Linkin Park comprises of Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn, alongside new members Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain. Picture: Supplied.
Linkin Park have emerged from their music hiatus to release new music for the first time in seven years.
The rock band’s break followed lead vocalist Chester Bennington's suicide in 2017.
The group now comprises of Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn, alongside new members Emily Armstrong, who joined the group as a co-vocalist and drummer from the critically acclaimed band Dead Sara, as well as fellow drummer Colin Brittain, who previously worked with for G Flip, Illenium and One OK Rock.
They dropped “The Emptiness Machine” as well as the track’s music video on Friday, September 6.
Along with the releases, the group are also set to launch six upcoming arena shows in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul and Bogota as part of their “From Zero World Tour”.
These updates are a prelude to the arrival of Linkin Park’s first album since 2017, which will be titled “From Zero” and be released on November 15.
Meanwhile, a statement explained how Shinoda, Delson, Farrell and Hahn quietly began meeting up again in recent years.
It explained that rather than “trying to restart the band”, their instinct was to simply spend more time together and reconnect with the creativity and camaraderie that has been at the core of their friendship since college.
“During this time, they invited various friends and cohorts to join them in the studio. Among the guests, they found a special kinship with Armstong and Brittain.
“A natural chemistry drew these musicians back into its gravitational pull as they logged more and more hours in the studio,” the statement added.
“It was the sound of lifelong musicians rediscovering the uncontainable energy of a new beginning once again and over this season, ‘From Zero’ was born.”
About the new era, Shinoda said: “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.”
He added that “sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present and future as we embrace 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.”
Meanwhile, for their new track, the musicians channelled the DNA of their group as they harnessed the band’s explosive energy and retained the hallmarks of their instantly identifiable and inimitable sound.
“A chameleonic and catchy anthem, Shinoda’s hypnotic melodies hand off to Armstrong’s blistering chorus, over distorted riffs and head-nodding drums.”
Shinoda explained: “The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company and the things we created.
“We feel really empowered with this new line-up and the vibrant and energised new music we’ve made together.
“We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”
On their new album, he said: “Ultimately, with ‘From Zero’, the band is looking to harness the purest energy of their past, present and future. The new era has officially begun.”
∎ “The Emptiness Machine” is available on all digital platforms.
Watch the music video here:
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