Live Review - LINKIN PARK- From Zero World Tour

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

United Center Chicago
Monday - August 11, 2025

Most of you likely already know the timeline of events dating back to last September of 2024, with the unexpected release of a new single, "The Emptiness Machine", followed by further announcements of a new album release, and also- a new vocalist.

That's the short of it, outside of commentary (both positive and negative- without much thought on the negative), sort of contempt before investigation, which leads to why bother reading such tripe from apparent knuckleheads.

First off, the band can do what it wants.
They have the power to figure things out creatively, through songwriting of course, followed by performing.

No one can replace a Chester Bennington, that's obvious.
That they introduced into the mix a lead singer such as Emily Armstrong, from a band Dead Sara, a singer who has vocal chops aplenty, along with an energetic stage presence....to all the doubters still out there- there's plenty of exits.
Sayonara to ya.

The important yin and yang of it all- that being in the past with Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington, to the present, with Mike and Emily- still foremost, still solidly intact.
That's the juice that propels these songs of anxiety and anguish, at a moments notice, a cathartic release.

So at the United Center in Chicago on a Monday night, the band in the round on the main floor, opening intro to juice up the crowd with The Fratellis song "Chelsea Dagger", which is the song the Chicago Blackhawks use after scoring a goal, and the entire United Center all in on the refrain from beginning to end.

Then, they waste no time after settling in onstage to make a solid and don't look back point, with "Somewhere I Belong".
That statement, with Emily in full vocal- just love that entirely.
Nothing soft, or a slow build.
Come in, gates crashing, and, don't let up whatsoever.
Reinvigorated, all charged, built like beginners with a fight to prove, even though they've been around since 2000.

That's what matters most, the feel of fresh, the feel of energetic angst laid bare, made even more so performing in the round, so everyone in the arena is front and center on the present, and Linkin Park being of course LINKIN PARK.

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Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Linkin Park - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

From my perspective, perched on the main floor for four songs, two on each side of the stage- from every vantage point, the United Center crowd, all in, and roaring throughout.
The second song of the evening, "Crawling"- no let up in sight.
The band could've stopped at a moment's notice for a sing along, the crowd was that juiced and singing verbatim word for word.
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And so it goes throughout the evening, Linkin Park has yet again won their freedom from restraint, from a long layover of sorts, having not appeared in Chicago since almost a decade.
Amazing, the brashness of intent, the strength and purpose of delivery, and the inevitable solid follow through.

All of them, Emily, Mike, Brad, Dave, Joe and Colin- having the time of their lives, all smiles, all in on the cathartic reaction.
Can't truly reflect on previous "From Zero" dates, but I assume the same, even though they have to win over the masses in person, city by city by city.
No matter.

I relish seeing in person their fighting spirit, and stomping to the ground all naysayers with cement block boot stomps.
A thumping of sorts, followed by a release of the negative energy with a delivery from all involved, blessed with a touring PA that delivers the goods with a sternum punch over and over.
Another cool moment was involving Chicago's Tim Mcllrath of Rise Against, at the end of Act II with "One Step Closer", and more energetic angst aplenty in the chorus with Emily and Tim going full throttle.

Linkin Park still propels, still maintaining their luster followed by gigantic reveals, all of a positive kind.
Once the dust settles from this tour, sometime in mid 2026, and they have a chance to catch their breath, and rehash the positives of what they just experienced prior- all the more I say to continue with new material, and push the envelope some more.
Linkin Park are that kind of band, creating a genre of music that's way beyond contemporary, made even more so with a lead singer in Emily who can challenge them some more.
Such is this band.
That show on Monday night at the United Center- it kicked all ass.

Bobby Talamine -  JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Linkin Park, Emily Armstrong, Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington, United Center, Chicago Live Music, Live Nation, JBTV Music Television, Jerry Bryant, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Summer 2025,