Linkin Park review Linkin Park – Los Angeles 5-9-24

Review By Dave Martin

Following a week of anticipation that started with a 100 hour count down followed by the clock counting back up and a cryptic message suggesting the date of the 5th September, members of fan group Linkin Park Underground were invited to a secret event in Los Angeles. 7 years after the death of their iconic frontman the Linkin Park play live for the first time since 27th October 2017.

On a platform surrounded by diehard fans, the original members of the band together with new additions, took to the stage to a requiem of Castle of Glass and spectacular lights. Mike Shinoda simply stated “It’s good to see you again” before the band proceeded to launch straight into new single “The Emptiness Machine”. Unveiling new singer Emily Armstrong in the role of Chester Bennington the group proceeded into “Somewhere I Belong” from their second album Meteora. Pointing the mic at the crowd, Armstrong receives a huge response as the gathered fans sung the chorus line back at her. Following the completion of the song and a guitar change Mike Shinoda introduces the current line up including original members Phoenix Farrell and Joe Hahn, new members Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain (replacing Rob Bourdon) and stand in guitarist Alex Fedder filling in on guitar for Brad Delson. Asking if the crowd are reading to sing with them, the band are met with a resounding yes. As Armstrong starts to sing Crawling the crowd sing so loudly that she points the mic at them, encouraging them to continue their participation.

Armstrong has a slight voice break in “Lying From You” and “The Catalyst” when trying to replicate Bennington’s raspy vocals but recovers well to give a strong performance for the rest of the tracks.  
Following a brief blackout the stage is lit by blue beams before the commencement of “Waiting for the End”. After a warm applause the “Numb/Encore” intro starts before proceeding into the traditional version of “Numb”.

The event continues in the same vein with more fan favourites “One Step Closer followed by an abridged acoustic version of recent release “Lost” which starts sombrely with melodic piano from Shinoda and singing from Armstrong before the band rejoin for “What I’ve Done”.
During “In the End” Mike Shinoda goes down the crowd and stands on the barrier before the crowd sings the chorus with Armstrong.

The band finish with “Faint” before the encore of “Papercut”.
Before last song “Bleed it Out” Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong joke that she is glad that she learned to sing 7 months ago. The Shinoda explains that there is a new Album, Single, Video and tour and promises to explain how this all come about at a later date.
The band leave to chants of make him proud.
 
The band have announced new Album “From Zero” as well as new single “The Emptiness Machine”. The title of the new album pays homage to the bands beginning where their former name was Xero.  Linkin Park have also launched a tour and new music video.
 
The energy of stage was palpable, and the reaction of the crowd was as you’d expect after such a long absence. Simply put Linkin Park are back.