Live review: Linkin Park, London The O2

Even before you enter The O2, you can feel a buzz in the air. That heady mix of tension, curiosity and excitement for what the next two-and-a-half hours have in store, as one of the greatest bands to ever do it make their return to the UK after seven years away.

Having sold out the English capital’s biggest arena in a matter of minutes, the magnitude of Linkin Park’s resurrection cannot be understated. And yet it also can’t be ignored that the band’s decision to carry on without late frontman Chester Bennington was met with outrage by a corner of their fanbase, as was the addition of new vocalist Emily Armstrong – who had previously shown support for Danny Masterson, which she has since distanced herself from and shared a public message of regret.

So while some commenters on social media would have you believe the Linkin Park reunion isn’t cause for celebration, the 20,000-strong crowd in London are telling a very different story. Gathered around the vast stage in the centre of the floor, below an impressive rig of screens and lights, the previously dormant LP community coalesce to become one again, ready for a hitherto unthought of prospect to become a shimmering reality.

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With striking blue lights firing down onto the stage like the mothership’s megaweapon from Independence Day, Mike Shinoda and co. appear from the shadows, and dive into one of the most audacious and electrifying opening salvos we may have seen all year with Somewhere I Belong, Crawling, Lying From You and Points Of Authority. Much has been said about whether Emily can match the power and prowess of Chester, and while a different entity entirely, the passion and authenticity she brings to these songs is unfuckwithable. Although, to be fair, there isn’t really any need for a singer during Crawling, such is the volume of London’s collective voice, who have been craving this choral catharsis for so many years.

In fact, it’s nigh-on impossible not to get swept along by the sheer exhilaration of hearing these stone-cold bangers again. What I’ve Done. One Step Closer. Numb. Songs that had been previously consigned to rock clubs and nu-metal playlists, now back where they belong as living, breathing musical monsters. And as Emily’s voice warms into it throughout the set, it’s clear why she caught the attention of the band, with her vocal dexterity veering from guttural growls to soaring choruses, recapturing that magic we’ve so missed.

As chants for Emily echo around The O2 following a haunting rendition of My December that leaves the singer on the verge of tears, it’s important to note that nobody here considers the Dead Sara frontwoman as a Chester replacement. Despite LP not acknowledging their departed singer at any point – which is an interesting decision for their fifth show back, but perhaps understandable considering the online discourse – he has been in the minds and hearts of everybody here, as we’re taken back to the times we saw him perform or first heard that era-defining voice. His legacy lives on in the music that unites those on and offstage. At times it’s not even really like watching a band, but six facilitators of a communal experience, reigniting that flame for a band who mean so much to so many.

This isn’t just about celebrating the past, however, as Linkin Park will be releasing a new album – From Zero – in just a matter of weeks. “You guys have been in our corner with the new stuff from the jump and that is huge,” beams Mike with a grin that doesn’t leave his face all evening, before launching into lead single The Emptiness Machine that, despite only being a fortnight old, is greeted like a dear friend. Similarly, new track Heavy Is The Crown – released just a matter of hours earlier – fits seamlessly into the set, straddling that perfect middle-ground between ‘classic’ and ‘latter era’ Linkin Park, with fans already belting out the bombastic chorus.

As the epic showcase wraps up with gargantuan hits like Faint, Papercut and Bleed It Out, the smiles etched on the faces and tears streaming down the cheeks of those in attendance say it all. Although for some fans the band ended on July 20, 2017, for those willing to join Linkin Park on this new journey, the future is looking very intriguing indeed with a new album, doubtless a massive tour, and who knows what else.

Ultimately, though, as the hordes file out into the autumnal air and reflect on the much-missed shared experience, tonight stands as a testament to not just the resilience of friends in the face of tragedy, but that the music and the message of Linkin Park will never die. And in the end, that’s all that matters.

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