The second of three new songs available on Linkin Park's upcoming deluxe release of From Zero, "Unshatter" has now been released on digital platforms around the world, following the announcement earlier this week. The band has released an official visualiser for the track - a fairly minimalistic work with a monochromatic neon look, showing a series of vector patterns in motion. Along with the other bonus tracks, "Unshatter" was briefly described by Linkin Park in a short blurb introducing the From Zero deluxe edition: As a non-album cut, much like "Up From the Bottom", "Unshatter" fits neatly with the songs that actually made the final From Zero tracklist, particularly the more straightforward rock numbers that make up the bulk of the album. The song is built around a meaty guitar riff and some Motown-style drums that will instantly remind Linkin Park fans of "Bleed It Out" and "Cut the Bridge", setting the stage for vocalists Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong to rap and sing lyrics about being lied to and betrayed. First-time listeners might be surprised to realise that "Unshatter" is not a random working title but actually a linchpin in the song's chorus lyrics, representing a yearning for the past: After two choruses, the song breaks down for some tense whispering, building up to the bridge with the promised "huge vocal" - during what is easily the heaviest section of the song, Armstrong cuts loose and delivers one of the angriest performances to have come out of the From Zero recording cycle. The deluxe edition of From Zero drops next month on May 15, and will feature "Up From the Bottom", "Unshatter", and a third song, "Let You Fade", which is as-yet unreleased. For now, you can check out "Unshatter" on platforms such as YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music. Full lyrics: Source: Linkin Park on Twitter
Unshatter caught me off guard with how un-Linkin Park the vibe is. It's already growing on me though. This is by far the song where Emily sounds the most like in her former band, both melody and tone wise. Pretty alt-rock / grungy. Intense bridge. Side note, I like how Emily doubles some of Mike raps in the verses. They do that a lot live on songs like BIO, and it's maybe the closest we got to have a studio version of that kind of thing.
I don't know - after From Zero, "Unshatter" sounds squarely Linkin Park to me. And this came before most of the album was conceived, I get that - I actually described it as "Cut the Bridge" but better in every respect. The only thing in it that did surprise was the bridge, which really goes up a notch in relation to the rest of the song I do want to see Emily meshing a little more with the hip-hop side of the band's music, and this is indeed a step in that direction.
It feels very Hunting Party for me, like All for Nothing, as I said in the shoutbox. I'm getting aaaa looottttt into it just because I love rock, and LP. And this is all we can strive for.
I'm going to hold off listening to Unshatter and Let You Fade until the deluxe album comes out in 3 weeks time. I want to listen to these for the first time on my CD stereo system at full volume. However, going by the comments, this song sounds interesting, especially with the mixed comments of it sounds un-Linkin Park or it does but relates to Cut The Bridge, Bleed It Out and that it has the vibe of The Hunting Party with its raw sound and Emily's aggressive vocals. I'll reserve judgment for when I listen to it though but I can't wait! Hope you all like it.
I agree that in the formula, the song is very Linkin Park. There is a very subjective aspect to it, I can't really put a finger on it, other than, if I'd hear that chorus out of context, I would think Dead Sara, not Linkin Park. Whereas in something like Cut The Bridge, the long sustained sing/scream notes, the piano, the riff production, all of it made me think "Yup, this is LP". Even on something more experimental like Overflow, the electronic elements make it feel somewhat familiar. That said, it's true that, taking into account From Zero only, it's still very anchored in the same universe. But like, a different planet in that universe. If that makes any sense at all
Great song! Emily's raw vocal grit really hits hard, and I love the more straight-forward rock sound they're going for here.
It's fine, nothing in the song really stand out, apart from Emily's raw like vocals I guess. I definitely prefer Up from the Bottom a lot more.
This was the best first impression I've had in the new era. I absolutely LOVE it. I fell off Up From the Bottom pretty quick but I can't get enough of this one. It sounds like nothing the band has done before, but so From Zero in the best ways. It's urgent. It's aggressive. It's an undeniable ear worm. The riffs lead the track rather than just flourishing the hip-hop foundation. Pure rock DNA. What I'd give to see the lightbulb moment in the band's reaction when Emily nailed the bridge in the studio.
You were a Thrice fan, right? Am I insane to hear a bit of that chaotic dissonant Thrice (circa 2016 or after) goodness in the bridge?
I didn't want to bring it up but YES - the guitar tones and riffs feel like something out of post-hiatus Thrice. Heavy and moody but not full-on metal.
^ Ahah great, good to know I'm not imagining things (and sorry for making you bring it up) Yeah the more I listen to the track, the more I dig it. A full-on rock jam indeed!
Unshatter is a bit of a contrast to Up from the Bottom, where I thought that one was one of their strongest comeback efforts, this one is probably the weakest. It feels like they’re trying to do a pop punk thing, but they’re not doing it all that well or intetesting. it has a cool bridge, but this probably should’ve stayed unreleased. I can’t ever see myself really coming back to this song much.
I like it, front to back. Definitely demo material but great, still. I can see where the rubber began to meet the road here. It feels more like a collaboration than a revival and speaks the truth of their genuine hesitations, the evolution of their intentions, and how it was all organic and the opposite of forced.
Yeah i like the song but thats kinda it Best part is definitely the chorus and the guitar riff. The rest is ok. If some of the bonus tracks end up played live i hope its gonna be Up From The Bottom though.
Yup, this song is a banger alright. In my opinion it's the least "Linkin Park" song from the From Zero era we're in because of Emily's vocals and the tone of the guitar in the riff (which is awesome), but it still feels like Linkin Park. Gonna be on repeat all weekend long.
Unshatter does not remind me at all of any previous Linkin Park song and that's not a bad thing for me. Last night I was getting vibes from some songs 20-30 years ago. I couldn't quite figure out what that was until this morning. Guitar riffs remind me somewhat of Nirvana. Mike's vocal delivery with Emily's backing vocal during his verses really reminded me of Weird Al doing raps on his song The Bedrock Anthem (which parodies two RHCP songs). Emily's chorus makes me think of Dead Sara more-so than anything from From Zero. Am I crazy?
All in all, I like the track a lot. It sounds LP for me. But it’s true that you can feel this is some tentative place.
It's a solid song, but not one I'll probably return to often. It has a definite demo quality to it, in my opinion. But it's fun and feels like the band doing something a little different. I've been so-so on both of these bonus tracks so far. Curious to see how the last one is.
I love the song, they're getting very good at including a lot of musical variety into 3 minute/shorter tracks. I love the chorus, both lyrics and melody. Bridge goes hard, and Emily is so expressive in the vocal booth (not just this song). Riffs give me a little bit of the album Villains by QOTSA. Fingers crossed they play this next weekend.