That’s how it was with LINKIN PARK

July 01, 2025, Düsseldorf, Merkur Spiel-Arena

When Linkin Park announced their return via livestream on September 5, 2024, the world collectively held its breath. Not only die-hard fans, but also critics and even people who were barely familiar with the band watched spellbound as the band introduced their new singer: Emily Armstrong, previously known as the singer of the rock band Dead Sara, was now at the center of one of the most emotional comebacks in music history. The decision to bring a new voice into the heart of the band was moving – and polarizing. Doubt and curiosity battled with each other in me too.

Stagnation, pain, new beginnings

The sudden loss of Chester Bennington is still deeply felt today. His voice carried pain and fragility – all of which has shaped generations. It became the soundtrack to entire phases of life. The singer left behind not only his family and millions of grieving fans, but also a band that was left with nothing. Seven years later, Linkin Park decided not to persevere. Why should the musicians give up what they love above all else? Isn’t it only fair to continue their life’s work together? And so, together with Emily Armstrong, they created their latest album “From Zero”. A work that marks both a return and a new beginning. Not a new beginning in spite of Chester, but one that thinks about him in all honesty: as an origin, as a gap, as a shining memory. The album hit like a bomb, stormed the charts worldwide, exceeded expectations – and catapulted Linkin Park back into the center of the rock world. On September 22, 2024, the band surprisingly gave an exclusive German concert in Hamburg(we reported on it). The run on tickets was gigantic. Thousands and thousands of fans were left disappointed and empty-handed. Redemption came in November when the band announced four more concerts in stadiums here in Germany.

Fan love at 36 degrees – reverse gear excluded

And now here we were – in the completely sold-out Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf. 45,000 fans had come to experience the new era live. They came with an open heart – and with the desire to be touched by their band once again. Striking: the majority wore band shirts – old tour motifs, “Hybrid Theory” logos and the “From Zero” artwork again and again – easily 80% of the crowd turned the arena into a symbol of sincere fan love. Some of them had lovingly threaded colorful beaded bracelets with song titles in advance – small gestures of solidarity that were exchanged with each other on site. They had been looking forward to this evening for months – and now, of all times, Germany was overrun by a merciless heatwave. There was no way we were going to chicken out here. Off to the heat battle! Equipped with an isodrink, cap, sun cream, glucose, foldable drinking bag and cooling towel, I should somehow get through the day. 36 degrees – and it can get even hotter? Unfortunately, yes! The roof of the arena remained closed except for a small opening – for good reason. And yet the heat built up mercilessly. The busy ice cream man, who moved through the rows with a cool mission and provided moments of relief, was in high demand in the truest sense of the word.

Final Countdown

At 8:45 pm, the time had finally come: a countdown was shown on the LED walls. After hours of waiting in the arena, the last ten minutes passed like the blink of an eye. The anticipation grew with every passing minute. Then the intro sounded and the Linkin Park musicians entered the huge stage one after the other – while huge cheers erupted and no one in the stands could stay in their seats. Everyone didn’t just want to watch the concert, they wanted to experience it to the full. At the beginning, Emily wore casual black sunglasses. Focused, she stood at her microphone stand and sang her lines – “Somewhere I Belong” opened the set. A song about the desire to find your own place in the world, to free yourself from inner pain and finally be yourself. The singer seemed a little tense at first, almost awestruck, but this soon subsided. “I want to heal, I want to feel like I’m close to something real” – columns of mist rose up during the chorus – and her powerful voice emphatically broke through the restraint.

Buckle up!

The crowd welcomed the first song from the current album with clapping: “Cut the Bridge”. Mike Shinoda’s face was beaming – he was wearing a jersey with the specially designed Linkin Park lettering in stylized metal typography. The driving beat of the track immediately shot into the legs and left no one standing still. Mike set the first lines with a clear voice and precise articulation – while Emily entered with a heavenly bridge, delicate and floating, before both rocked out together with full energy. The song, with its light punk rock attitude, radiated pure joie de vivre. From then on, the sweltering heat was forgotten. The fans also braved the temperatures inside – and in the pits, the energy was released in exuberant but controlled chaos.

Never say never

Mike took the floor: “We’d like to hear all of your voices right now. Are you ready to sing this one?” This moment, when “Crawling” would be played, worried me in advance – because this song still regularly chokes my throat to this day. Chester’s pain-filled vocals are too present and go right through your bones. It’s a wound that’s burned into your body – and just won’t heal. I had given it a lot of thought: how would it be possible to sing this song without it breaking? Without something missing? The truth is: it was actually impossible. And yet they dared to do it. LED strips stretched from the stage across the entire catwalk to the center of the stadium – a glowing ribbon that connected the artists and the audience. The weight of this song was spread across 45,000 shoulders. And they stood firm. Full of fervor, the throats of the entire arena joined in and carried Linkin Park through this song. Emily continued to spur them on with gestures, seeking the gaze, the togetherness. And then, in the second chorus, the singer really delivered. “Crawling in my skin” – this line came with such force that it gave me goosebumps. She filled this moment with devotion – and imbued it with genuine respect and deep emotion right to the end. I could hardly believe it, they really managed not to replace this highly emotional song, but to give it a new, worthy form. “These wounds, they will not heal” – perhaps. But that evening, in that moment, it felt as if a first healing layer had been applied to this wound.

Welcome to the new era

Apparently, a weight also fell from Emily’s shoulders at that moment. From then on, she took off her sunglasses – and visibly thawed. The tension gave way to a growing presence. When the band started “New Divide”, everyone listened to her spellbound – noticeably impressed by the clarity and power with which she carried this song. This was followed by the song with which the new era began so impressively: “The Emptiness Machine”. The track with which Emily was first introduced to us – and which was the first in the band’s history to reach number 1 in the Official German Single Charts. Mike’s voice sounded full of warmth – so empathetic that you almost felt embraced by her inside. Emily began to dance loosely and lightly to it, completely at ease with herself. Only after a good minute did her voice kick in: slightly rough, with a delicate, almost fragile note. She turned up the heat in the chorus, showing off her talent as a true rock singer – with energy, attitude and feeling. As soon as you heard it for the first time, you had the feeling of being picked up by this song. It was as if someone was holding out an invisible hand to you – inviting you to take this new path together with Linkin Park. And this path felt damn good now too.

Confetti and ecstasy

It continued powerfully with “The Catalyst” from the album “A Thousand Suns”. Arms shot up euphorically and swayed from left to right to the beat. Now Emily climbed the long catwalk and sought out the fans inside the arena. White confetti shot into the air and trickled over the crowd. One fan was completely beside himself at this moment – he jumped forward without a second thought, threw his arms up and tried with total dedication to catch at least one of these flying snippets as a souvenir. During “Burn It Down”, Emily asked the crowd to jump along with her – and they followed without hesitation. Ecstasy set in, and despite the oppressive heat, no one faltered. The entire stage was bathed in warm, orange light, while Emily made the most of every corner – present, dynamic, completely with the people. “That was awesome – and even better than before!” exclaimed a woman behind me enthusiastically – and somehow something resonated that many felt: Something new was happening here, but it felt familiar. And wonderfully lively.

Improvisation is everything

The band struck a calmer note with “Where’d You Go”. Emily’s vocals alternated gently with Mike’s spoken passages – creating a delicate, almost intimate dynamic. Mike put his hand over his heart and seemed to take in the moment completely. A sea of cell phone lights spread across the stands – like a glowing echo of emotions. The song transitioned seamlessly into “Waiting for the End”. Emily closed her eyes, breathed in briefly – and then sang with palpable feeling. Every line seemed like a silent promise, every note like a heartbeat. At previous concerts in Germany, Mike had always written down a few sentences in German. This time he had simply forgotten. Somewhat helplessly, he struggled on stage for words that he could just remember: “I want a pizza. Pizza is very good. Schnitzel, beer, red wine.” The laughs were on his side. He spontaneously spotted an audience member in the front row, whom he quickly appointed as his interpreter. He whispered something in her ear – and she took over loudly: “Thank you for being here. We love you very much!” A charming attempt at distraction – because meanwhile, Emily disappeared unnoticed into the backstage area.

Meme queen with guaranteed demolition

A few moments later, she returned – in a complete Lidl look: tracksuit jacket, shorts and socks, a picture for the gods! The scene alluded tongue-in-cheek to a viral internet meme that had been created around the song “Two Faced”. During a live performance, fans had jokingly claimed that Emily wasn’t singing “too faced caught in the middle” in the chorus, but “toothpaste caught in the Lidl”. An absurd misheard lyrics moment – and Emily took it with humor. Her performance in the discount store outfit was proof that Linkin Park not only deliver emotional depth, but can also laugh at themselves brilliantly. “Let’s do it” – a fierce scream introduced “Two Faced”. The interplay of the guitars immediately cast a spell over the audience and the head bobbed to the beat. As Emily punchily and repeatedly hurled “I can’t hear myself think” into the microphone, it was clear: something was brewing here. What followed was a hurricane-like scream – so powerful and raw that it took your breath away. Lively scratches joined in and the thunderstorm of sound whirled everything around as if the nu-metal spirit itself was sweeping across the arena. This song really got the crowd going – and the crowd went wild. The arena was boiling, as if someone had turned the temperature up in the middle of the beat.

He had a good reason

While Joe Hahn unleashed a spectacular solo on the turntables together with Colin Brittain on the drums, Mike took the opportunity to take a trip to the pit. He sought to get close to the audience, slapped outstretched hands, joked with fans and had a short, lively chat here and there – very close, very human. Then things got serious: with a firm gaze and unmistakable energy, he began to rap “When They Come for Me” – forcefully, directly and with a presence that immediately captivated the audience. He then called on everyone – really everyone – in the arena to raise both hands. And indeed: an entire stadium followed. Almost. A single fan was holding a huge cheese pretzel in his hand and looked at it with blissful happiness – okay, he was excused! Clapping, the crowd launched into “Given Up” from 2007. With proud throats, the audience roared along enthusiastically. And when Emily fired off her ultra-long scream, there was a huge cheer in between – a moment of pure joy.

Feeling at the limit stop

“Lost” was rearranged especially for Emily – and it was worth the effort. The song now seemed as if it had been tailor-made for her. Delicate piano sounds opened the melancholy track, which was allowed to unfold slowly. And Emily? She enchanted us all in the soft glow of the cell phone lights – with a voice that was both vulnerable and strong, close and yet distant. A quiet, haunting moment. “Good Things Go” returned to the setlist – and with it a song that gets under your skin. The stage was bathed in deep red light. To the first lyrics “Feels like it’s rained in my head for a hundred days”, it seemed as if red raindrops were trickling down from the LED walls and the huge LED cubes on the stage ceiling. A lovely guitar melody was followed by an interplay of gentle vocals from Mike and Emily. What started out slightly poppy led into a chorus that made you melt away with a blissful smile. Shortly afterwards, the song built up layer by layer – Mike’s wordy bridge was joined by a small, enchanting laugh from the singer. All in passing. And yet so genuine that it made your heart soar. The drumming in the background drove the moment on, the pulse noticeably increased. The intensity grew immeasurably – until Emily joined in again. She interrupted Mike’s lines, seamlessly took over the vocals and continued: “Say I hate you when I don’t / Push you when you get too close”. Then: silence. For a tiny moment, you held your breath, and at the exact moment when the guitar and Emily’s voice kicked in again, all the pent-up tension was released in a single, powerful feeling. Just like the studio version, the live song took me by storm. Because this song hits deep inside. I’ve long since stopped counting how many times my body inevitably reacted to it with goosebumps – and that evening it was exactly the same.

Hesitated, ignited, flashed

When the familiar piano melody of “What I’ve Done” began, an audible murmur went through the arena. Blue laser beams criss-crossed the room like threads of memory stretching between past and present. Once again, images of old times rose up inside – but this time nothing seemed heavy. Emily presented her rocking voice with focus and naturalness. She swung confidently from one platform to the next as if the stage had long been her home. She came across as confident and present – and it was wonderful to watch her perform. “Overflow” – love at second sight. The studio version from the album “From Zero” takes an unusual direction and its atmosphere is reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots in places. Accordingly, it took me a few runs before the track caught my attention – but then it caught fire! In the foreground was a sustained, muffled, pulsating drum game, over which Mike alternated between singing and chanting. Emily joined in with a high voice – her strong refrain seemed to penetrate you. Overall, a deep, dark, almost oppressive mood was created, which unfolded even more intensely live. The track developed a hypnotic attraction – and at the same time grooved so much that it was impossible to escape its pull.

The accolade

Numb” also shone with a brilliant performance. Armstrong shone – and her voice carried the song with ease and expressiveness. Then suddenly: the first sounds of “In the End”. They immediately struck you. The crowd sang along to every single word – loud, full of heart, united. Chaos finally broke loose with “Faint”. The singer duo ignited the next stage: unbridled, full of energy. Emily headbanged wildly, screamed her heart out – and the crowd went wild in a collective state of emergency. The band said goodbye to their fans for a few minutes – but of course the encores were set despite the heat of the battle. With “Papercut”, Linkin Park hurled us straight back to the year 2000. Mike and Emily stood side by side, fused into a powerful unit – in expression, timing and presence. If someone had told me at that moment, without any prior knowledge, that this band had always existed in this line-up, I would have believed it without hesitation. “Let You Fade”, released on the deluxe edition of “From Zero”. Emily accompanied the expressive rock song casually on the electric guitar – self-confident, confident, as if firmly rooted in her role.

Crown on – and through

“Heavy Is the Crown” charmed the audience in the best Linkin Park style. Mike rapped with his usual nonchalance before his voice took a gentle turn. Then Emily stepped in – raw, insistent – and made it unmistakably clear how heavy this crown really weighs. She screamed powerfully to the sound of revving guitars, her scream lasting a full 15 seconds and sending the pits whirling in circles. The energy was enormous – and Emily was right in the middle of it. It was clear by this point that she had found her place in the band. On this evening, the once heavy crown became a sign of strength rather than ballast. A band heavier than ever in the business – and stronger than many ever thought possible. Mike warmly thanked the entire crew – a moment of genuine appreciation before the final demolition started with “Bleed It Out”. As pink confetti shot into the air, our favorite confetti hunter was also reactivated – much to the chagrin of the woman in front of him, he rudely started moving again to grab yet another memento. Everyone was there until the last beat – dancing, singing, celebrating. “Thank you so much!” Emily shouted into the crowd in a hoarse voice. The whole band came to the front, threw drumsticks, gave out air kisses – and Mike climbed into the pit without further ado to sign autographs.

Two hours of full throttle in sweltering heat. Linkin Park are back – not as a shadow of their former selves, but as one of the most powerful bands of our time. And Emily? Not only has she found her place – she’s earned it. Some bands fade with time – Linkin Park shine. They connect generations. And remind us why we fall in love with music in the first place.

Setlist LINKIN PARK:
“Somewhere I Belong” – “Cut the Bridge” – “Crawling” – “New Divide” – “The Emptiness Machine” – “The Catalyst” – “Burn It Down” – “Up from the Bottom” – “Where’d You Go” – “Waiting for the End” – “Castle of Glass” – “Two Faced” – “When They Come for Me / Remember the Name” – “Given Up” – “One Step Closer” – “Lost” – “Good Things Go” – “What I’ve Done” – “Overflow” – “Numb” – “In the End” – “Faint” — “Papercut” – “Let You Fade” – “Heavy Is the Crown” – “Bleed It Out”

Text: Nadine Kloppert
Photos: Michael Gamon

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