From Zero (Deluxe Edition)＜Ghostly Orchid Vinyl＞

Seven years after the death of the inimitable Chester Bennington, the surviving members of Linkin Park reunited and introduced new vocalist Emily Armstrong. Reactions were immediate, and opposing views -- tied to the perception of what Linkin Park is as a band and how much Benningtons heart and soul played into that -- cast a shadow on this new project, the aptly titled "reboot" From Zero. The revamped lineups first effort together is without a doubt a well-executed, aggressively hungry, and potent sonic statement from a group of survivors intent on keeping their vision alive. The melodic guitar attack and familiar chord progressions of Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda, the futuristic production and turntable acrobatics of DJ Hahn, and the catchy rhythms from bassist Dave Farrell and new drummer Colin Brittain all provide a high-octane backbone thats instantly familiar to anyone who has ever heard even a single Linkin Park song. Meanwhile, Shinodas rapped and sung vocals havent changed at all in all the years hes been doing this (“Two Faced” is a highlight). Enter formidable singer Armstrong. The excellent lead single "The Emptiness Machine" is an exciting unveiling, a by-the-numbers Linkin Park assault that justifies her hiring with those throat-shredding howls. The propulsive second serving "Heavy Is the Crown,” a synth-and-strings rager that’s one of the bands best singles, takes it a step further, with a sustained mid-song roar that recalls similar Bennington explosions from "Faint" and "Lying from You." Across these near-dozen tracks, her vocal attack is a thing to behold, clean vocals cutting with a scalpels precision and screams that can crack the sky and split the earth in a way that scratches a certain nostalgic itch. Throughout, there are nods to almost every LP era: “Casualty” is a thrashing hardcore rager, like what the group tried to do on The Hunting Party, while “Overflow” is an atmospheric dub journey through space, something that could easily slide onto A Thousand Suns. The raging "Cut the Bridge" channels Minutes to Midnight, just as "Good Things Go" soars into the arena-sized singalong territory of One More Light. Objectively, From Zero is a strong showing by a group of absolute pros that is likely to storm the mainstream rock charts and keep the LP train running for the near future. Whether listeners choose to enjoy it for what it is a different story, and therein lies the disconnect: longtime fans who arent yet onboard with Armstrong may not give this an album a chance, while listeners willing to take the plunge with this different iteration will be rewarded with some great songcraft that theyve grown to love since the bands inception. This is the tricky burden for Shinoda and the gang. If From Zero was released by a group without the expectations of "Linkin Park," it would be an unequivocal hit. However, with that iconic name and the weight of its legacy, it’s going to be a big ask to let the past remain in the past. If this lineup can persevere for another album or two, the world could get a better idea of what they’re trying to do. From Zero is a decent effort that contains all the bands hallmarks, even if its not the exact same Linkin Park that is known and loved. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

エミリー・アームストロングを共同ヴォーカルに、コリン・ブリテンをドラマーに迎えた新作がいよいよ降臨。そうでなくても作風を毎回変えてきたリンキン・パークだが、ここまでの逆転の発想は初めてなわけで、全編に新たなケミストリーが宿りまくりだ。復活を告げた"The Emptiness Machine"をはじめ、前とは明快に違うのに彼らだとわかるのはマイク・シノダの曲とエミリーの歌の相性が良いからでもある。タイトなプロダクションの軽やかさも全体的なリフレッシュ感を強調するもので、モダンなラウド勢を中心に幅広い仕事で実績のあるコリンが制作面の参謀になった成果も明白だ。まずは爆音でどうぞ!
bounce (C)轟ひろみ