The alternative rock band Linkin Park is perhaps known as one of the most famous modern rock bands. From hit albums such as Hybrid Theory, regarded as one of the most influential albums ever made in this century, and Meteora, known for the song “Numb,” the renown of the band is huge. But in 2017, the lead singer Chester Bennington died by suicide. This shocking news struck the world by surprise and except for a tribute show, Linkin Park has been on hiatus since 2017. Chester Bennington is what both fans and critics call irreplaceable, but after 7 years, the band has found a drummer and a new lead singer. So, who is this singer and are they a good fit for the band.
Emily Armstrong, lead singer of hard rock band Dead Sara since 2002, has been chosen as the new lead singer for Linkin Park. The original members of the band did not know how to handle all of Chester’s old parts in songs. Trying out a bunch of different singers, famous member Mike Shinoda said in an interview: “When I started to hear Emily’s voice on things, my brain, it was like the first time that my brain would accept it as a Linkin Park song.” Joe Hahn, the band’s DJ, has also stated that when he heard Emily’s scream, “For me, that did it.”
However, some fans have reacted with backlash to Armstrong being chosen as lead singer. Emily considered actor Danny Masterson, convicted of rape and sentenced to 30 years of prison, a friend. To address these allegations, she posted a recent statement ending with “To say it as clearly as possible: I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes.” Armstrong was also born into the controversial Scientologist church, with her parents being prominent members. She has never commented on her ties to the church, but based on her identifying as queer and some of Dead Sara’s lyrics, there is criticism and rejection to the teachings of the Scientology church. Overall, it is not clear how much of these allegations are true against Emily, but other celebrities in similar situations, such as Tom Cruise, are very popular.
Up to this date, three new songs with Emily Armstrong as lead singer have been released. “The Emptiness Machine” starts with Mike Shinoda, a familiar voice, singing the intro and the first chorus, with Emily later singing most of the song lyrics. “Heavy is The Crown,” released in partnership with Riot Games as the anthem for the 2024 League of Legends Worlds competition, follows a more standar Linkin Park structure, with Mike singing the rap verses and Emily singing the rest. The most recent release, “Over Each Other,” moves away from the usual Linkin Park structure and instead features Armstrong singing all of the lyrics, similar to Chester in songs such as “One More Light.” So, the first release serves as a slow introduction to Emily’s voice, the second as a new traditional sound for fans, and the third as a full showcase of Emily’s vocal capabilities.
“She brings the energy and presence needed to match the band’s sound without trying to imitate Chester,” said a fan on social media. This summarizes the experience many fans are having while listening to these songs. Emily fits perfectly with the band while not trying to replace Chester; she is just trying to bring fresh air to the band long awaited by many people. And as the high number of streams on varying platforms suggest, Linkin Park is back. So, if you are a fan of the old Linkin Park or just enjoy rock music, give a listen to these three new songs and watch out for the upcoming From Zero full album release on November 15th.
