Opinions On LINKIN PARK’s New Era Are Very Divided

Linkin Park recently came back as new vocalist Emily Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain in place of Rob Bourdon alongside classic members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson (guitarist Alex Feder in live settings), Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahn. The band announced their first post-Chester Bennington album From Zero for November 15 and recently dropped the first single “The Emptiness Machine”.

You’ve heard a new single and you’ve seen footage of Linkin Park live with their new lineup three times now – the livestream, their Los Angeles show, and their New York show (four if you’re counting Jimmy Fallon).

So we asked our readers how they feel about the whole thing and the results were mixed. These were the results:

• I love everything about it (744 votes)
• No Chester, no Linkin Park (659 votes)
• I’m not into what I’m hearing or seeing live (401 votes)
• I wanna hear more new material before I decide if I like it or not (317 votes)
• I’d like it more if it was under a different name (306 votes)
• I like it, but I don’t love it (291 votes)

So sure, there’s a lot of positivity in those results, but obviously a chunk of the fanbase isn’t thrilled there’s a post-Bennington Linkin Park. Interesting that there’s a not-insignificant contingent that wishes they’d change their name, though it’s not shocking considering all the talk around Pantera and how they should change their name as well.