LINKIN PARK: FROM ZERO

SCORE: 89/100. GREAT ALBUM THAT IS CONSISTENTLY WELL-ROUNDED AND ENJOYABLE TO LISTEN TO. A SOLID RETURN FOR THE BELOVED BAND.

Their first album since 2017's 'One More Light' and the tragic passing of lead vocalist Chester Bennington, 'From Zero' is the first Linkin Park album to feature new vocalist Emily Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain.

If you go into this album with an open mind - not expecting it to sound just like their glory days with Chester Bennington as the leading man of the band; you get yourself a very good Linkin Park project that successfully brings the band back to making new and refreshing content.

Emily Armstrong is a very strong vocalist who adds a great amount of flair to the tracks. She does not feel like she is trying to be a "replacement" for Bennington, she just feels like a welcomed and very good choice for a vocalist for the band. Her growls and range suit the metal tone of the album very well, and her voice is one of the highlights of the overall sound pallet of 'From Zero'.

'From Zero' is a short and sweet album that is a genuine contender for one of the most enjoyable projects of the year. Armstrong sings her heart out on every single track and she sounds incredible paired alongside Mike Shinoda. Shinoda makes the album SOUND like a "real" Linkin Park album, and this album did an excellent job of moving forward for the band after the tragic loss of Chester Bennington.

The album isn't quite as great as their older works, but it's a solid attempt at a step forward in the right direction. The energy of the album is very good and there are plenty of tracks that stand out from the album. Linkin Park has been reinvented with a new vocalist while still staying true to the old stylistic elements of their music.

I think Chester would be quite happy to see where his old band has ended up since his passing.