My brother just recently passed away. His favorite band was always Linkin Park. Before he passed away I remember asking him how he felt about the new vocalist being a female, and he was so excited. He mourned when Chester died. But he welcomed the new vocalist with open arms. He never got to see the release of this album. And I miss him so goddamn much… I’m just happy I got to see LP live with him…
When everyone expects him to hate an album and he ends up thinking it's okay, he tends to emphasize the positive aspects more. I noticed this in his MTBMB review too.
It’s because he doesn’t want to get hate from the feminist crowd claiming that “he only doesn’t like it because she’s a girl” even though it has a lot more to do with it being garbage music LOL
So when it comes to Two Faced and they sound like Linkin Park - "oh, that's too much cliche" When it comes to other songs - "oh, that's not Linkin Park".
Some of these criticisms genuinely feel arbitrary. I think the melon should be reviewing the music on its own merits, not on what it's supposed to sound like the band. Can you imagine treating Radiohead's post Kid A stuff like this? "Yeah, Idioteque sounds nothing like the Radiohead we all know and love from the first 3 albums. Mid."
The new drummer doesn't get his flowers enough since Emily tends to take the spotlight. He really brings a fresh energy to the percussion of the band that we didn't have before
Ah so it’s a different drummer. That explains why the drums immediately seemed off when I started previewing this album. He seems to have a soft touch, and the production of the drums sounds more suited to a regular rock track than nu metal. Very solid player, don’t get me wrong
The sellout arguments dating back to One More Light never made sense to me. They're _Linkin Park,_ they don't need to make safe pop music to make money lol. If all they wanted was to make money, they could do stuff like a Hybrid Theory world tour, and tickets would have sold like hot cakes. It's fine if you guys dont like their pop sound, but insinuating that they didn't have a genuine desire to make pop music doesn't hold up to me. If they make pop music, I think its because they genuinely like it.
@phothewin6019 Not to dismiss Tony's entire review, he makes a lot of good criticisms, but like a quarter of it is "some of these songs don't sound like the first two albums and that is what I expect".
@@Kyle-fy9kt Oh I wasn’t responding directly to Melon. I was just saying in general. As a Fantano fan, I don’t actually listen to his reviews. I just peep the score then begin complaining or rejoicing in the comments.
They wanted to sellout & make pop music, simple as that lol. They literally hired several well established pop song writers & producers to do most of the work, besides Mike, Chester, & Brad, the rest of the band did little to nothing
As a huge linkin park fan myself, i will say i feel mostly the same, though generally a little more positive about the album as a whole. I actually think the album is better off for having a track like over each other to give emily the space to kind of do her thing within the context of the band, rather than PURELY relying on nostalgia as a selling point, especially since the band and mike have repeatedly stated that if they brought anyone else into the fold, they didn't want to bring them on purely for the sake of replacing chester. I do think that this album is a decent jumping off point for them to both show that emily can hold her own in their more classic sounds as well as try some new things and not be purely caught up in the past. This next point is purely conjecture and based on my own personal reading of the songs, but i can't help but feel after reading into the lyrics of The Emptiness Machine and IGYEIH that they were sort of the band's "statements" about emily's history with scientology. Given their reputation for the AWFUL things they've done to people who have publicly spoken out about them, I can understand why emily isn't rushing to be like "yeah i fucking hate those people", and i think linkin park's usual vagueness kind of benefits her in being able to say something without outright saying something. Even if it is more of a vague vent rather than direct pointed criticism. Though i will add that their most direct/least vague album, a thousand suns, is one of, if not my favorite of theirs. I'm also aware i could be completely talking out of my ass about this and that my reading of those songs is completely off. In addition to the point i've seen several people bring up about the album title being a nod to the band's earlier name, Xero, i think the album title also pretty clearly alludes to them needing/wanting a new start (especially emily). And while i don't feel that this album quite measures up to some of their more classic albums, it does give me some hope that they can do some great things moving forward. Emily definitely has chemistry with the band and i am definitely looking forward to where they take things in the future.
Mike said he wrote The Emptiness Machine almost entirely before Emily was the singer--but I get where you're coming from. Her being willing to sing these songs, especially considering we KNOW she's seen the hate she got from people finding out about her past, it can't be 100% nothing.
@Porcuspine360 your bio tells me all I need to know about you "single 38 year old looking to make some young lady friends 🥰🥰" like holy fuck 😭😭😭 you might be the most pathetic human alive
@Porcuspine360holy shit nevermind, I went through some more. You actually harass hundreds of women in their dms. You're fucked up, either get help, go to jail, or find another solution (get the hint).
Emily Armstrong's personal controversies aside, she legitimately is an excellent singer. Chester can never be replaced, and his voice is forever iconic to the band. But I swear Emily sounds similar enough to him that you could easily picture him singing her parts, as well as adding her own unique touches. It feels and sounds like Linkin Park, And I'm really excited to see where the band goes from here.
I don't think she's trying to sound like him, just trying to emulate him. Anyone in that position would feel the need to pay tribute. But yeah, I didn't listen to any of the lead up singles. I played this on Saturday. She sounds awesome. Very powerful singer.
You can't just put personal controversies aside she's literally apart of and endorses a cult that has ruined the lives of so many people. They're literally the most destructive cult of their scale and influence. Emily Armstrong should never ever be allowed to just get away with not dissavowing such a disgusting organization. She has no morals or backbone. Chester, after all the abuse he's been through, did not deserve this stain on his legacy
I wonder why people give Scientologists so much shit, I know they are evil cult but meh I wonder if its hit religion phase yet. People are now growing up into it families into it. Like Beck hasn't even hurt anyone. Man I dunno maybe people just want to believe aliens created humans and we are just trying to figure out how to get our souls to them its not killing anyone.
Just glad it's not red flannel lol. Most critics are giving it an 8, so it sorta makes sense that he gave it a 5 considering he's not a huge fan especially of the non nu-metal stuff, and this album is a mix of everything they've done. It's the perfect album for people who are into all the eras of LP and not just the first two records, and he's the latter. Personally it's a 8.5/10 and i think their most inspired record since A Thousand Suns. Zero skips for me. Not surprised that all his favorite tracks are literally all the heavy songs.
@@spyrothedragon3983 THP was inspired in a very different sense. Just not as inspired as this one imo, I think the circumstances surrounding this certainly add to it, you can feel them be creatively reinvigorated and hungry bc this is a new beginning. THP was more of a detour for the band bc they felt like they wanted to make some heavier music and pay homage to their 90s roots, and while it's a good record that does have some gems, I do think a lot of it feels sorta bland for the band and is the least them sounding album they've done. It's missing the elements that made their earlier heavy music (HT, Meteora) interesting and fresh, and wasn't as strong in a songwriting sense, whereas From Zero excels in every department. In fact, some stuff on FZ feels like if THP was more polished. The band themselves said THP was more of a detour and novelty project of sorts, they were initially working on a more indie-pop/electropop type sound before making the pivot. And once this was done they seemingly resumed the pop direction they said they were going in since that was what the next album, OML, ended up being.
@@questionquestion1 Interesting, I found this album to share the criticisms you have of that album lol, this felt bland & hollow for most of its runtime, short songs with basic song structures (THP broke this formula), the songwriting could’ve been much stronger, especially after Post Traumatic having Mike’s most poignant lyrics, they’re just competent but I wasn’t left “feeling” anything like how the depth of the songs on their first 2 albums is palpable. I get the sense that the main goal was to make catchy songs that could all be single rather than making the best or the most meaningful music they could, but the latter is what I want to see from them, so if I don’t think it’s their best I’m left seeing the wasted potential. For me it’s much better than One More Light & Living Things, but the rest are stronger works
I agree, this album is pretty solid, with my only real complaint is that its too short, but then again i only clicked this video to reinforce my theory that if its a good rock album, fantano won't give it a good score,
Funny, I actually started playing the album for around the fifth or sixth time when I got the notification for this video, LOL! Anyway, I'm a bit surprised at your mixed review of the record, as I thought you were gonna really tear into it. Personally, as a longtime LP fan who was devastated when Chester passed, I love this album! Sure, it goes back and forth between harder and softer songs, but I think that works to its favor. Think about it: this is their first album in seven years. Not only are they reintroducing themselves to the world, but they're also introducing themselves to a new generation of rock and metal fans. That's why I think it was a smart decision to have it kind of be a hodgepodge of all seven of their previous albums. And even then, it flows a lot better than it could've otherwise. I think a lot of your criticisms of this album are valid, and I do agree that it's their best record in quite some time. I'm excited for this new era!
Anthony likes Linkin Park's nu-metal songs, but not their later albums. Same as most people tbh. So the criticism makes sense since the tracks he doesn't like sound like those later albums too.
Ooh. Overflow is reminiscent of A Thousand Suns and very atmospheric. A favorite for many from the album. Over Each Other very much a decent song but doesn't feel like Linkin Park at all.
If im honest, i loved this record. I understand why people arent impressed, i get it i really do. But to me they were seeing if Emily could do Linkin Park, and she can. Now its about seeing where they go from here. It was an 8 for me and the more i listen the more fun i have with it. Maybe im just a cavewoman but idk i think its fun, well written and a blast of a time, i appreciate the fast pace of it too
Kind of silly to suggest that Heavy Is The Crown should have been the first single, when the fact is that The Emptiness Machine has been a fairly sizable hit, especially for a rock song in 2024. It's been top 10 in a ton of countries, even hitting #1 on the mainstream charts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Portugal.
Truth be told to me it feels like Linkin Park doesn't really know what direction to go with Emily YET. And this album they are putting all kinds of sound to see what all works and what all doesn't.
Maybe I'm just cynical but I thought this was less of an experimentation album and more of a "let's not rock the boat by doing anything too daring" album. Like, they're backing a massive comeback tour off this album, they know they don't want to disappoint people now
I still think they should have went the Thom Yorke route and just made a spiritual successor band like The Smile, but at the very least, I hope Linkin Park can find a fresh direction with Emily. Maybe this will be their Dio-Black Sabbath era
Hybrid Theory, Meteora, Living Things, and From Zero were my favorite albums. Top best Linkin Park albums ever made. God bless chester bennington. We will miss him. 🙏🏻
I find it hilarious that a lot of the stuff apparently "true" fans hate I genuinely love. I loved "Stained" and some of the other "slower" tracks quite a bit (fave albums are Meteorea and Living Things, for reference).
I was relieved that they played it safe with this album. Let them retread old ground so they can familiarise themselves with what their good at, so a future album can be longer and stronger. At least I hope that's what happens. This feels like a sampler of what might be to come.
I saw them live for their comeback concerts and she honestly did sound good live on their old songs. And it was nice to see the rest of the band having so much fun performing again. As far as the album goes, idk it doesn't really do it for me, the singles are good and I like a few of the other tracks, but I'm definitely glad I went to see them when they were performing all their old songs.
I think Emily does a nice job of filling in, her vocals definitely work with LP, but again it just feels like we're trying to hit the same old formula again. It's not ground breaking, but it's not a step backwards and I think for a band coming back after years of not really being together after the loss of their best friend and lead singer, there is not much more you can ask for. Solid LP record for LP fans. Would I go back to listen it more than the old records? Probably not. I do think the record does a good job of getting across all of their sounds for new fans to come in and just to get old fans to come back as well.
I grew up with Linkin Park, being a '97 kid. They were my favorite band all the way up through high school. I loved everything LP, and losing Chester was heartbreaking. I wish them the best
I was expecting Anthony to give it a strong 5 to a light 7, so not too far off. It's basically a best of albums of sorts recycling elements from their first four, absolutely not earth-shattering but very curated IMHO. They played it safe
I don't really get the criticism of "they played it safe" (for anything to be clear, not just this). It just doesn't make sense to me. Is it good or not? Safe or risky is irrelevant. And I don't get what is "safe" or what is "risky". The definition seems arbitrary.
@@TheGeorgeD13 it's not necessarily a criticism, but you need to put yourself in the critic's mindset: the fun factor here doesn't need to be what scratches your itch, but what makes you curious. If it's not interesting like ATS was compared their previous albums, you're bound to make something that already exists and isn't as rewarding to engage in. You can expand on a concept before you start living in the shadow of your previous work, HT and Meteora in this case, albums whose lyrics the fans already know by heart. A big part of Linkin Park is also change, and you can easily argue you don't see too much of it here.
Dont expect much of an aut who cant understand a simple metaphor. He couldnt get even the most cohesive song lyrically in this album. But its fair, he thinks a lesbian woman should speak against a criminal sect that destroy lifes just because he cant take a step back on his pretentious criticism.
Those other songs reference their later albums sonically. Overflow sounds like a Thousand Suns track. Over Each Other could be a Minutes to Midnight track (Mike wasn't on that album much either). Casualty might be a Hunting Party track. So if you prefer classic Linkin Park then this ctiticism makes sense. They always could have written Hybrid Theory/Meteora 3, but they never wanted to, so they sacrificed some of their popularity to follow what interested them. It's their least adventurous musically, but that's fine because they had to establish Emily as the singer. And Good Things Go is almost certainly about the grief that filled the hole left by losing Chester.
It's funny how Hybrid Theory is only 6 minutes longer, and yet that feels more like an LP LP, and From Zero feels like an LP EP.... though ultimately that just means I've even more easily had this album on repeat 😅
4:19 I think this is a strength, not a weakness. The lyrics are connected enough to let you extract a coherent story, but also vague enough to allow people to build their own interpretation from a blend of the song itself and their own experience. I read The Emptiness Machine as a lot more political than Fantano. Yes, the protagonist is being inauthentic, but it's deeper than just wanting to fit in. It screams of desperation and disillusionment with a system that has failed them, that has seduced them with false promises, has deceived them into changing their identity, fooled them into thinking that identity is real. More than just pretending to be something else in order to be accepted, they thought they were reinventing themselves for a place to belong, for a way to find meaning, but were instead robbed of both their identity and the hope they still held for a better reality and were left empty, all promises broken, nothing left. In today's political climate, I feel this kind of struggle is not at all uncommon, and I think the song deserves more than to be hand waved away as "new girl at work wants to fit in and isn't being herself". Fantano puts "The Emptiness Machine" in pretentiousness quotes, but I find it quite a fitting metaphor: an organization, a process, a system that has no value, neither to society nor to the protagonist or thousands like them; that only takes and disintegrates. A producer of nothingness, a destroyer of anything that is beautiful and authentic. A machine born out of political turmoil and a large helping of cynicism and greed. One that takes a person's anger and confusion, aggregates it with that of others to serve its own ends, only to leave the people it used empty and lost. To me this song is about losing your place in society (or being convinced by bad actors that you never had a place, or don't deserve it), and then being promised all sorts of lies by toxic groups that want you to join in their hatred and anger. You've fallen for the lies, but eventually realize that you've been conned. That's what I take this song to be: a lamentation of the betrayal you've suffered because of your naivete and the cruelty of today's world. The Emptiness Machine could represent an extremist political current or organization, a cult, capitalism, apathy itself, you name it.
Yeah, that's about how I expected this review to go down. And I agree with the general idea that this album's more of a reintroduction with a new singer rather than a step forward. That all said, as a Thousand Suns fan it's funny that you smashed my favorite (Overflow) and least favorite (Cut The Bridge) together in a negative light. I also loved the closing track. Still, I think this is an album that's content to be a career retrospective grab bag for fans to cherry pick their favorites from based on whatever era they like the most. Not all songs here are for everyone, but all songs here are for someone.
As a big LP fan I’m pretty happy with it, pulled off the impossible, feels authentic, feels like they put in alot of effort and it isn’t their worst album which is a huge compliment.
I agree with a lot of your points. I disagree on your critiques of Overflow and Good Things So. I love both those songs and they were stand outs to me. Especially overflow. I love the transcendent feeling Overflow gets me. A lot of the songs on this album have parts where I either like Emily’s part and am indifferent about Mike’s part or vice versa. Aside from Overflow and Good Things go, I do feel they picked their strongest track to release as singles. Cut the Bridge is okay. I’ve never been the biggest fan of LPs short, aggressive songs like Victimized and War. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t love them. Casualty is the same. Stained is alright. I like the lyrics but it was a bit too poppy for me. Igyeih grew on me after a few listens. The falling down the stairs line was a weaker lyric. I was also not a fan of the “wrapped around my neck like a tentacle” line. Overall, I’d give it a 7 right now.
Completely agree. Overflow is probably my favorite, I'm glad mike went all out with his trip-hop influences. I think A Thousand Suns it's their best album, and I believe their spacey electronic tracks tend to be very strong in general.
I love Good Things Go. The lyrics aren't deep, but Emily shows an absolutely incredible vocal range. Every time I listen to the album all the way through, I have to play that song 2 or 3 times in a row.
As a fan of Linkin Park since their first album, this one was pretty "meh" to me. Felt like a band that was inspired by OG Linkin Park, rather than the band themselves. It wasn't bad; it just didn't scratch my itch for new Linkin Park.
@@primezilla37 More of the same from previous sound, lyrics are weak and many tracks seem rushed. She is not Chester, she actually sings better than Chester if she avoids being a pretentious screamer. Couple of nice songs, the rest is just bad in my opinion.
From listening to interviews with Mike and Emily, it sounded like they were going to proceed without a new vocalist for awhile. The songs were 90% done when Emily got brought into the fold. This also reinforces my belief that Mike's production and songwriting is a large part of the band that got punched up by the the other members.
My first time hearing Heavy is the crown I seriously wondered if AI was involved. It sounds like what AI would produce if you told it to write a single song that encompassed the bands career. Hey that sounds like faint. Oh hey that’s lyrics from Bleed it out. Oh hey she said the name of a link in park song. In my head I imagined a repeating gif of the Leo pointing meme during the whole song.
Honestly, exactly what I expected for the rating. Obviously not their best work with some pretty major shortcomings, but the effort is there and honestly I was expecting it to be worse. If nothing else the album at least surpassed my low expectations lol.
yea fantano is still in the same page of 3 months ago, dude is very slow and egocentric. He cant accept the fact a person cant raise voice against a criminal sect that destroy the life of ex-members
As a major linkin park fan I enjoyed it a lot but also get some of the criticisms. If nothing else, it has a few bangers and made me happy for a bit, and like you said could have turned out a lot worse
One minute of silence. The melonhead was not able to understand that "hard to laugh when im the joke" is a metaphor and could mean anything like "hard to accept something when im the target/object", which relates to the entire lyrics.
Rarely agree with you. Thought maybe it deserves a 6 or 7 but solid review brother. I’m just glad they’re back. Got mass Hybrid Theory vibes from this one, don’t hate it.
I can wholeheartedly I agree with this review. My take on it is: it’s definitely more their old self but without their old singer so that hurts. I do not want to hear their old selves with a new singer. Yes she can perform the songs. She can “deliver” in doing the job, but she is not Chester. Give me new stuff. Staind felt like new stuff, dunno about the Shinoda style feat Emily. It felt like what we’ve gotten in MTM, ATS, and LT. That creative weird style I enjoy about linkin park. But yea definitely an EP style album and for me a 4.5/10. There’s potential here, but filling in the shoes of Chester is not the way to go. I need Emily. I need Emily’s Linkin Park, not Chester’s Linkin Park. This album felt like 3/4 Chester album with a replacement vocalist. Chester is gone and I don’t need a cover band. I need her to be her and take over. 2 cents.
i really love the album, from a old fan, she really fits LP and to think these songs where recorded before she went on tour, so her singing has got a lot better, the songs defiantly sounds like each song is from each one of their albums, it was sad that its only 10 songs, would of been nice to be 12 or 15 but im so happy they are back, cant wait to see what they make next
Eminem & Linkin Park getting not so bad reviews & scores from Fantano while every music outlet is shitting on their new stuff is something i wasn't expecting in 2024
I listened to it a few times. Out of all their recent albums, this is their best. I absolutely miss Chester. I grew up a fan but eventually grew up and got into other bands which lead to my love for progressive rock/metal. I eventually started listening again but found I didn't enjoy their newer music as much. Not bad, just not for me. This album though, all criticisms aside, is solid. I'd give it a 7/10. That's just my opinion.
Why do think it’s better than The Hunting Party, that’s their most “progressive” & rock oriented album & A Thousand Suns, being their most bold & creative?
I think The Emptiness Machine is a good lead single because Mike sings the first verse and chorus. It's probably the most 'familiar' opening to a track they have on this album as a result, but then we get introduced to Emily who sings it an octave higher, really belting out the chorus in contrast to Mike's softer rendition of it. It eases people into the new vocalist a bit better. I think the album is overall pretty forgettable, although all of the songs are enjoyable and radio friendly. They played it safe, which is understandable. To me it's like another Minutes to Midnight sorta deal, where the band were going through a transitional period and hadn't yet found their feet. However, that was followed by A Thousand Suns which is their most creative output and my personal favourite, so I'm hoping that they're going to do the same on the next album, now that they've done the obligatory "Hey, we're still the same LP you know and love" effort.
Agreed. I'm already craving a more focused album for next time. Something with better direction creativity. This was a great reintroduction, now give me the sprawling epic and then I can give you the final verdict on Emily.
i was definitely not expecting this review, i gotta say i agree with a lot of this stuff, i wasn’t too big on the album since the first single, but i gotta say, it’s sorta growing on me, probably not gonna be a constant repeat, but also not gonna just get forgotten
Mike said himself that he see's this as a good solid album but they have the potential with Emily to do great stuff in the future. A more than decent start to a new era i thought might never happen. Great to have them back
@@Yoxen_gambling a good counterpoint but I feel like Casualty and Mark The Graves approach going "hard" in significantly different ways. MTG is for sure under-appreciated though.
@@Yoxen_gambling mark the graves is a great song, but it hits me like slightly harder silversun pickups. Which is NOT a bad thing. I like it a lot. The whole album of Hunting Party is like that. But Casualty is trashy, thrashy, and it’s all screams and shout vocals the whole way through. I f*cking love it 😆
I think they chose a really unique and sophisticated way to move on. Their choice for the new Park to be a different gender singer was a good way to help give direction for Linkin's new music but keeps the flame of the classics that Linkin Park made together burning bright, while not having the problem of having to compare Park with Park, who of course can never be replaced in truth. I think other bands ran into this issue like when Chains passed and Alice decided to get someone who could copy Chains really well but it can't bring back the original Alice in Chains magic. I suspect that "in" had a lot of input and influence over Alice to make that decision, especially since Chains and in had drama and fell out with Alice for a while when Alice went solo. I hope Linkin will keep making great music together with Park and people won't just be into Linkin or Park but actually appreciate Linkin and Park as they evolve to the next stage of Linkin Park. Linkin description
I get why they played it safe, because when they heavily strayed from their sound like they did in one more light, basically everyone hated it (because let’s be real most of it was…not great)
The production and intensity of the drums don’t match the rest of the music. Am I the only one noticing this? He’s got a soft touch, and it could use some compression to get more of that booming nu metal sound
This was a much more positive review than I expected. Only part I disagree with is I really liked Overflow, it showed off Emily's straight up singing voice and she sounded great. 4 or 5 is what I would give it too
Casualty sold me on Emily's vocals. I'm eager to see her singing some of the bands classics. If they can capture the energy of Live in Texas, i'm more than happy.
I have been so impressed by the return of Linkin Park and even moreso with Emily Armstrong. And EVEN MORESO how they managed to continue as and keep the sound of Linkin Park without Chester
No no they arent trying to SELL us on anything. its the new era. people just need to either get with it or get off to just enjoy what LP was not what they are now. ffs why WHY does everything with people like LP becomes a thing.
I am a MASSIVE fan of Linkin Park. Chester Bennington is and always will be one of my favourite vocalists of all time--nobody *can* properly replace him. However, I think Emily is an amazing singer and is a good singer to take over for Chester. I've done a lot of research, and she seems like she's not in the cult anymore. From her older lyrics, to her talking about her views on mental health & a lot of other things, she seems trustable. Obviously if she says anything off I'm going to be wrong & I don't mind that, i'll take that L. The album is a lot of what current fans seemed to have wanted: A lot of that older nu-metal flare while keeping the electronic sound. They're solid songs. I wouldn't say they're my favourites in their discography (except for Cut The Bridge, I LOVE that one) But they're great songs that hold their own and hold up nicely for a band who haven't made new music together in years while having to come back with a whole new vocalist and drummer. I'm excited to see what's to come & what Emily + Colin bring to the table in terms of singing, writing and producing. I'm glad we have this band back.
Some really solid takes. I personally am just stoked one of my favorite bands is back, and not just as a 'legacy act' performing old hits with a live session vocalist. I gotta say, you are still the king of album reviews. I tend to avoid your reviews until I've finished making mine so I don't find myself influenced. I definitely focus more on vibes and the music side of things. That does lead to me having missed some of the small issues that make this a 5 out of 10 in the lyrics especially. To me this album felt pretty strong, but I do agree that a slightly more cynical (and I mean this word as a complement) reading does illuminate some of the shortcomings. I'm really excited for album 2 of this era of LinkinPark.
While I agree with most of the things said here, I completely disagree on The Emptiness Machine's lyrics. I think if you look into who Emily is as a person and what her backstory is, Emptiness Machine ends up being one of the most lyrically interesting. There are so many aspects of it that could be interpreted as an indirect criticism of her time in scientology, pretending to be somebody else because the group around her is trying to force her into a cult that demands complete servitude and whittles you down. She went in as a normal person and watched so many people go in as normal people, only to come out empty, just a shell for scientology to use whenever they see fit. Edit: id also like to add that a lot of rumors have been going around about Emily lately, and a lot of it originates from a place of misogyny. I'm not saying everybody who believes these rumors is misogynistic, just that that's where the rumors came from. It's a lot easier to get fans of Linkin Park to hate her for the scientology stuff so they make things up because it's a lot harder to get fans of Linkin Park to just hate her because she's a woman. Linkin Park has a history of acceptance and welcoming social outcasts and the mentally ill and abused. for anyone reading this, remember that a young emily armstrong was coerced into defending a rapist, but that doesn't define her or lessen the things she faced. You don't know what happened behind closed doors
or you know she’s simply a queer person that went through it since a teen. all these ‘music heads’ or as i like to call them, incels, just use the scientology as an excuse but, yeah, it’s basically just misogyny (bummer). makes for great modern rap and screaming pop bangers though.
Mike Shinoda has been on record as saying that he wrote The Emptiness Machine before Emily was a part of the band. There's a lot of misogyny getting directed her way, that much is obvious, but the general vibe of the song, an examination of the lyrical content, and how the band themselves treat the song all seem to support fantano's interpretation here.
definitely see that subtext for her, while also being a larger context for the general listener - there's even rich subtext for moments when she sings numb, even though it had been written years and years before it would've been conceivable that anyone else would sing that song
Amazing how everyone that criticizes "overflow" says the same thing... "Oh look guitars and screams, cool... Overflow sounds weird" always the "oh i like NOISE" dudes. Amazing
A Thousand Suns was their Kid A, the 4th album that ditched the traditional guitar tracks in favor of atmospheric electronica. Unfortunately, most people on the Linkin Park fandom didn't really accept the change as well as Radiohead fans did. Even Fantano it's like this, with all of his "Doesn't sound like Linkin Park" criticisms, and pretending the band didn't release anything after Meteora. Overflow it's great and probably my favorite on the record.
@@WitchLuna7 I was fully embracing their experiments with electronic and pop genres. Their decision to give in to all the 'bring back the HT sound' crowd disappoints me. Overflow is the only song I like from the album.
@@l1p0v I share a bit of your sentiment tbh. I think Zero is really good, but it was the first album since Meteora where I was like "Yup, I heard this before in a LP album". People can criticize Linkin Park all they want, but you gotta respect how they keep things fresh in every new release. Even OML, despite being weak, was the band treading new ground.
@@WitchLuna7 it's funny because, basically the band says "hey I know you like this heavy stuff, but check this other one out.. you may like it" and the "fans" are like "nope, terrible, not Linkin park", and the band says "hold on, hold it... listen, it us right? We know how to do other things, we made this other thing... it's cool right?" And it really is but the answer is "no, nope, terrible, omg that's SO BAD not Linkin park". Do this people even listen to something that is not ONLY SCREAMS AND HEAVY GUITARS like wtf... Linkin Park and mike shinoda have SO MUCH potential to different stuff and the so called "fans" have such a tinny brain for new things, it's revolting. ATS is by far my favorite album and I think Linkin Park does this kinda sound better than they do the heavier stuff.
Pretty fair assessment. "Casualty" is an absolute bop though and going on my forever playlist, along with a few others. I just felt that the softer parts of the record were a bit weak.
Surprisingly pleased by your take here. You're right on the money with Cut The Bridge and some of the lyricism in Good Things Go - and they really did capture the feel of early LP in many of their tracks. But as someone who has had very few skips on the entirety of LPs discography - this album feels like it pays hommage to where Linkin Park has been, and where they have diversified their sound over the years. When separated from their entire discography and rated purely sonically, it doesn't quite reach the heights of Hybrid Theory or Meteora, instead landing somewhere between MTM and Living Things. But, as a comeback album for a band this storied and impactful to music... It really carries more meaning to me personally, and to a lot of other die-hard LP fans. I'd say Cut The Bridge with its overly cheesy repetition may be only skip and that's only for me to go listen to Two Faced again
I think you misunderstood what LP is all about. It's not only about the metal, screams, rapping and what not, at least it wasn't after Meteora. They like to experiment with electronic and pop sounds every now and then. This album is great because it has a little bit of all of that (a hybrid if I must say) and in a decent quality.
Didn't even know the dirt on Emily with Masterson and Scientology - and still don't care because the music is incredible. SHE is incredible. The album is incredible. Linkin Park is BACK.
In regards to the scientology thing, her family is in it and she has distanced herself away from it and them. That's the ties. She doesn't speak much about it (probably over concerns of her own safety) but safe to assume she isn't a fan.
Fair score, quality criticisms. Unsubscribed.
most sane person on the internet
It be like that sometimes
Same bro
Original comment
😂😂😂
In the Park, Straight up Linkin' it
I'm Linkin my Park rn
what do you mean by "it?"
@@Surfinflea heh, and by “it” i mean my parkits
@@Surfinfleahaha well let's justr say my cheetos
@@Jumsut_ Sounds like an MC Ride bar
If they named the album “From 5” you would’ve given it a 10
@@DragonPhlegm ok this one's actually funny. Probably the funniest one of these jokes I've seen in really long
This one is actually funny 🤣
It really isn't.
The only "if it was named x you would've given it a 10" joke that deserves a like
goddamn it lol
7:05 missed opportunity to say "the weakest link in the park"
😭😭😭
Lol
My brother just recently passed away. His favorite band was always Linkin Park. Before he passed away I remember asking him how he felt about the new vocalist being a female, and he was so excited. He mourned when Chester died. But he welcomed the new vocalist with open arms. He never got to see the release of this album. And I miss him so goddamn much… I’m just happy I got to see LP live with him…
I'm so sorry for your loss. Jam double hard for him. ❤
I wish I died before being able to witness this dogshit album. Lucky him.
Sorry for loss man ❤
I’m sorry for your loss bro, my condolences ❤️❤️❤️
@@diazchristopherm so sorry for your loss.
from the 0 to the 5 to the pen to the king
should’ve been to the lin to the kin
From the hero to the hive to mc ren to the 98' cash money bling
so that's why the crown is heavy uh
@@3Ggian Golden opportunity missed
KSI. Respect! ✊🏿
going from a NOT GOOD to a 5 is honestly not that bad tbh
They went from zero to five.
At this rate they'll be getting a 20/10 in a matter of years
Missed opportunity bud
@@HugoRBMarquesNo. Not good to 5.
I think because of that lyrics "my homies lick my D that's normal" it got a bad score
This is the most positive 5 Fantano has ever dealt.
Certainly one of the most positive light fives for sure
positive in that it had to be pried from fantano's grip haha
I wonder if someone was threatening Anthony not to give it light 2.
When everyone expects him to hate an album and he ends up thinking it's okay, he tends to emphasize the positive aspects more. I noticed this in his MTBMB review too.
It’s because he doesn’t want to get hate from the feminist crowd claiming that “he only doesn’t like it because she’s a girl” even though it has a lot more to do with it being garbage music LOL
So when it comes to Two Faced and they sound like Linkin Park - "oh, that's too much cliche"
When it comes to other songs - "oh, that's not Linkin Park".
Some of these criticisms genuinely feel arbitrary. I think the melon should be reviewing the music on its own merits, not on what it's supposed to sound like the band.
Can you imagine treating Radiohead's post Kid A stuff like this? "Yeah, Idioteque sounds nothing like the Radiohead we all know and love from the first 3 albums. Mid."
yes I was also cofused how you could have 'lack of true diversity' and 'sounds like two different bands' on the same review?
This.
Expectations are important to discuss, but it shouldn't drive the whole review.
Mike Shinoda fell off as a songwriter, that's been the problem for years
He's still subconsciously showing his bias against her because of all the drama that surrounds her past IMO
The new drummer doesn't get his flowers enough since Emily tends to take the spotlight. He really brings a fresh energy to the percussion of the band that we didn't have before
Hell yes. He stood out to me on casualty.
He is also a long-term producer and co-produced the album.
Ah so it’s a different drummer. That explains why the drums immediately seemed off when I started previewing this album. He seems to have a soft touch, and the production of the drums sounds more suited to a regular rock track than nu metal. Very solid player, don’t get me wrong
So I wasn't the only one who thought, "wait a minute, this isn't rob" after all @@pensivepenguin3000
Fun fact: Before Linkin Park was "Linkin Park," they went by the name "Xero." I imagine that plays a part in the album title
That's what Mike's kid was getting at in the intro track
And Xero was before Chester
@@SolidusLightning777 Mike’s kid couldn’t even make it to the NBA. This is one reason why LeBron > Jordan.
From Xero to Xenu
@@phothewin6019 who asked lmao
I predict there will be about 5,000 comments regarding the number zero
Is not a prediction if the thing you predicted has already happened
@@SynthfulDuck it is a prediction considering I posted this 1 minute after upload
Fair enough, it better be 5k comments then or else it still isn't a prefiction
0
5001
The sellout arguments dating back to One More Light never made sense to me.
They're _Linkin Park,_ they don't need to make safe pop music to make money lol. If all they wanted was to make money, they could do stuff like a Hybrid Theory world tour, and tickets would have sold like hot cakes.
It's fine if you guys dont like their pop sound, but insinuating that they didn't have a genuine desire to make pop music doesn't hold up to me. If they make pop music, I think its because they genuinely like it.
@phothewin6019 Not to dismiss Tony's entire review, he makes a lot of good criticisms, but like a quarter of it is "some of these songs don't sound like the first two albums and that is what I expect".
Exactly, if they wanted to “sell out” they would have went pop with Meteora, not wait 20 years
@@Kyle-fy9kt Oh I wasn’t responding directly to Melon. I was just saying in general.
As a Fantano fan, I don’t actually listen to his reviews. I just peep the score then begin complaining or rejoicing in the comments.
@@phothewin6019lmao
They wanted to sellout & make pop music, simple as that lol. They literally hired several well established pop song writers & producers to do most of the work, besides Mike, Chester, & Brad, the rest of the band did little to nothing
As a huge linkin park fan myself, i will say i feel mostly the same, though generally a little more positive about the album as a whole. I actually think the album is better off for having a track like over each other to give emily the space to kind of do her thing within the context of the band, rather than PURELY relying on nostalgia as a selling point, especially since the band and mike have repeatedly stated that if they brought anyone else into the fold, they didn't want to bring them on purely for the sake of replacing chester. I do think that this album is a decent jumping off point for them to both show that emily can hold her own in their more classic sounds as well as try some new things and not be purely caught up in the past.
This next point is purely conjecture and based on my own personal reading of the songs, but i can't help but feel after reading into the lyrics of The Emptiness Machine and IGYEIH that they were sort of the band's "statements" about emily's history with scientology. Given their reputation for the AWFUL things they've done to people who have publicly spoken out about them, I can understand why emily isn't rushing to be like "yeah i fucking hate those people", and i think linkin park's usual vagueness kind of benefits her in being able to say something without outright saying something. Even if it is more of a vague vent rather than direct pointed criticism. Though i will add that their most direct/least vague album, a thousand suns, is one of, if not my favorite of theirs. I'm also aware i could be completely talking out of my ass about this and that my reading of those songs is completely off.
In addition to the point i've seen several people bring up about the album title being a nod to the band's earlier name, Xero, i think the album title also pretty clearly alludes to them needing/wanting a new start (especially emily). And while i don't feel that this album quite measures up to some of their more classic albums, it does give me some hope that they can do some great things moving forward. Emily definitely has chemistry with the band and i am definitely looking forward to where they take things in the future.
Mike said he wrote The Emptiness Machine almost entirely before Emily was the singer--but I get where you're coming from. Her being willing to sing these songs, especially considering we KNOW she's seen the hate she got from people finding out about her past, it can't be 100% nothing.
@Porcuspine360damn look at the edge lord, being cool and all
@Porcuspine360Imagine being able to pen a comment that long, let alone read it. Oh wait.
@Porcuspine360 your bio tells me all I need to know about you "single 38 year old looking to make some young lady friends 🥰🥰" like holy fuck 😭😭😭 you might be the most pathetic human alive
@Porcuspine360holy shit nevermind, I went through some more. You actually harass hundreds of women in their dms. You're fucked up, either get help, go to jail, or find another solution (get the hint).
Emily Armstrong's personal controversies aside, she legitimately is an excellent singer. Chester can never be replaced, and his voice is forever iconic to the band. But I swear Emily sounds similar enough to him that you could easily picture him singing her parts, as well as adding her own unique touches. It feels and sounds like Linkin Park, And I'm really excited to see where the band goes from here.
I don't think she's trying to sound like him, just trying to emulate him. Anyone in that position would feel the need to pay tribute. But yeah, I didn't listen to any of the lead up singles. I played this on Saturday. She sounds awesome. Very powerful singer.
She’s a Scientologist. Can’t be supporting them
This sums things up very well
You can't just put personal controversies aside she's literally apart of and endorses a cult that has ruined the lives of so many people. They're literally the most destructive cult of their scale and influence. Emily Armstrong should never ever be allowed to just get away with not dissavowing such a disgusting organization. She has no morals or backbone. Chester, after all the abuse he's been through, did not deserve this stain on his legacy
I wonder why people give Scientologists so much shit, I know they are evil cult but meh I wonder if its hit religion phase yet. People are now growing up into it families into it. Like Beck hasn't even hurt anyone. Man I dunno maybe people just want to believe aliens created humans and we are just trying to figure out how to get our souls to them its not killing anyone.
If this album was called To Link A Parkinfly you’d have given it a 10
OMG SO FUNNY HAHAHAHAHXDDDDD NEVER SAW THAT ONE COMING LEMAUUUU
now this is a good one.
nah...
I Will never get enough of this type of joke ahahahhaha
i usually hate this joke format, but "link a parkinfly" is actually rly funny
Just glad it's not red flannel lol. Most critics are giving it an 8, so it sorta makes sense that he gave it a 5 considering he's not a huge fan especially of the non nu-metal stuff, and this album is a mix of everything they've done. It's the perfect album for people who are into all the eras of LP and not just the first two records, and he's the latter. Personally it's a 8.5/10 and i think their most inspired record since A Thousand Suns. Zero skips for me.
Not surprised that all his favorite tracks are literally all the heavy songs.
How was this more inspired than the hunting party? They actually did new things on that album
@@spyrothedragon3983 THP was inspired in a very different sense. Just not as inspired as this one imo, I think the circumstances surrounding this certainly add to it, you can feel them be creatively reinvigorated and hungry bc this is a new beginning.
THP was more of a detour for the band bc they felt like they wanted to make some heavier music and pay homage to their 90s roots, and while it's a good record that does have some gems, I do think a lot of it feels sorta bland for the band and is the least them sounding album they've done. It's missing the elements that made their earlier heavy music (HT, Meteora) interesting and fresh, and wasn't as strong in a songwriting sense, whereas From Zero excels in every department. In fact, some stuff on FZ feels like if THP was more polished. The band themselves said THP was more of a detour and novelty project of sorts, they were initially working on a more indie-pop/electropop type sound before making the pivot. And once this was done they seemingly resumed the pop direction they said they were going in since that was what the next album, OML, ended up being.
@@questionquestion1 Interesting, I found this album to share the criticisms you have of that album lol, this felt bland & hollow for most of its runtime, short songs with basic song structures (THP broke this formula), the songwriting could’ve been much stronger, especially after Post Traumatic having Mike’s most poignant lyrics, they’re just competent but I wasn’t left “feeling” anything like how the depth of the songs on their first 2 albums is palpable. I get the sense that the main goal was to make catchy songs that could all be single rather than making the best or the most meaningful music they could, but the latter is what I want to see from them, so if I don’t think it’s their best I’m left seeing the wasted potential. For me it’s much better than One More Light & Living Things, but the rest are stronger works
Hey Mike, how you doin
I agree, this album is pretty solid, with my only real complaint is that its too short, but then again i only clicked this video to reinforce my theory that if its a good rock album, fantano won't give it a good score,
Surprised Fantano didnt like Overflow, it has a dark atmospheric soundscape that I dont think Linkin Park ever captured before.
they did on A thousand suns, best song on the album imo
Overflow is my favorite song off the album
I love overflow
Grouping it in with Cut The Bridge pained me 😭 Would love more tracks sonically similar to Overflow, but usually skip Cut the Bridge.
Overflow is great. Reminiscent of “A Thousand Suns” sound composition
Fair criticisms, but totally missed the mark on Overflow. One of the coolest tracks imo.
Damn straight
true
Yuppp
True
It's a boring ass UFC fight trailer ahh song
Funny, I actually started playing the album for around the fifth or sixth time when I got the notification for this video, LOL! Anyway, I'm a bit surprised at your mixed review of the record, as I thought you were gonna really tear into it. Personally, as a longtime LP fan who was devastated when Chester passed, I love this album! Sure, it goes back and forth between harder and softer songs, but I think that works to its favor. Think about it: this is their first album in seven years. Not only are they reintroducing themselves to the world, but they're also introducing themselves to a new generation of rock and metal fans. That's why I think it was a smart decision to have it kind of be a hodgepodge of all seven of their previous albums. And even then, it flows a lot better than it could've otherwise. I think a lot of your criticisms of this album are valid, and I do agree that it's their best record in quite some time. I'm excited for this new era!
Anthony likes Linkin Park's nu-metal songs, but not their later albums. Same as most people tbh. So the criticism makes sense since the tracks he doesn't like sound like those later albums too.
Ooh. Overflow is reminiscent of A Thousand Suns and very atmospheric. A favorite for many from the album. Over Each Other very much a decent song but doesn't feel like Linkin Park at all.
I love Over Each Other, but I totally agree. Every time I hear it, it just doesn't feel like a LP song at all.
No mention of IGYEIH?
he lists it as one of the favorite tracks in the descriptions i guess
That's what I thought 😭😭
Best track and not even mentioning it
I GIVE YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE, YA YA YA
He doesn't care enough, he meat rides
This review only ever mentions two members of a six members band, that's how "deep" it is
The most positive sounding Fantano's 5-score review compared to his other reviews of higher scores. This is the new normal lol
Because he liked the album but he needs to keep his pretentious image, so he cant score it 6+
@@VASILY.IsMyLoV-rn9kj my guy what
@@VASILY.IsMyLoV-rn9kjhe gave Sexyy Redd an 8 I think he's beating the pretentious allegations VERY handily
@@extraterrestrial8888 it is crazy to give her an 8 and this a 5
@@adexplorersit really isn’t. It’s the same stupid argument that was made when he gave Lil Pump a 7.
If im honest, i loved this record. I understand why people arent impressed, i get it i really do. But to me they were seeing if Emily could do Linkin Park, and she can. Now its about seeing where they go from here. It was an 8 for me and the more i listen the more fun i have with it. Maybe im just a cavewoman but idk i think its fun, well written and a blast of a time, i appreciate the fast pace of it too
I agree, I'm so looking forward to the Emily era with this as a solid catchy start. I give the album a 8 and I even cried.
Y’all glazing her she’s not that good. If the band had a different name nobody would care about them.
I'd have preferred it personally if they figured out what to do with a new singer *before* releasing an album full of Hybrid Theory ripoff spam farts
I'm with you personally, I've been having so much fun listening to this new album
Ur to much of a fan 8.5 or higher is crazy. Its a 4
Overflow is peak.
absolutely
Yeah, I'm really against him on that take. Overflow is a standout track
@@Acmallsb40 it sounds somewhat like a ATS track
Got major ATS vibes from Overflow, which is great
I really hope they embrace this experimental sound more in the next album
nope, The Emptiness Machine is peak.
Ok wow, that's shocking. I was not expecting that high from you. Some quality criticism too
he actually listened to it lol nostalgia isn't necessarily a bad thing - it just can't be the only thing
Kind of silly to suggest that Heavy Is The Crown should have been the first single, when the fact is that The Emptiness Machine has been a fairly sizable hit, especially for a rock song in 2024. It's been top 10 in a ton of countries, even hitting #1 on the mainstream charts in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Portugal.
We're only talking about real countries. Get out of here, extraterrestrial
Any first single would still be #1, it would’ve been their comeback song regardless
@ doubtful. It’s not like they’ve had many big hits since Numb.
@@TheRealBlueSwan lolwhat
@@TheRealBlueSwan ??? that is so objectively not true lmao
This is easily their best album since One More Light.
Not saying much lmao
@elijahgrossman8223 You don't say, Elijah?
@@elijahgrossman8223I know right😭 I have no humor either
@@elijahgrossman8223 oh really?
personall OML beats this
anthony deciding whether or not to mention scientology in real time at 0:40
Really liked Overflow tbh
5 is 5 points higher than I expected
Truth be told to me it feels like Linkin Park doesn't really know what direction to go with Emily YET. And this album they are putting all kinds of sound to see what all works and what all doesn't.
Maybe I'm just cynical but I thought this was less of an experimentation album and more of a "let's not rock the boat by doing anything too daring" album. Like, they're backing a massive comeback tour off this album, they know they don't want to disappoint people now
@@Billiamwoods yeah but I do appreciate a strong theme or a message though an album and a consistent direction. Otherwise it becomes too forgettable
I still think they should have went the Thom Yorke route and just made a spiritual successor band like The Smile, but at the very least, I hope Linkin Park can find a fresh direction with Emily. Maybe this will be their Dio-Black Sabbath era
Watchu mean, she sounds amazig in all the tracks
@ not THEIR best, yeah it’s better than maybe OML but that’s not saying a lot
Lincoln cut down a tree in the Park with a strong 7” handle on an axe. A light crash was heard as the tree fell.
Hybrid Theory, Meteora, Living Things, and From Zero were my favorite albums. Top best Linkin Park albums ever made. God bless chester bennington. We will miss him. 🙏🏻
I find it hilarious that a lot of the stuff apparently "true" fans hate I genuinely love. I loved "Stained" and some of the other "slower" tracks quite a bit (fave albums are Meteorea and Living Things, for reference).
I was relieved that they played it safe with this album. Let them retread old ground so they can familiarise themselves with what their good at, so a future album can be longer and stronger. At least I hope that's what happens. This feels like a sampler of what might be to come.
Classic review: Hybrid Theory
i need it
I saw them live for their comeback concerts and she honestly did sound good live on their old songs. And it was nice to see the rest of the band having so much fun performing again. As far as the album goes, idk it doesn't really do it for me, the singles are good and I like a few of the other tracks, but I'm definitely glad I went to see them when they were performing all their old songs.
I think the take on Overflow is unfairly rushed, that song is so nuanced and layered that it might be one of the band’s best.
I think Emily does a nice job of filling in, her vocals definitely work with LP, but again it just feels like we're trying to hit the same old formula again. It's not ground breaking, but it's not a step backwards and I think for a band coming back after years of not really being together after the loss of their best friend and lead singer, there is not much more you can ask for. Solid LP record for LP fans. Would I go back to listen it more than the old records? Probably not. I do think the record does a good job of getting across all of their sounds for new fans to come in and just to get old fans to come back as well.
I grew up with Linkin Park, being a '97 kid. They were my favorite band all the way up through high school. I loved everything LP, and losing Chester was heartbreaking. I wish them the best
Ok
I was expecting Anthony to give it a strong 5 to a light 7, so not too far off. It's basically a best of albums of sorts recycling elements from their first four, absolutely not earth-shattering but very curated IMHO. They played it safe
I don't really get the criticism of "they played it safe" (for anything to be clear, not just this). It just doesn't make sense to me. Is it good or not? Safe or risky is irrelevant. And I don't get what is "safe" or what is "risky". The definition seems arbitrary.
@@TheGeorgeD13 "Safe" is arbitrary
@@TheGeorgeD13 it's not necessarily a criticism, but you need to put yourself in the critic's mindset: the fun factor here doesn't need to be what scratches your itch, but what makes you curious. If it's not interesting like ATS was compared their previous albums, you're bound to make something that already exists and isn't as rewarding to engage in. You can expand on a concept before you start living in the shadow of your previous work, HT and Meteora in this case, albums whose lyrics the fans already know by heart. A big part of Linkin Park is also change, and you can easily argue you don't see too much of it here.
Dont expect much of an aut who cant understand a simple metaphor. He couldnt get even the most cohesive song lyrically in this album. But its fair, he thinks a lesbian woman should speak against a criminal sect that destroy lifes just because he cant take a step back on his pretentious criticism.
@@lostblue5651 who hurt u
The synths on Overflow immediately reminded my of "Everything In Its Right Place" by Radiohead
best song on the album too
@@Yoxen_gamblingIt's also my favorite. Trip-hoppy banger.
@@WitchLuna7 I wish LP would ditch the angwy sound and go full Portishead. Overflow is the only good song on the album.
I thought of Massive Attacks Mezzanine album when I heard this track. Love the eery vibes, similar tone and soundscapes
thisss
Those other songs reference their later albums sonically. Overflow sounds like a Thousand Suns track. Over Each Other could be a Minutes to Midnight track (Mike wasn't on that album much either). Casualty might be a Hunting Party track. So if you prefer classic Linkin Park then this ctiticism makes sense. They always could have written Hybrid Theory/Meteora 3, but they never wanted to, so they sacrificed some of their popularity to follow what interested them. It's their least adventurous musically, but that's fine because they had to establish Emily as the singer. And Good Things Go is almost certainly about the grief that filled the hole left by losing Chester.
All jokes aside, this is probably their best slbum since a thousand suns
I rate it just below LIVING THINGS which is one of my fav albums of theirs
I would say second best, The Hunting Party was amazing imo, this ranks just below it for me.
it IS the best album since a thousand suns
living things and one more light laugh
Why are you disrespecting ATS in such a way?
@7:00 missed a good opportunity to say “not the weakest link in the park” instead of chain.
It's funny how Hybrid Theory is only 6 minutes longer, and yet that feels more like an LP LP, and From Zero feels like an LP EP.... though ultimately that just means I've even more easily had this album on repeat 😅
I wish from zero was two songs or ten minutes longer, whichever was easier.
4:19 I think this is a strength, not a weakness. The lyrics are connected enough to let you extract a coherent story, but also vague enough to allow people to build their own interpretation from a blend of the song itself and their own experience.
I read The Emptiness Machine as a lot more political than Fantano. Yes, the protagonist is being inauthentic, but it's deeper than just wanting to fit in. It screams of desperation and disillusionment with a system that has failed them, that has seduced them with false promises, has deceived them into changing their identity, fooled them into thinking that identity is real.
More than just pretending to be something else in order to be accepted, they thought they were reinventing themselves for a place to belong, for a way to find meaning, but were instead robbed of both their identity and the hope they still held for a better reality and were left empty, all promises broken, nothing left.
In today's political climate, I feel this kind of struggle is not at all uncommon, and I think the song deserves more than to be hand waved away as "new girl at work wants to fit in and isn't being herself".
Fantano puts "The Emptiness Machine" in pretentiousness quotes, but I find it quite a fitting metaphor: an organization, a process, a system that has no value, neither to society nor to the protagonist or thousands like them; that only takes and disintegrates. A producer of nothingness, a destroyer of anything that is beautiful and authentic. A machine born out of political turmoil and a large helping of cynicism and greed. One that takes a person's anger and confusion, aggregates it with that of others to serve its own ends, only to leave the people it used empty and lost.
To me this song is about losing your place in society (or being convinced by bad actors that you never had a place, or don't deserve it), and then being promised all sorts of lies by toxic groups that want you to join in their hatred and anger.
You've fallen for the lies, but eventually realize that you've been conned. That's what I take this song to be: a lamentation of the betrayal you've suffered because of your naivete and the cruelty of today's world.
The Emptiness Machine could represent an extremist political current or organization, a cult, capitalism, apathy itself, you name it.
Yeah, that's about how I expected this review to go down. And I agree with the general idea that this album's more of a reintroduction with a new singer rather than a step forward. That all said, as a Thousand Suns fan it's funny that you smashed my favorite (Overflow) and least favorite (Cut The Bridge) together in a negative light. I also loved the closing track. Still, I think this is an album that's content to be a career retrospective grab bag for fans to cherry pick their favorites from based on whatever era they like the most. Not all songs here are for everyone, but all songs here are for someone.
yes overflow is the best
Overflow is one I really hope they play live. Some songs you can just see the sounds and that's one of them.
As a big LP fan I’m pretty happy with it, pulled off the impossible, feels authentic, feels like they put in alot of effort and it isn’t their worst album which is a huge compliment.
I live in a garbage can.
that's crazy
wow
So does this album
Are you a bit...grouchy?
I'm Popeye the sailor (wo)man.
I agree with a lot of your points. I disagree on your critiques of Overflow and Good Things So. I love both those songs and they were stand outs to me. Especially overflow. I love the transcendent feeling Overflow gets me.
A lot of the songs on this album have parts where I either like Emily’s part and am indifferent about Mike’s part or vice versa. Aside from Overflow and Good Things go, I do feel they picked their strongest track to release as singles. Cut the Bridge is okay. I’ve never been the biggest fan of LPs short, aggressive songs like Victimized and War. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t love them. Casualty is the same. Stained is alright. I like the lyrics but it was a bit too poppy for me. Igyeih grew on me after a few listens. The falling down the stairs line was a weaker lyric. I was also not a fan of the “wrapped around my neck like a tentacle” line.
Overall, I’d give it a 7 right now.
Completely agree. Overflow is probably my favorite, I'm glad mike went all out with his trip-hop influences.
I think A Thousand Suns it's their best album, and I believe their spacey electronic tracks tend to be very strong in general.
I love Good Things Go. The lyrics aren't deep, but Emily shows an absolutely incredible vocal range. Every time I listen to the album all the way through, I have to play that song 2 or 3 times in a row.
As a fan of Linkin Park since their first album, this one was pretty "meh" to me.
Felt like a band that was inspired by OG Linkin Park, rather than the band themselves. It wasn't bad; it just didn't scratch my itch for new Linkin Park.
Honestly, I thought it was a good album, enjoyable, 6-7/10
i give it a 7.5 - a few moments hit 8 or 9, but nothing really reaches the same peaks of hybrid theory / meteora
Hard to give it more than 4, Fantano was kind.
@ really? Tell me why the album is bad other than the fact that she is not Chester
@@primezilla37 More of the same from previous sound, lyrics are weak and many tracks seem rushed. She is not Chester, she actually sings better than Chester if she avoids being a pretentious screamer. Couple of nice songs, the rest is just bad in my opinion.
3/10 for me. Lyrics are terrible.
From listening to interviews with Mike and Emily, it sounded like they were going to proceed without a new vocalist for awhile. The songs were 90% done when Emily got brought into the fold. This also reinforces my belief that Mike's production and songwriting is a large part of the band that got punched up by the the other members.
He gave it a better score than the last TOOL & Deftones albums. He fucking loved it.
I like to play a game of "how quickly I can predict the score for mainstream albums" just based on phrasing, energy, and gesticulation of Anthony
My first time hearing Heavy is the crown I seriously wondered if AI was involved. It sounds like what AI would produce if you told it to write a single song that encompassed the bands career. Hey that sounds like faint. Oh hey that’s lyrics from Bleed it out. Oh hey she said the name of a link in park song. In my head I imagined a repeating gif of the Leo pointing meme during the whole song.
Honestly, exactly what I expected for the rating. Obviously not their best work with some pretty major shortcomings, but the effort is there and honestly I was expecting it to be worse. If nothing else the album at least surpassed my low expectations lol.
yea fantano is still in the same page of 3 months ago, dude is very slow and egocentric. He cant accept the fact a person cant raise voice against a criminal sect that destroy the life of ex-members
As a major linkin park fan I enjoyed it a lot but also get some of the criticisms. If nothing else, it has a few bangers and made me happy for a bit, and like you said could have turned out a lot worse
One minute of silence. The melonhead was not able to understand that "hard to laugh when im the joke" is a metaphor and could mean anything like "hard to accept something when im the target/object", which relates to the entire lyrics.
Tbh I wasn’t expecting Emily to sound so grating when she screams, easily some of the worst female harsh vocals I’ve ever heard
Casualty now being part of their repertoire made this whole album worth it honestly
Rarely agree with you. Thought maybe it deserves a 6 or 7 but solid review brother. I’m just glad they’re back. Got mass Hybrid Theory vibes from this one, don’t hate it.
I can wholeheartedly I agree with this review.
My take on it is: it’s definitely more their old self but without their old singer so that hurts. I do not want to hear their old selves with a new singer.
Yes she can perform the songs. She can “deliver” in doing the job, but she is not Chester. Give me new stuff. Staind felt like new stuff, dunno about the Shinoda style feat Emily. It felt like what we’ve gotten in MTM, ATS, and LT. That creative weird style I enjoy about linkin park.
But yea definitely an EP style album and for me a 4.5/10.
There’s potential here, but filling in the shoes of Chester is not the way to go. I need Emily. I need Emily’s Linkin Park, not Chester’s Linkin Park. This album felt like 3/4 Chester album with a replacement vocalist. Chester is gone and I don’t need a cover band. I need her to be her and take over.
2 cents.
This was a free check for Mike
If we're going by Fantano's rankings, I would've given this a Strong 6. Also I don't get the hate towards Cut the Bridge, I really like that song.
I absolutely do not agree on Overflow, it's by far one of the best songs in the album imo
It’s not “linkin park enough” is why people hate it. Even if it is like so many 2010s linkin park songs
@The_Celestial_Bros That's so stupid lmao
i really love the album, from a old fan, she really fits LP and to think these songs where recorded before she went on tour, so her singing has got a lot better, the songs defiantly sounds like each song is from each one of their albums, it was sad that its only 10 songs, would of been nice to be 12 or 15 but im so happy they are back, cant wait to see what they make next
Eminem & Linkin Park getting not so bad reviews & scores from Fantano while every music outlet is shitting on their new stuff is something i wasn't expecting in 2024
From Zero is their best rated album on metacritic as of now tho
LP's album is on track to be their best reviewed album ever rightfully so
Fantano's review of Halsey was a fail though
@@yudhabagaskara98 that album was truly awful tho
A 5s not breaking any walls down
Thank you for an honest review man, gives me some closure knowing I'm not the only one who thinks that way about LPs new direction
I listened to it a few times. Out of all their recent albums, this is their best. I absolutely miss Chester. I grew up a fan but eventually grew up and got into other bands which lead to my love for progressive rock/metal. I eventually started listening again but found I didn't enjoy their newer music as much. Not bad, just not for me. This album though, all criticisms aside, is solid. I'd give it a 7/10. That's just my opinion.
Why do think it’s better than The Hunting Party, that’s their most “progressive” & rock oriented album & A Thousand Suns, being their most bold & creative?
I think The Emptiness Machine is a good lead single because Mike sings the first verse and chorus. It's probably the most 'familiar' opening to a track they have on this album as a result, but then we get introduced to Emily who sings it an octave higher, really belting out the chorus in contrast to Mike's softer rendition of it. It eases people into the new vocalist a bit better.
I think the album is overall pretty forgettable, although all of the songs are enjoyable and radio friendly. They played it safe, which is understandable. To me it's like another Minutes to Midnight sorta deal, where the band were going through a transitional period and hadn't yet found their feet. However, that was followed by A Thousand Suns which is their most creative output and my personal favourite, so I'm hoping that they're going to do the same on the next album, now that they've done the obligatory "Hey, we're still the same LP you know and love" effort.
Agreed. I'm already craving a more focused album for next time. Something with better direction creativity. This was a great reintroduction, now give me the sprawling epic and then I can give you the final verdict on Emily.
i was definitely not expecting this review, i gotta say i agree with a lot of this stuff, i wasn’t too big on the album since the first single, but i gotta say, it’s sorta growing on me, probably not gonna be a constant repeat, but also not gonna just get forgotten
Im just glad Linkin Park is back !!! Chester will forever live on in his music.
Except the new singer is a part of an abusive cult that also happens to deny mental health issues existing.
Mike said himself that he see's this as a good solid album but they have the potential with Emily to do great stuff in the future.
A more than decent start to a new era i thought might never happen.
Great to have them back
I think this is the best review you have done in a long time. Didn't miss anything, laid it all out perfectly and understandably. A+ no notes.
Casualty might be the hardest song they’ve ever written, and it might legitimately be my favorite song on the album. Two Faced is also really great.
that would be mark the graves
@@Yoxen_gambling a good counterpoint but I feel like Casualty and Mark The Graves approach going "hard" in significantly different ways. MTG is for sure under-appreciated though.
@@Yoxen_gambling mark the graves is a great song, but it hits me like slightly harder silversun pickups. Which is NOT a bad thing. I like it a lot. The whole album of Hunting Party is like that. But Casualty is trashy, thrashy, and it’s all screams and shout vocals the whole way through. I f*cking love it 😆
I think they chose a really unique and sophisticated way to move on. Their choice for the new Park to be a different gender singer was a good way to help give direction for Linkin's new music but keeps the flame of the classics that Linkin Park made together burning bright, while not having the problem of having to compare Park with Park, who of course can never be replaced in truth.
I think other bands ran into this issue like when Chains passed and Alice decided to get someone who could copy Chains really well but it can't bring back the original Alice in Chains magic. I suspect that "in" had a lot of input and influence over Alice to make that decision, especially since Chains and in had drama and fell out with Alice for a while when Alice went solo.
I hope Linkin will keep making great music together with Park and people won't just be into Linkin or Park but actually appreciate Linkin and Park as they evolve to the next stage of Linkin Park.
Linkin description
I get why they played it safe, because when they heavily strayed from their sound like they did in one more light, basically everyone hated it (because let’s be real most of it was…not great)
Emily has held her own weight. But I think Mike is jaded and past his prime
Yeah his rappin’ just ain’t there no more. That said, his vocals in Emptiness Machine was solid.
The production and intensity of the drums don’t match the rest of the music. Am I the only one noticing this? He’s got a soft touch, and it could use some compression to get more of that booming nu metal sound
This was a much more positive review than I expected. Only part I disagree with is I really liked Overflow, it showed off Emily's straight up singing voice and she sounded great. 4 or 5 is what I would give it too
Album was an 8 for me so was expecting a 3 from baldy we take a light 5 🙏
For real, i expected him to tear this album apart. I love the album so 'm glad he at least gave it some love
8.5❤
honestly better than i expected
Casualty sold me on Emily's vocals. I'm eager to see her singing some of the bands classics. If they can capture the energy of Live in Texas, i'm more than happy.
I have been so impressed by the return of Linkin Park and even moreso with Emily Armstrong. And EVEN MORESO how they managed to continue as and keep the sound of Linkin Park without Chester
No no they arent trying to SELL us on anything. its the new era. people just need to either get with it or get off to just enjoy what LP was not what they are now. ffs why WHY does everything with people like LP becomes a thing.
I am a MASSIVE fan of Linkin Park. Chester Bennington is and always will be one of my favourite vocalists of all time--nobody *can* properly replace him. However, I think Emily is an amazing singer and is a good singer to take over for Chester.
I've done a lot of research, and she seems like she's not in the cult anymore. From her older lyrics, to her talking about her views on mental health & a lot of other things, she seems trustable. Obviously if she says anything off I'm going to be wrong & I don't mind that, i'll take that L.
The album is a lot of what current fans seemed to have wanted: A lot of that older nu-metal flare while keeping the electronic sound. They're solid songs. I wouldn't say they're my favourites in their discography (except for Cut The Bridge, I LOVE that one) But they're great songs that hold their own and hold up nicely for a band who haven't made new music together in years while having to come back with a whole new vocalist and drummer. I'm excited to see what's to come & what Emily + Colin bring to the table in terms of singing, writing and producing. I'm glad we have this band back.
just a reminder to all the linkin park fans:
KSI's last Album got the same rating
Annnnd back to hating this guy I go
It's pretty much late stage Linkin Park with the lead singer of Dead Sara
What the fuck was I or anyone else expecting?
Some really solid takes. I personally am just stoked one of my favorite bands is back, and not just as a 'legacy act' performing old hits with a live session vocalist. I gotta say, you are still the king of album reviews.
I tend to avoid your reviews until I've finished making mine so I don't find myself influenced. I definitely focus more on vibes and the music side of things. That does lead to me having missed some of the small issues that make this a 5 out of 10 in the lyrics especially. To me this album felt pretty strong, but I do agree that a slightly more cynical (and I mean this word as a complement) reading does illuminate some of the shortcomings.
I'm really excited for album 2 of this era of LinkinPark.
I mostly agree, but it’s more of a 3 for me. A solid 3.
While I agree with most of the things said here, I completely disagree on The Emptiness Machine's lyrics. I think if you look into who Emily is as a person and what her backstory is, Emptiness Machine ends up being one of the most lyrically interesting. There are so many aspects of it that could be interpreted as an indirect criticism of her time in scientology, pretending to be somebody else because the group around her is trying to force her into a cult that demands complete servitude and whittles you down. She went in as a normal person and watched so many people go in as normal people, only to come out empty, just a shell for scientology to use whenever they see fit.
Edit: id also like to add that a lot of rumors have been going around about Emily lately, and a lot of it originates from a place of misogyny. I'm not saying everybody who believes these rumors is misogynistic, just that that's where the rumors came from. It's a lot easier to get fans of Linkin Park to hate her for the scientology stuff so they make things up because it's a lot harder to get fans of Linkin Park to just hate her because she's a woman. Linkin Park has a history of acceptance and welcoming social outcasts and the mentally ill and abused. for anyone reading this, remember that a young emily armstrong was coerced into defending a rapist, but that doesn't define her or lessen the things she faced. You don't know what happened behind closed doors
completely agree
or you know she’s simply a queer person that went through it since a teen.
all these ‘music heads’ or as i like to call them, incels, just use the scientology as an excuse but, yeah, it’s basically just misogyny (bummer).
makes for great modern rap and screaming pop bangers though.
Mike Shinoda has been on record as saying that he wrote The Emptiness Machine before Emily was a part of the band. There's a lot of misogyny getting directed her way, that much is obvious, but the general vibe of the song, an examination of the lyrical content, and how the band themselves treat the song all seem to support fantano's interpretation here.
@ supports the notion that they’re still hurt from the fallout from chester’s passing
definitely see that subtext for her, while also being a larger context for the general listener - there's even rich subtext for moments when she sings numb, even though it had been written years and years before it would've been conceivable that anyone else would sing that song
Amazing how everyone that criticizes "overflow" says the same thing... "Oh look guitars and screams, cool... Overflow sounds weird" always the "oh i like NOISE" dudes. Amazing
best song on the album. heavy, moody, dark, apocalyptic, creative and fresh(some songs on the album are not so fresh)
A Thousand Suns was their Kid A, the 4th album that ditched the traditional guitar tracks in favor of atmospheric electronica.
Unfortunately, most people on the Linkin Park fandom didn't really accept the change as well as Radiohead fans did. Even Fantano it's like this, with all of his "Doesn't sound like Linkin Park" criticisms, and pretending the band didn't release anything after Meteora.
Overflow it's great and probably my favorite on the record.
@@WitchLuna7 I was fully embracing their experiments with electronic and pop genres. Their decision to give in to all the 'bring back the HT sound' crowd disappoints me. Overflow is the only song I like from the album.
@@l1p0v I share a bit of your sentiment tbh. I think Zero is really good, but it was the first album since Meteora where I was like "Yup, I heard this before in a LP album".
People can criticize Linkin Park all they want, but you gotta respect how they keep things fresh in every new release. Even OML, despite being weak, was the band treading new ground.
@@WitchLuna7 it's funny because, basically the band says "hey I know you like this heavy stuff, but check this other one out.. you may like it" and the "fans" are like "nope, terrible, not Linkin park", and the band says "hold on, hold it... listen, it us right? We know how to do other things, we made this other thing... it's cool right?" And it really is but the answer is "no, nope, terrible, omg that's SO BAD not Linkin park". Do this people even listen to something that is not ONLY SCREAMS AND HEAVY GUITARS like wtf... Linkin Park and mike shinoda have SO MUCH potential to different stuff and the so called "fans" have such a tinny brain for new things, it's revolting. ATS is by far my favorite album and I think Linkin Park does this kinda sound better than they do the heavier stuff.
Pretty fair assessment. "Casualty" is an absolute bop though and going on my forever playlist, along with a few others. I just felt that the softer parts of the record were a bit weak.
Surprisingly pleased by your take here. You're right on the money with Cut The Bridge and some of the lyricism in Good Things Go - and they really did capture the feel of early LP in many of their tracks. But as someone who has had very few skips on the entirety of LPs discography - this album feels like it pays hommage to where Linkin Park has been, and where they have diversified their sound over the years. When separated from their entire discography and rated purely sonically, it doesn't quite reach the heights of Hybrid Theory or Meteora, instead landing somewhere between MTM and Living Things. But, as a comeback album for a band this storied and impactful to music... It really carries more meaning to me personally, and to a lot of other die-hard LP fans. I'd say Cut The Bridge with its overly cheesy repetition may be only skip and that's only for me to go listen to Two Faced again
Mid score or not, I'm glad to have Linkin Park back.
A very generous Melon with that 5
I think you misunderstood what LP is all about. It's not only about the metal, screams, rapping and what not, at least it wasn't after Meteora. They like to experiment with electronic and pop sounds every now and then. This album is great because it has a little bit of all of that (a hybrid if I must say) and in a decent quality.
This album is pretty solid in my book. I’ll bet money that the follow-up to this will be massive, and I’ll be there for it.
The most spot on take I’ve heard him give for an album. This feels weird.
Didn't even know the dirt on Emily with Masterson and Scientology - and still don't care because the music is incredible. SHE is incredible. The album is incredible. Linkin Park is BACK.
In regards to the scientology thing, her family is in it and she has distanced herself away from it and them. That's the ties. She doesn't speak much about it (probably over concerns of her own safety) but safe to assume she isn't a fan.