pulling me in is that implied demand for any cog to put on their best face Even when they don’t always agree with the goals and effects of the organization.

Makes me think of that parakeet with his head in a parakeet mug. “I am not free.”

 

Agree but Mike’s whisper spoke-word adlibbing “lies, soldier, king, ring, promises” under Emily’s parts was a tad annoying imo.

 

Real Shinoda enthusiasts always hear Mike’s love for militaristic imagery in everything he does

 

Yep, second chorus sounds BIG.

 

Me, knowing I probably wont get any tickets.

 

Me mad that they haven't played in Ireland since fucking 2008

 

Yep... I wonder if they'll come again at last in 2025.

I've got my fingers crossed that I can get a London ticket on Thursday. Kicking myself a little bit because it never occurred to me to get an LPU membership when the rumours started going around a few months ago (there was never a point in getting it before partly because they hadn't played in Ireland since before I became a fan around 2009/10 ). Hopefully the second LPU presale will be good enough!

 

Must be, right? I thought I read somewhere that the shows in the US sold out within minutes but I think that's about the regular ticket sales.

I just got a day off from work for the day after the Hamburg show so it looks like I'm travelling 6 hours to get to that show in a few weeks!

 

Ah man. I was never able to come back here since Chester died. Tried multiple times, but it was just too painful.
I'm so glad we are all back, that the band is back.
I had mixed feelings during the live show, I loved Emily but it was so weird not seeing Chester there. She did an amazing job though, some issues during the performance but who wouldn't be nervous in her place? It went better as the show progressed, I feel.
I have TEM on loop for two days now, I wasn't expecting to be so pulled in by their new song, a very pleasant surprise. I'm really hyped for the album.

We all suffered a lot 7 years ago, many of us suffered a lot for many years since then. I hope all of you are ok, that you managed to heal, and that we celebrate and stick together for this new version of the band. If you decide it's not for you, that's alright, just try to avoid being disrespectful towards the band, they don't deserve it.

edit: shit I need to update my sig!

 

Do we know what time Linkin Park goes on stage on the 11th? Going to scour Instagram and twitch for livestreams. Maybe someone will pull through like how every Taylor Swift show has someone streaming the whole show.

Unless they surprise us with a live stream of it themselves. That would be hype!