Every Song On Linkin Park’s ‘From Zero’ Ranked

It’s an exciting time for fans of Linkin Park as the band have embarked on a brand-new chapter with the release of their new album, From Zero. The album was released on November 15, 2024, and is the eighth studio album by the band. The album’s reception has been generally positive as From Zero debuts Linkin Park’s new members: Emily Armstong on co-leading vocals, and Colin Brittain as the band’s new drummer.

From Zero is the band’s first release since One More Light in 2017, the final album featuring Chester Bennington’s vocals before his untimely death later that same year. The album marks Linkin Park’s new beginnings, with reference to the band’s original name, Xero. The album showcases many of the familiar sound elements that are signature to Linkin Park’s original sound, with Mike Shinoda’s raps, nu-metal drum beats and roaring guitar riffs.

That said, the album does delve into some more commercial themes with its production, similarly to how One More Light seemed to welcome a more pop sound rather than the nu-metal roots that Linkin Park had been known for. From Zero marks the band’s new venture in the alternative music world, with tracks that will appeal to Linkin Park fans – old and new.

11 11. From Zero (Intro)

The opening track of the album and only 22 seconds long, “From Zero (Intro)” sets the premise for the album. Beginning with some otherworldly a cappella harmonies, the vocals suddenly cut out to reveal audio of a casual, in-studio setting. Armstrong’s voice is heard talking and saying “from zero? Like, nothing?” which seems to cement the moment that Linkin Park decided to title the album From Zero.

Although the track is only 22 seconds long, and it’s hardly really a song itself, the recording seems to capture the significant moment where the band themselves discovered what the appropriate title for the album was.

10 10. Cut The Bridge

The style of the track “Cut The Bridge” is completely different to the Linkin Park sound that most are familiar with. With an upbeat tempo and commercially structured chord progressions played as plucks on electric guitars, the overall sound in “Cut The Bridge” sounds a little bit comparable to the likes of Mother Mother’s “Hayloft” and “Na Na Na” by My Chemical Romance.

Armstrong’s vocals lead this track as a primary feature in the production, but ultimately, the track is possibly a little bit too different – and basic – for Linkin Park fans who may not be quite able to relate to this one compared to other tracks on From Zero.

9 9. Over Each Other

“Over Each Other” is one of the most commercial-sounding songs on From Zero. Armstrong’s vocals open the track while a suspenseful bass line carries the song’s chord structure. The track is a bit of a slow builder, with minimal instrumental compositions in the beginning of the production which allow Armstrong’s vocals to powerfully carry the song.

When the track does eventually build into a more exciting and explosive composition, despite the production being more rock by the end of it, the song’s melody does make the track sound a bit more like a Katy Perry, rather than Linkin Park, with its pop-oriented progression.

8 8. Overflow

“Overflow” contains a piano line that sounds like something from a nu-metal track in the early 2000s, but the slow tempo beat that follows is not quite what one would expect upon listening. Guitars take a step back in this song as distorted, echoed drums, an electronic bass line carry the instrumentation, and vocals from Armstrong and Shinoda take a front seat.

The song gradually builds, with one distorted guitar line eventually coming through, at which stage the song begins to sound a bit more like an original Linkin Park song.

7 7. Stained

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 develop into a signature nu-metal sound at any minute, but it goes the other way, landing itself as ultimately 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 pretty much unrecognizable as a Linkin Park song, even despite the band’s previous album release of One More Light in 2017 opting for a more commercial sound.

6 6. Good Things Go

The final track on the album, “Good Things Go”, is arguably the most lyrically emotional song on the entire From Zero album. Both Shinoda and Armstrong’s lyrics in the song reflect on themes of regret, emotional dynamics of personal relationships and a self-awareness of self-sabotage.

The vocals duet together against an emotional and heavy backdrop of guitars, drums and synths, in a production that serves as a moving finale on the album. The production builds throughout the song, with every part moving in a way that makes the track sound bigger and better, making for a farewell track that will surely evoke emotions among Linkin Park fans.

5 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 From Zero.With a catchy chorus featuring raspy harmony vocals from Armstrong, the song’s verses are driven by a classic nu-metal beat, which hardly varies throughout the song.

The song’s chord progressions on the guitars, including their riffy outro in the choruses, pay a nice tribute to the original sound of Linkin Park. The track’s middle eight is one of the heaviest on the album, which is sure to bring some moshing at the band’s live shows.

4 4. Two Faced

‘Two Faced’ sounds exactly like a track that could be on the band’s 2000 album release, Hybrid Theory, with its raging guitar riffs, ominous background synths and nu-metal beats. Shinoda’s rapping vocals take the reign in the verses, followed by Armstrong’s dynamic vocals taking the lead melody in the chorus.

The track fits nicely on From Zero as one of the songs on the album that is closest to Linkin Park’s original nu-metal sound. What’s more, the track’s breakdown in the middle eight is sure to please Linkin Park fans with its early 2000s disc jockey scratch sounds and Armstrong’s powerful fry screams.

3 3. Casualty

The sixth track on the album, “Casualty”, begins with Armstrong’s signature fry screams, which make sense as to why metal band Spiritbox will be supporting them on Linkin Park’s opening tour.

Armstrong’s vocals at the beginning of the track set a premise for the song to possibly be the heaviest on the album, with its instrumentation entering with a thrash metal-style tempo, rapidly riffing guitars and an overall sound that resembles the likes of Rage Against The Machine. “Casualty” is the ultimate track on From Zero that one can probably expect a circle pit to form at the band’s upcoming live shows.

2 2. The Emptiness Machine

“The Emptiness Machine” was the first track on From Zero that was released, which debuted Armstrong’s vocals and marked Linkin Park’s new chapter as a band. The track begins with Shinoda’s vocals, which are followed by Armstrong’s explosive, dynamic vocals.

The track is possibly the catchiest track on the album, containing the strongest hook, a feature that pays homage to the original Linkin Park sound. The production of the track has a commercial appeal, but overall captures the early 2000s nu-metal sound that the band is known for, particularly the timbre of the drums and the chord progressions of the guitars.

1 1. Heavy Is The Crown

The best track on From Zero is arguably “Heavy Is The Crown”, which was used as the main theme for League of Legends World Championship this year. The track begins with a glitchy string sample which is followed by an explosive instrumental section that pays homage to Linkin Park’s original, familiar sound.

Shinoda’s rap vocals in the verses are backed by a nu-metal drum pattern that could easily be mistaken for a track on Hybrid Theory, and Armstrong’s vocals shine in the song’s powerful chorus. It is a particularly pleasant surprise for alternative music fans when Armstrong delivers a satisfying fry scream atop a roaring breakdown during the song’s middle eight.

“Heavy Is The Crown” is the song on From Zero closest to Linkin Park’s original nu-metal sound, but with a modern twist that marks the band’s brand-new chapter in the alternative music sphere. The sound of the new album still provides many elements of the familiar style of Linkin Park that fans know and love, but also carries through the more commercial style that the band had previously been in the process of developing with Bennington with the release of One More Light back in 2017.

Although the more commercial style of some of the tracks on From Zero won’t exactly appeal to everyone, the album’s tracks vary between styles just enough that there is a track for every Linkin Park fan to enjoy as they get to know the new version of the band, while remembering Bennington’s legacy.