Fans lap up Emily Armstrong, Linkin Park's new vocalist

If you thought an Oasis comeback had the monopoly on taking the music world by storm, you would be sorely mistaken. On September 5 it became heavy rock group Linkin Park's to announce it is back, complete with a new album, new tour, and new lineup - the first since lead singer Chester Bennington's devastating death by suicide in 2017.

The rumour mill had been running strong since April, and after much speculation, Billboard reported that the newest lineup comprises original members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Phoenix Farrell and Joe Hahn, plus new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain to kick off their next chapter.

That's right. Longtime drummer Rob Bourdon is not returning for this new era, and what's more, the new voice of Linkin Park will now be brought to you by a woman. However, if you have reservations about how anyone could replace Bennington, the man whose voice gave us In The End, you can lay those fears to rest. Linkin Park's latest single, The Emptiness Machine, unveiled on YouTube on Thursday and has already skyrocketed to two million views at the time of writing. Emotional fans have had nothing but high praise for Armstrong and her new place in the band.

"This isn't a replacement for Chester Bennington, this is the start of a new Linkin Park, and I'm all for it," writes one commenter.

The Emptiness Machine serves as the lead single for Linkin Park's upcoming eighth studio album From Zero, to be released on November 15. According to Shinoda, the band will also play six arena shows across four continents this autumn before "touring heavily" in 2025. Fans can expect plenty of new material, along with twenty years' worth of original hard-rock hits. As Linkin Park's agent John Marx adequately puts it, "The excitement their fans will have, being able to see and celebrate them after seven years, will be massive."

Filling the shoes of a beloved band member whose tragic death shocked fans around the world can have been no easy task, but if fan reactions on social media are any indication, it is a task Armstrong has pulled off with skill and finesse. As the former veteran leader of power-rock hell-raisers Dead Sara, she appears to have cemented into her Linkin Park role with ease.

"Emily earned her position," notes a fan in the comments section of The Emptiness Machine on YouTube. "Nobody can replace Chester, but I respect her for having the courage to step up to honour him. Love this."

It is a sentiment echoed unanimously across the board. "Seeing Emily take the mic [and] producing music with the band, fulfilling the legacy that was left behind - I'm just lost for words," adds another fan. "Listening to this song ignites hope within me."

Excited rock-lovers also converged on X to let their approval be known. Echoing the widespread affirmation that Armstrong has carved her own place in the band without attempting to replace Bennington, one fan tweeted, "Emily! What a vocalist! Looking forward to more from her! Let's celebrate guys, THEY ARE FINALLY BACK AFTER 7 YEARS! Emily's not here to replace Chester. She's here to carry on the legacy Chester left."

However, if you feel that such a dose of saccharine endorsement must surely be an exaggeration, do not be alarmed. Even the cynics without effervescent words of praise registered their say. "Can't believe Linkin Park is back and I don't hate it. Emily Armstrong is bringing it," commented one fan.

Until November 15, fans will have to be content with listening to The Emptiness Machine on repeat. Can Armstrong keep delivering now that expectations have been notched up? Will fans continue to not hate Linkin Park's return? Time will tell.