It’s an exciting time for fans of LinkinPark as the band embarked on a new chapter with the release of their new album, From scratch. The album was released on November 15, 2024 and is the band’s eighth studio album. The album’s reception was generally positive, as From scratch Linkin Park’s new members debut: Emily Armstong on lead vocals and Colin Brittain as the band’s new drummer.
From scratch is the band’s first release since One more light in 2017, the last album to feature Chester Bennington’s vocals before his untimely death in the same year. The album marks Linkin Park’s new beginning, referencing the band’s original name, Xero. The album features many of the familiar sonic elements that are characteristic of Linkin Park’s original sound, with Mike Shinoda’s rapping, nu-metal drum beats, and thunderous guitar riffs.
That being said, the album delves into some more commercial themes with its production, in the same way that One more light seemed to embrace a more pop sound than the nu-metal roots Linkin Park was known for. From scratch marks the band’s new venture into the world of alternative music, with tracks that will please Linkin Park fans – old and new.
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Linkin Park – ‘From Zero’ Tracklist |
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1 |
“From Scratch (Introduction)” |
0:22 |
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2 |
“The Void Machine” |
3:10 |
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3 |
“Cut the bridge” |
3:48 |
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4 |
“Heavy is the crown” |
2:47 |
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5 |
“One over the other” |
2:50 |
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6 |
“Victim” |
2:20 |
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7 |
“Excess” |
3:31 |
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8 |
“Two Faces” |
3:03 |
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9 |
“Stained” |
3:05 |
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10 |
“IGYEIH” |
3:29 |
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11 |
“Good things go” |
3:29 |
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11. From scratch (introduction)
The album’s opening track and just 22 seconds long, “From Zero (Intro)” gives the album’s premise. Starting with some otherworldly a cappella harmonies, the vocals are suddenly cut away to reveal the audio of a casual studio environment. Armstrong’s voice is heard speaking and saying “from scratch? Like, nothing?” which seems to consolidate the moment in which Linkin Park decided to title the album From scratch.
Although the track is only 22 seconds long and is hardly a song in itself the recording appears to capture the significant moment when the band themselves discovered the appropriate title for the album.
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10. Cut the bridge
The style of the track “Cut The Bridge” is completely different from the Linkin Park sound that most are familiar with. With an upbeat tempo and commercially structured chord progressions played like strumming on electric guitars, the overall sound on “Cut The Bridge” sounds somewhat comparable to Mother Mother’s “Hayloft” and My Chemical Romance’s “Na Na Na.”
Armstrong’s vocals lead this track as the main production highlight, but Ultimately, the track is possibly a little different – and basic – for Linkin Park fans who may not be able to identify with this compared to other tracks in the From scratch.
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9. One over the other
“Over Each Other” is one of the most commercial-sounding songs on From scratch. Armstrong’s vocals open the track while a suspenseful bass line carries the song’s chord structure. THE the track is a bit slow, with minimal instrumental compositions early in the production, which allows Armstrong’s vocals to carry the song with strength.
When the track eventually turns into a more emotional and explosive composition, despite the production being more rock-y towards the end, the song’s melody makes the track sound a little more like Katy Perry, rather than Linkin Park, with its pop style. guided progression.
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8. Overflow
“Overflow” contains a piano line that sounds like something out of an early 2000s nu-metal track, but the slow beat that follows is not exactly what one would expect when listening to. The guitars take a step back on this song as distorted and echoed drums, an electronic bass line carry the instrumentation, and Armstrong and Shinoda’s vocals take the front seat.
The song gradually builds, with a distorted guitar line eventually appearing, at which point the song starts to sound a little more like an original Linkin Park song.
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7. Spotted
In “Stained”, Shinoda’s vocals open the first verse with a sung melody line, while Armstrong’s vocals sing a distant legato line in the background. The track begins in a way that suggests the song could morph into a distinctive nu-metal sound at any moment, but goes in the opposite direction, ultimately becoming one of the most commercial tracks on the album.
Landing somewhere between Twenty One Pilots and Katy Perry With its melodies and chord progressions, the song is practically unrecognizable as a Linkin Park song, even despite the release of the band’s previous album, One more light in 2017 opting for a more commercial sound.
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6. Good things happen
The album’s final track, “Good Things Go”, is without a doubt the most lyrically emotional song on the entire album. From scratch album. Shinoda and Armstrong’s lyrics in the song reflect themes of regret, emotional dynamics of personal relationships, and self-awareness of self-sabotage.
The vocals duet against a heavy, emotional backdrop of guitars, drums, and synths, in a production that serves as a poignant finale to the album. The production builds throughout the song, with each part moving in a way that makes the track sound bigger and better, creating a farewell track that is sure to evoke emotions among Linkin Park fans.
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5. IGYEIH
Standing for “I Gave You Everything I Have”, “IGYEIH” is one of the heaviest tracks on the album, with its angry lyrics and heavier instrument production compared to other tracks on the album. From scratch. Featuring a catchy chorus featuring Armstrong’s harmonious vocals, the song’s verses are driven by a classic nu-metal beat, which hardly varies throughout the song.
The song’s guitar chord progressions, including the ending riffs in the choruses, pay beautiful homage to Linkin Park’s original sound. The track’s middle eight is one of the heaviest on the album, which is sure to bring mosh pits at the band’s live shows.
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4. Two-faced
‘Two Faced’ sounds exactly like a track that could have been on the band’s 2000 album release, Hybrid Theory, with its furious guitar riffs, ominous background synths and nu-metal beats. Shinoda’s rap vocals dominate the verses, followed by Armstrong’s dynamic vocals taking over the main melody in the chorus.
The track fits perfectly From scratch as one of the songs on the album that comes closest to Linkin Park’s original nu-metal sound. What’s more, the track’s mid-eight split is sure to please Linkin Park fans with its early 2000s disc jockey scratch sounds and Armstrong’s powerful screams.
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3. Victim
The album’s sixth track, “Casualty,” begins with Armstrong’s signature screams, which makes sense because metal band Spiritbox will be supporting them on Linkin Park’s opening tour.
Armstrong the vocals at the beginning of the track established a premise for the song to be possibly the heaviest on the albumwith its instrumentation featuring a thrash metal style rhythm, fast guitar riffs and an overall sound reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine. “Casualty” is the definitive track From scratch that one can probably expect a circle to form at the band’s upcoming live shows.
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2. The Void Machine
“The Emptiness Machine” was the first track released from From Zero, which debuted Armstrong’s vocals and marked Linkin Park’s new chapter as a band. The track begins with Shinoda’s vocals, followed by Armstrong’s explosive and dynamic vocals.
THE track is possibly the catchiest track on the albumcontaining the strongest chorus, a feature that pays homage to Linkin Park’s original sound. The track’s production has commercial appeal, but overall captures the early 2000s nu-metal sound the band is known for, particularly the drum tone and guitar chord progressions.
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1. Heavy is the crown
The best track on From Zero is undoubtedly “Heavy Is The Crown”, which was used as the main theme for League of Legends World Championship this year. The track begins with a problematic string sample that is followed by an explosive instrumental section that pays homage to Linkin Park’s original and familiar sound.
Shinoda’s rap vocals on the verses are backed by a nu-metal drum pattern that could easily be mistaken for a track from Hybrid Theoryand Armstrong’s vocals shine on the song’s powerful chorus. It’s a particularly pleasant surprise for alternative music fans when Armstrong delivers a satisfying frying scream on top of a thunderous breakdown during the middle of the song.
“Heavy Is The Crown” is the song from From scratch closer to Linkin Park’s original nu-metal sound, but with a modern twist that marks the band’s new chapter in the alternative music sphere. The new album’s sound still features many elements of the familiar Linkin Park style that fans know and love, but it also carries over the more commercial style. that the band was already in the development process with Bennington with the release of One more light in 2017.
Although the more commercial style of some of the tracks on From scratch won’t exactly please everyone, the album’s tracks vary between styles just enough that there’s a track for everyone. LinkinPark fan to enjoy while getting to know the new version of the band, while remembering Bennington’s legacy.