Rock artists have been reacting to the debut of of Linkin Park‘s new co-vocalist, Emily Armstrong.
Earlier today (September 6), Linkin Park announced their comeback through a livestream event, where they debuted new singer Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara, alongside new drummer Colin Brittain.
They performed a new song, ‘The Emptiness Machine’, a few Linkin Park classics, and announced a new album ‘From Zero’ and a short supporting world tour with six shows across the globe.
In a press release, Mike Shinoda said of working with the new additions Armstrong and Brittain: “The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company, and the things we created.
“We feel really empowered with this new line-up and the vibrant and energized new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”
Other rock musicians have also praised Armstrong, while acknowledging the divided reception she garnered thus far. “I know the Internet is ablaze with comments of criticism and also of praise from fans all over the world,” said Shinedown‘s Brent Smith.
“Something to think about … Do you honestly believe that the members of this ICONIC Band truly think that of all people @chesterbe is replaceable??? The entire world knows he will never be replaceable because he was one of a kind.
“But with all that being said there is an audience that miss this band, and their presence, and what they represent. So I asked you, ALL of you… Give them the opportunity to not close their chapter. Allow them to celebrate their legacy, and also the opportunity to create a new one.”
Holding Absence’s Lucas Woodland said “the shoes she has stepped into bring a mixture of emotions. guilt, pressure, loneliness, etc. and sadly, in her case – misogyny)”.
Check out more rock world reactions below:
@LinkinPark are back! Congrats to Emily Armstrong for the huge opportunity!! I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about this but I am excited to see what the new album will be like. The new song sounds good. The truth is it doesn’t matter what you think, it doesn’t matter… https://t.co/dSeuDBh60F
— Cody Perez (@Cody_Perez) September 5, 2024
Also, another perspective:
All those years ago, LP lost the most important person in the world to them: their best friend Chester. If they’re ready to move on, they move on.
Fuck your parasocial entitlement. They are having a blast and making art again. I’m so happy for them.
— Lu (@Lucaswoodland) September 5, 2024
Recently, I got the chance to front a UK legacy band and I got SO much shit from the diehards.
To step into the shoes of THE Chester Bennington – as a woman – is somehow the bravest thing I’ve seen in this scene in a long time, and she absolutely crushed it.
LP forever. https://t.co/Qup1IRTIe3
— Lu (@Lucaswoodland) September 5, 2024
HOLY SHIT LINKIN PARK 🤯🔥
fuck yea emily armstrong— mgk (@machinegunkelly) September 5, 2024
So happy for my brothers in LP. Welcome back. 🙏
— Shadows (@shadows_eth) September 5, 2024
Congrats to @linkinpark and Emily Armstrong! pic.twitter.com/EWtdpDORpJ
— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) September 5, 2024
Linkin Park have touched on the comeback and the introduction of new members, saying they “feel really empowered with this new line-up”. In a new cover feature with Billboard, Mike Shinoda revealed that the current line-up was years-in-the-making, and that the band “met Emily around 2019 — she came in, we worked together at my old studio”.
At the time, however, they weren’t coming together as Linkin Park – they were just writing music and seeing how they felt about getting back together after Chester Bennington’s death in 2017: “Getting back into the group — at first it was Dave and Joe, and then Brad came in too at some point, and we were starting to do sessions with other people, some of [whom] I had written with in the year or two before that, including Colin.”