Available in 2 Color Editions and a 2xLP Deluxe Edition

Seven years after the death of the inimitable Chester Bennington, the surviving members of Linkin Park reunited and introduced new vocalist Emily Armstrong. Reactions were immediate, and opposing views -- tied to the perception of what Linkin Park is as a band and how much Bennington's heart and soul played into that -- cast a shadow on this new project, the aptly titled "reboot" From Zero. The revamped lineup's first effort together is without a doubt a well-executed, aggressively hungry, and potent sonic statement from a group of survivors intent on keeping their vision alive. The melodic guitar attack and familiar chord progressions of Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda, the futuristic production and turntable acrobatics of DJ Hahn, and the catchy rhythms from bassist Dave Farrell and new drummer Colin Brittain all provide a high-octane backbone that's instantly familiar to anyone who has ever heard even a single Linkin Park song. Meanwhile, Shinoda's rapped and sung vocals haven't changed at all in all the years he's been doing this (“Two Faced” is a highlight). Enter formidable singer Armstrong. The excellent lead single "The Emptiness Machine" is an exciting unveiling, a by-the-numbers Linkin Park assault that justifies her hiring with those throat-shredding howls. The propulsive second serving "Heavy Is the Crown,” a synth-and-strings rager that’s one of the band's best singles, takes it a step further, with a sustained mid-song roar that recalls similar Bennington explosions from "Faint" and "Lying from You." Across these near-dozen tracks, her vocal attack is a thing to behold, clean vocals cutting with a scalpel's precision and screams that can crack the sky and split the earth in a way that scratches a certain nostalgic itch. Throughout, there are nods to almost every LP era: “Casualty” is a thrashing hardcore rager, like what the group tried to do on The Hunting Party, while “Overflow” is an atmospheric dub journey through space, something that could easily slide onto A Thousand Suns. The raging "Cut the Bridge" channels Minutes to Midnight, just as "Good Things Go" soars into the arena-sized singalong territory of One More Light. Objectively, From Zero is a strong showing by a group of absolute pros that is likely to storm the mainstream rock charts and keep the LP train running for the near future. Whether listeners choose to enjoy it for what it is a different story, and therein lies the disconnect: longtime fans who aren't yet onboard with Armstrong may not give this an album a chance, while listeners willing to take the plunge with this different iteration will be rewarded with some great songcraft that they've grown to love since the band's inception. This is the tricky burden for Shinoda and the gang. If From Zero was released by a group without the expectations of "Linkin Park," it would be an unequivocal hit. However, with that iconic name and the weight of its legacy, it’s going to be a big ask to let the past remain in the past. If this lineup can persevere for another album or two, the world could get a better idea of what they’re trying to do. From Zero is a decent effort that contains all the band's hallmarks, even if it's not the exact same Linkin Park that is known and loved.

A1        From Zero (Intro)
A2        The Emptiness Machine
A3        Cut The Bridge
A4        Heavy Is The Crown
A5        Over Each Other
A6        Casualty
B1        Overflow
B2        Two Faced
B3        Stained
B4        IGYEIH
B5        Good Things Go