Linkin Park has announced that Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara will join the band as its new co-vocalist, alongside songwriter and producer Colin Brittain, who will take on drumming duties. The news was unveiled during a live performance event on Thursday.
The announcement was paired with the release of a new single, "The Emptiness Machine," marking the band's first new music in seven years. The track serves as the lead single for Linkin Park's upcoming album, From Zero, set to be released on November 15 via Warner Records. This will be the band’s first full-length album since 2017’s One More Light, which was channelling two months before the passing of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.
The current line-up featuring Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, and new members Armstrong and Brittain will embark on a six-date arena tour. Stops include Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul, and Bogota. Full tour details can be found below.
Linkin Park performed live for the first time in years at a special event in Los Angeles, where fans were transported by bus to a studio lot. The performance was live streamed and is available for viewing on the band’s official channels for the next 24 hours.
In a statement, the band shared that Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and Hahn had “quietly begun meeting up again in recent years,” exploring new musical collaborations. They emphasized that rather than restarting the band, they found a unique connection with Armstrong and Brittain.
Reflecting on the band’s evolution, Shinoda said, “Before Linkin Park, our first band name was Xero. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future—embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life.”
Shinoda described the new single, “The Emptiness Machine,” as channelling the “DNA of Linkin Park,” adding that the band feels empowered by its revamped line-up and fresh sound. He noted, “We are weaving together the sonic touch points we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”
Pre-sale tickets for the From Zero tour will be available to members of the LP Underground fan club starting September 6, with general sales beginning September 7.
This new chapter for Linkin Park follows the spring release of Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023), a greatest hits album that featured tracks such as “In the End,” “Burn It Down,” and “Numb/Encore,” among others. The collection helped propel Meteora back into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.
