Review
After a wait of 2,736 days since their latest full-length and a surprise drop of their fourth single, ‘Two Faced’ on Wednesday night, Linkin Park’s much-anticipated album From Zero has finally arrived, released through Warner Music Inc! While unreleased posthumous tracks like ‘Lost’ and‘Friendly Fire’ surfaced on past re-releases, From Zero marks a fresh new chapter for the band with the inclusion of Dead Sara’s vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Collin Brittain, known for his work as producer and writer for bands like Papa Roach, 5 Seconds of Summer, and One Ok Rock.
From Zero attempts to deconstruct and reimagine Linkin Park’s iconic sound by blending elements from each of their past albums. Tracks like ‘Two Faced’ and ‘Casualty’ recall the abrasive nu metal of Meteora and Hybrid Theory, while softer songs like ‘Over Each Other’ and ‘Overflow’ tap into the more reflective, melodic style of their later years. The album’s title, a reference to the band’s original name Xero, also alludes to a reinvention, a nod to their roots while pushing forward into new territory.
Though, this lack of cohesion is also the album’s Achilles heel—it lacks a clear red wire. From Zero feels more like a collection of diverse experiments than an actual album. Without a unifying thread, the songs at times seem like stand-alone pieces that struggle to fully coalesce.
While not a traditional album, From Zero is an exploration of sound, with Linkin Park seemingly inviting fans along as they search for a new musical direction. After over 20 years of changing sound from album to album—from nu-metal to synth-driven rock to pop—Linkin Park continues to push the boundaries of their sonic identity, further challenged by the addition of Armstrong and Brittain.
Among the album’s highlights is ‘Casualty’, which debuted during their recent Texas show. Here, Mike Shinoda expands further into caustic aggressivity with raw, harsh vocals, merging his rap-rock roots with a gritty edge reminding me of House of Protection’s recent release ‘Pulling Teeth’. It’s a bold choice that brings refreshing intensity. In my opinion, this is where some of the most untapped potential lies. We’ve heard very soft, I want to hear Linkin Park’s most harsh.
The album’s early tracks struggle to set a captivating pace, especially for those familiar with the pre-released singles. However, ‘Casualty’ completely breaks it open, followed by ‘Overflow‘, serving as a emotion-packed bridge into the surprise 4th release ‘Two Faced’. Fans have quickly dubbed it “Two Steps Closer” for its huge similarity with their iconic ‘One Step Closer‘. It sounds exactly as if a spiked, red-haired Shinoda & Co. would have written it.
From Zero closes with ‘Stained’ as a heavy pop, chorus-driven piece, while ‘IGYEIH’ (I Gave You Everything I Had) ramps up the intensity one last time before the album winds down with ‘Good Things Go’, a track that has immense live-show potential in the same vein as ‘The Catalyst‘.
While From Zero has high points, it suffers a lot from a lack of cohesion and short running time, barely surpassing 31 minutes. With a score of 7, the album holds immense potential in its bold experimentation, but much of it feels only partially realized. It leaves the door open for way more depth and development as the band continues on this new journey.