The Return of Linkin Park

As you may have already noticed, I’ve been into Linkin Park since back in the day, when they first broke into the mainstream. Not only were they exceptionally impressive to me as artists, but they also played a major role in my life as I struggled with issues that were, at the time, too confusing and heavy for me. Therefore, it is personal.

I genuinely care about them and their fate as a band. For irrational reasons, maybe, but how could I not? It is in great part thanks to their work that I was able to withstand and get through extremely painful situations, coming to the other side more enlightened.

With Linkin Park, there’s a peculiarity. Other artists I appreciate, I can be like, “Yeah, I get it if you don’t like them. Preferences and all. But I happen to like them plenty.” But if I ever stumbled upon anyone saying Linkin Park wasn’t good (and I didn’t), I would be like, “WHAT?! HAVE YOU NO TASTE?!?” I don’t know, but I’d seriously question what’s wrong with them.

I believe it has to do with what made them stand out to me the most in the first place. At a glance, you might see them as a dark band. And to a degree, they objectively are. But to me, they represent light the most. For it’s as if the direction in which they usually and ultimately go is upwards, toward the light, rather than downwards, toward the dark. Forging virtue as they elevate in consciousness. Maybe they’re aware of it and it was intentional, I don’t know (sorry, guys, I love you but I haven’t heard/read each and every single interview or piece about you out there). However, with Chester and the profoundly unfortunate circumstances he faced, I could take it as a fight to climb out of a hole you didn’t necessarily dig yourself into but ended up in anyway.

Now, as much as I can be concerned about it, I won’t be attempting background checks on the new members. But I do wonder if they’re trying to do something similar with the new vocalist. A character arc. And maybe we’ll learn more about it with the songs in the new album, From Zero. The Emptiness Machine already sounds like it’s depicting the realization that something isn’t what it promised, admitting naivete. So who knows? Obviously, not replacing Chester Bennington or minimizing his story (you can’t even if you tried), but doing more of what they do with a different story.

To illustrate more of what I mean, songs like Points of Authority, Breaking The Habit, and What I’ve Done especially come to mind.

I sincerely wish them the best. You know I root for a meaningful tale where there is significant character development. And if the new members prove not to be a good fit after all and have to leave the band, it is understandable too. I’ll still be a Linkin Park fan.