My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
There was a time when Linkin Park wasn't an acquired taste. As a Maldives friend said, songs like "Breaking the Habit" and "Numb" became immediately likeable upon a first listen itself. I am not well versed in music and I therefore review songs based on how they sound to my ears. In fact, I don’t know music theory at all. I did journalism and film and television at university.
It is said that fans became divided with their album "Minutes to Midnight" and I agree with that. Fortunately or unfortunately, I happened to be on the side where fans didn't like it. In fact, there wasn't even a single song in that album that I liked. And I was royally pissed off that LP started cussing in their later albums. I still remember an article saying nice guys don't finish last in reference to LP not using swear words in their first album "Hybrid Theory". I don't have a problem with profanity but it was a breath of fresh air when a nu-metal band could rock billions of people with clean lyrics.
That said, "From Zero" released in November last year is awesome even if I didn't find half the album's songs interesting. Why I say that is because out of the 11 songs, I found 5 songs out of this world and that's enough for me because I am not very much into the music scene and therefore I come across good songs mostly through word of mouth or when they become popular at food joints like the case of me discovering Rema and Selena Gomez's "Calm Down" only recently because it was played frequently at Maldives restaurants over the past two years.
I like only 5 songs from LP's "From Zero" but that's okay because they are so awesome I don't mind finding the other 6 songs not to my liking. The songs I like are “The Emptiness Machine”, “Heavy is the Crown”, “Overflow”, “Stained”, and “Good Things Go”.
Unlike some people, I don't usually put on songs and music when I work because it's a distraction but "Calm Down" and LP's 5 songs from "From Zero" don't distract me from writing articles. So I consider that something unique and special. In fact, my favorite album of all time in which I like all songs without exception is Coldplay's "X&Y" but it's a distraction when I am at work and therefore I play that album with the volume very low when I work.
I would call this a unique experience because it's not every day I discover music that does not distract me from work. So I would call LP's "From Zero" a life-changing album.
Needless to say, I would have given the album a full 5 stars if not for the fact that I didn't find half the songs to my liking. But when the other half is so awesome, I don't have a choice but to give the album a 4.5 stars rating because the other half of the album is sheer awesomeness.
There's another noteworthy factor with the LP of now: with a female lead vocalist, frontwoman Emily Armstrong, who unleashes gnarly guttural vocals, especially a long one in "Heavy is the Crown" almost running out of breath, LP now do sound like one of my favorite music bands - that is, Evanescence.
LP's "From Zero" is a highly anticipated album due to several key aspects:
New Chapter: It marks a new era for the band, being their first studio album since "One More Light" (2017). This release comes after the tragic passing of lead vocalist Chester Bennington and the departure of drummer Rob Bourdon.
New Lineup: "From Zero" features a revamped lineup with the addition of vocalist Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain. This new dynamic brings a fresh perspective and sound to the band's signature style.
Musical Evolution: While staying true to their roots in nu-metal and alternative rock, "From Zero" is expected to showcase an evolution in their sound, incorporating new influences and exploring fresh sonic territories.
Emotional Depth: Given the band's history and the personal journeys of the members, "From Zero" is anticipated to be an emotionally charged and introspective album, delving into themes of loss, resilience, and moving forward.
These elements combined make "From Zero" a significant release for LP and their fans, promising a blend of familiar elements with exciting new directions.
In conclusion, it's worth every punch, in my personal - not professional - opinion.
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