Linkin Park has returned, with a new line-up and music since lead singer Chester Bennington's death in 2017.
The band introduced new member Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain on a livestream on Thursday, September 5, and announced the release of single The Emptiness Machine, followed by new album From Zero, set for release on November 15.
Thanks in part to Bennington's vocals, the rock-rap group became one of the Noughties’ most commercially successful acts.
Speaking about the new line-up, returning member Mike Shinoda said: “The more we worked with Emily and Colin, the more we enjoyed their world-class talents, their company and the things we created.
“We feel really empowered with this new line-up and the vibrant and energised new music we’ve made together. We’re weaving together the sonic touchpoints we’ve been known for and still exploring new ones.”
But who is the new lead singer?
Who is Emily Armstrong?
Armstrong was previously the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Los Angeles-based band Dead Sara.
With the band, the 38-year-old singer released three studio albums, the first being the 2012 Weatherman, which earned Loudwire's Rock Song of the Year.
Armstrong had provided background vocals for Courtney Love's solo album Nobody's Daughter before Dead Sara. On Demi Lovato's Holy Fvck album in 2002, Armstrong and her Dead Sara bandmates were given writing credits for the songs Bones and Help Me. They also collaborated with Lovato on the latter song.
The new Linkin Park singer dropped out of high-school and knew from a young age she wanted to enter the music industry.
After becoming friends, Armstrong started performing with guitarist Siouxsie Medley in 2002.
Both Medley and Armstrong share a similar taste in music; they are influenced by bands like Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, and Nirvana, as well as folk and blues musicians from the 1960s and 1970s.
Three years later, Dead Sara performed for the first time at the Los Angeles nightclub The Mint in March 2005.
From there, her career kicked off, and Dead Sara went on to be a part of the Warped tour, in addition to providing support for acts like Muse throughout the US and Europe.
Who else was rumoured to replace Chester Bennington?
Lzzy Hale was long rumoured to replace Bennington.
This was further fuelled earlier this week when she shared piano cover of Crawling on social media.
Fans also conjectured that Deryck Whibley, of Sum 41, might be named the new lead singer.
To correct any misconceptions, Whibley declared that he is "not joining Oasis... or Linkin Park, or any other band, for that matter.
"I do look forward to seeing whatever both these amazing bands do in the future."
