Hooray! A new version of Linkin Park has emerged

Emily Armstrong is now the lead vocalist of Linkin Park. Image from Linkin Park

Linkin Park‘s music has touched the lives of many people from all over the world. I am just one of the millions of Linkin Park fans, even though the remaining active original members of the band have decided that it is time to have a new lead vocalist (Emily Armstrong) to keep the band moving forward.

Linkin Park handled the loss of their original lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, with class, respect, and grace. Indeed, the cause of death of Chester Bennington is a serious matter. If left unchecked, it can lead down a dark and dangerous path. That is why the band waited seven years before formally announcing they had found a new lead vocalist in Emily Armstrong. The remaining active original members of Linkin Park waited long enough before restarting as an active band, a touring band, and a recording band because they wanted to take some time off. That was one of the best ways they showed honor to Chester Bennington was by letting time heal some of the wounds caused by the tragic loss before plugging themselves back into the music industry for a revamped version of Linkin Park.

Now, after watching the surprise live mini-concert that they live-streamed online and uploaded to their official YouTube channel, I can give a fairly accurate analysis of how their new lead vocalist, Emily Armstrong has adjusted, fit in, and performed alongside her new bandmates. She struggled with some of the songs, trying to hit the high notes, resulting in a visible strain in her voice. This is understandable as she is still adjusting to this new chapter in Linkin Park. This gig, role, and job will change her life forever.

This is where my background in Music Production and being a bass player comes in handy because I know what I am talking about and I want to shift my focus to the new lead vocalist, Emily Armstrong.

Regarding her singing style, Emily Armstrong has more of an alternative rock background and a rawness that is essential to her vocals. Right there, similar to Chester Bennington, she possesses the stamina to perform a long set that includes several LPs from the Linkin Park catalog. Essentially, this showcased which songs are best suited for her and highlights the areas that require additional practice and work over time.

I want to point out that some of the songs of Linkin Park were very personal to Chester Bennington, as he either composed them or co-composed them with other members of the band throughout their active status in the 2000s. It will be interesting to see and hear how Emily Armstrong interprets these songs through her singing in the long run. The key here is to ensure a seamless transition with these classic songs for her, as having a male singer followed by a female singer will bring a whole new dynamic to the sound of Linkin Park.

There were some points in their first live set together where, even before Emily Armstrong sang the line of the first verse of the song (for example, “One Step Closer”), I could hear an echo of Chester Bennington’s voice over Emily Armstrong’s. Perhaps it is just my memories of watching the music video for the first time, or his voice is already ingrained in my psyche. Either way, the “spirit” of Chester Bennington was there. I wish Emily Armstrong the best because we need Linkin Park to exist, regardless of any version of it.

Linkin Park sits down with Zane Lowe for an in-depth conversation about their new song, forthcoming album, and the years-long-journey. Screengrab from YouTube / Apple Music

I would give Emily Armstrong an overall score of 6 or 7 because that was their very first live set together, and she will improve over time and find the balance in her singing some of the heavier songs from the catalog of Linkin Park. It has to be said that the songs the band composed, arranged, and performed over the decades that they were at their rise, prime, and peak were designed for the vocal style of Chester Bennington, which is hard to replicate for most other vocalists in rock and metal bands. The notes he could reach are one of the reasons why Linkin Park’s songs are still popular to this day. From “Hybrid Theory,” “Meteora,” and “Minutes To Midnight,” the first three LPs of Linkin Park, I believe we can all agree that they are the best albums the band has ever released and they contained the most songs that are still being listened to.

Indeed, a version of Linkin Park lives on. It may not be the same as we all remember; however, the ingenuity, creativity, and passion are still present thanks to the remaining original members – Mike Shinoda, Mr. Hahn, and Dave Farrell. I want to point out that since 2012, I have written numerous entertainment articles about Linkin Park. Finally, being able to write a new one is a welcome development, as I have missed the band. I miss their frontman the most, but I have to accept and support this revamped version of Linkin Park because that is what a true fan does.

Out of respect for the original members (Chester Bennington, Brad Delson, and Rob Bourdon) who are no longer with this new incarnation of Linkin Park, I view this version as more of an entity, a brand, if you will, and something that continues to evolve. Why so? Mike Shinoda is now pulling the strings and planning everything that happens for Linkin Park. He was one of the masterminds behind the formation of the band and played a crucial role in recruiting Chester Bennington who was in an alternative-rock band of his own in Grey Daze, who was then a relatively unknown singer but with a lot of potential, to join his band, Xero, in the mid-90s before it eventually transformed into Linkin Park with the new members at the time. But Linkin Park’s current state is a natural result of the band’s continued evolution.

While they will always keep the band’s name for obvious reasons, it feels like they are straying further from the familiar faces we are accustomed to, which would be disappointing. It is one thing to lose the frontman, but adding the drummer and now the guitarist, who has chosen to work only behind the scenes and in the studio for the band, means that only three original Linkin Park members remain active in live performances and touring. This is not a complaint, but rather a statement of fact. In my opinion, if they were to lose one more fan-favorite member for any reason, whether personal or professional, it could no longer be considered Linkin Park, if you end up losing more than half of the original line-up because there would not be enough left to grasp on and connect to the Linkin Park of our youth, childhood, teens, and adulthood. It is this simple, what made Linkin Park so phenomenal was collectively all of them because they brought something special to their band.

Hopefully, this is a new and permanent band lineup because further changes will do more harm than good. If you lose more familiarity Linkin Park has built with fans in 2000 from the Hybrid Theory studio album, fanfare will gradually lessen. Adjusting to this major change will take time, and while I believe it will ultimately work out, no one can replace Chester Bennington, period. Chester Bennington was one of the greatest rock singers on the mic, and he was responsible for giving the band their own distinctive “voice” when there were so many other bands and the music scene was thriving during the early to late 2000s with an explosion of different sub-genres of rock and even new ones. Linkin Park stood out among all of them. Linkin Park pioneered their sound and helped create a sub-genre of their own. They have musically influenced many to follow them and to sound like them.

There is a cautionary tale anytime a famous band replaces their original lead vocalist or decides to continue without him. Which is: Time and time again, the lead vocalist is not just the frontman, but the most popular member of the band without a doubt. For example: Queen, Journey, Alice in Chains, AC/DC, Stone Temple Pilots, Blind Melon, Drowning Pool, Saliva, and other legendary, famous, or iconic bands. What happens when they lose their original lead vocalist for any reason? It is either they lose their popularity or they continue to remain relevant. In the case of Linkin Park, I believe they will continue to be popular but not in the same way they were in their prime. This is expected, but I have nothing but respect for them. They revived the band name for the fans because they knew the music meant so much to so many people to this day, and as long as they could still perform at an optimal level. Then, they should continue being a version of Linkin Park, which honors the past and explores new sounds moving forward. It is important to keep that inner drive alive, and most of all, the memory of Chester Bennington.

I am sure Chester Bennington would be proud!