The 3 best songs from Linkin Park’s new album, according to Rolling Stone critic

THE LinkinPark releases this Friday (15th) the album From Zeroher eighth studio work and first with the vocalist Emily Armstrong and the drummer Colin Brittain. The new members replace Chester Benningtonwho passed away in 2017, and Rob Bourdonabsent from new activities, respectively.

In a note, the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Shinoda — remnant of the previous formation next to the DJ Joe Hahnby the bassist Dave “Phoenix” Farrell and the guitarist Brad Delson — describes the disc as follows:

Sonically and emotionally, it’s about past, present and future — embracing our signature sound, yet fresh and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and old bandmates, our friends, our family and our fans. We are proud of what the LinkinPark has become over the years and excited about the journey ahead.”

In fact, the work covers the characteristic sound of LinkinPark at different moments in his career — from the heaviest to the most pop-inclined. However, what would be the standout songs from the material?

THE Rolling Stone Brazil had early access to From Zero and a track-by-track review is now live. We have separated, below, three songs that are the best of the material in the opinion of the journalist and critic Igor Miranda. They are listed in the sequence they appear in the tracklist, not in order of preference.

The 3 best songs from From Zero, by Linkin Park

— “Heavy is the Crown”: This is already known to the public, considering its release as the second single. Even without giving up the groove, “Heavy is the Crown” It presents a weight that was not present in the first tracks of the album. The drum line performed by Colin Brittainan experienced producer before joining the group, makes the difference. The long cry of Emily Armstrong presents her credentials once and for all and the chemistry she has with Shinoda. Maybe it’s just not the characteristic chemistry of LinkinPark.

— “Casualty”: There’s no way a track that starts with the words “get you screaming pants on” can be bad. One of the best. As promised, it starts with a beautiful scream of Armstrong. It is perhaps the heaviest of the entire album and explores a relatively rare influence in the group’s trajectory: punk/hardcore, especially in the chorus. As with other new songs, Shinoda in the verses he is again forced to explore a higher pitched vocal — and even presents a more torn approach. It is also a rare moment where you can hear the bass of phoenix with definition. All the members have their standout moments on the album, except for the always discreet Brad Delson.

— “Two Faced”: Interestingly, this track follows the dispensable “Overflow”. The transition between songs makes the previous one sound like a fish out of water: you can hear the sound of a tape being changed, as if we were getting back to what matters. That being said, “Two Faced” it’s like a “One Step Closer” of the modern world: it has typical scratches of Joe Hahnthe characteristic cadence of a good song from LinkinParkdynamics between calmer verses and explosive choruses and even the typical shouting post-chorus — an element used other times on the album, but here in a fundamental way.

*From Zero arrives on streaming platforms this Friday (15). It will also be on sale in physical formats (CD and LP). THE LinkinPark performs at Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, on Friday (15) and Saturday (16) — with tickets already sold out.