Linkin Park made their historic return to Brazil with two unforgettable shows to launch their new album, From Zero , on the 15th and 16th of this month, filling the Allianz Parque on both dates.
The band, led by Mike Shinoda, is touring for the first time since the death of legendary vocalist Chester Bennington in 2017, and has chosen São Paulo to mark its return with its first album since then, featuring new vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain .
It goes without saying that a vocalist like Chester is irreplaceable, and Linkin Park had that in mind when opting for a comeback, deciding to literally start from scratch and present a new lineup and new songs in their new project. Emily's arrival pleased some and made others turn up their noses, but the choice of a female vocalist is the greatest demonstration Linkin Park could make to show that they truly want to be a new band.
A new band, however, with old tricks and great respect for their own legacy. On Saturday night they delivered a 2-hour set with a barrage of hits and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt why they are undeniably the greatest band of the generation. The entire setlist easily holds up with the admirable number of singles that made history throughout the 2000s, such as "In The End," "Numb," "What I've Done," among many others. As always, Mike Shinoda's charisma and the way he commands the audience stand out.
The first hour of the show was marked by technical sound glitches that seemed to affect Armstrong's performance. It was difficult to hear the vocalist's voice on the early tracks due to the low microphone volume, and at several points she threw entire verses of hits like "Crawling" and "The Catalyst" to the crowd, appearing to have difficulty hearing herself. On the other hand, it's in the new tracks that she undeniably shines. "Two Faced" and "The Emptiness Machine," both recently released, were already on everyone's lips and were received with the same enthusiasm as the older hits.
During the screamo moments, the frontwoman was more successful with her naturally raspy vocals than in the melodic parts, which were Bennington's trademark and a challenge for any other vocalist. However, after the interlude, the band seemed to return to the stage with all the problems corrected and more confident. The last hour of the show was a real blast, with more electrifying songs, but also with beautiful vocal performances from Emily in calmer tracks, such as a piano version of "Lost" and the new "Over Each Other".
Compared to Friday's setlist, São Paulo lost "Lying From You" and "Lost In The Echo," but gained two true gifts with "Points of Authority" and "A Place For My Head," both from the album Hybrid Theory (2000). The entire show experience, including the mix of new and old songs, is extremely cathartic for those who have followed Linkin Park since their beginning. The absence of Bennington—and also guitarist Brad Delson , who chose not to tour—is inevitably felt at various moments, but the emotion and euphoria of seeing one of the biggest names in 2000s music reinventing themselves and seeking a fresh start is also a great privilege. And the new lineup certainly delivers.
Linkin Park bids farewell to Brazil, leaving behind two historic nights in the memories of Brazilian fans, who can now eagerly await their return in November 2025 and also breathe easy: they remain the greatest band of their generation.
