Linkin Park is dealing with a New Divide.
The California-based rock band revealed that it has reunited for a brand new tour and music seven years after the demise of longtime frontman Chester Bennington — and tapped rocker Emily Armstrong to affix the group as a co-vocalist.
Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain debuted with Linkin Park on Thursday as a part of its reside stream, showcasing the band’s new single “The Vacancy Machine” alongside returning members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and Joe Hahn.
“This can be a very special occasion for us,” Shinoda advised the gang, consisting of unique fan membership members. “Within the function of Chester Bennington, this afternoon is every of you.”
Linkin Park requested Armstrong — additionally the lead singer of the rock band Lifeless Sara — to affix the long-lasting group round Sept. 2023.
Armstrong mentioned she cleared it together with her Lifeless Sara bandmates who inspired her to leap on the chance earlier than accepting the gig.
“I used to be panicking in one of the best ways: ‘Is it actual?’ For 3 days no less than, I don’t ever bear in mind touching the bottom,” Armstrong advised Billboard. “After which every part was totally different once I got here again down — realizing my life was going to be totally different, in one of the best ways. I got here again to a dreamland.
Brittain is changing founding member Rob Bourdon who “determined to step away” as a result of he wished to place distance between him and his former bandmates.
Based on a press launch from the band, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and Hahn quietly started assembly up once more lately and against “making an attempt to restart the band,” they’d meet up with “numerous mates and cohorts to affix them within the studio; among the many visitors, they discovered a particular kinship with Armstrong and Brittain.”
Armstrong mentioned whereas rising up, she would “mosh” and “skate” to Linkin Park’s 2000 album “Hybrid Concept” and the music even made her need to be a singer.
The rap-rock band revealed its latest document “From Zero” is about to be launched Nov.15 and is taking followers one step nearer to listening to what’s to return with a restricted world tour making stops in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg (Germany), London, Seoul (South Korea) and Bogota (Colombia) beginning Sept. 11.
The brand new album title holds a particular place within the hearts of the founding members as a result of they initially known as their band Xero however renamed it Linkin Park after Bennington joined because the frontman.
The announcement marks the primary time the Grammy-winning group has launched new music since Bennington dedicated suicide at his dwelling in Los Angeles two months after the debut of Linkin Park’s final album “One Extra Gentle.”
Armstrong mentioned she labored arduous to “keep it up the emotion” that Bennington delivered to the band.
“You bought to marry the technical half and the emotion. It’s Chester’s voice, and it’s mine, however I need it to nonetheless really feel the best way I really feel once I take heed to the track, as a result of that’s what the followers love. There’s a ardour to it that I’m hoping I can fill,” Armstrong mentioned.
Many followers on-line have embraced the band’s return with Armstrong on middle stage.
“With the grittiness of her voice, I believe she’s a fantastic decide for them. I’m completely satisfied to see she’s getting such a optimistic response up to now. I hope she solely will get higher as she will get extra snug with the band,” one Linkin Park supporter wrote on Reddit.
“She’s in no way Chester, and nobody ever will probably be, however I’m very open to this alteration and I believe she’s going to fill his footwear simply wonderful,” one other fan wrote.
“She wants some steering on easy methods to know when much less is extra,” one other fan commented on the social media platform.
However another followers usually are not as enthusiastic.
“This simply isn’t proper. It appears determined, and he or she isn’t the match for Chesters function,” one fan wrote.
“Not nice in any respect. Not nice in any respect. Additionally, name it one thing else moreover Linkin Park,” one other wrote.
