In the wake of frontman Chester Bennington’s death, Linkin Park weren't sure if the band would — or should — continue to exist. A new documentary, Linkin Park: Unshatter, explores the uncertainty, grief and creative risk behind their return, offering raw footage of early studio sessions, discussions and experimentation that eventually resulted in Emily Armstrong joining the group.
Established in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996, the group emerged as a powerhouse of 2000s rock by blending alternative metal, hip-hop and electronic elements. They achieved global prominence with their diamond-certified 2000 debut, Hybrid Theory, followed by Meteora, built around the distinctive interplay of Mike Shinoda’s rapping and Bennington’s soaring vocals.
After Bennington died by suicide in 2017, following the release of One More Light, the band faced an uncertain future. Linkin Park returned in 2024 with Armstrong as co-lead vocalist, releasing From Zero and embarking on a new run of world tours.
In an interview alongside Armstrong and DJ and creative director Joe Hahn, Shinoda says he never wanted to predetermine what a return would look like — or even whether it would still be Linkin Park.
“Emotional stuff aside, which was very heavy … I was like, ‘If we ever were to do it again, I wouldn’t want to assume that it had to be a guy.’ I wouldn’t want to assume it has to be who somebody who’s sang like Chester. I wouldn’t even want to assume it had to be one person, like maybe we go tour and just play with multiple vocalists or maybe it’s not Linkin Park, maybe it’s something else, I don’t know. Like I just wanted to keep my mind open to all the things.”
When Shinoda met Armstrong — lead singer and co-founder of the band Dead Sara — in 2019, he had a feeling she was someone the others needed to meet.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I got it. She has to meet the band. Like I have to introduce them because she’s cool. I love how she sings.’ I had a gut feeling that would have to happen,” he said.
For Armstrong, watching the footage in the documentary — now in theatres and co-directed by Hahn and Mark Ritchie — offered a glimpse at how much she was taking in during those early encounters with the group.
“I feel like I look a lot more confident than I actually was. There was so much going on in my head, having to step up to the plate, right? When you’re doing that, there’s so many adjustments that are happening,” she said. “So you’re singing a different way and you’re working with a band and people that have opinions of, ‘OK, try this, try this.’ You’re not used to that, right, and so you’re adjusting a lot.”
“It definitely was a creative risk, and we knew that to begin with, I think,” she said. “We don’t know if people are going to take to it, but we know that we love it.”
Hahn said the process of making music again was also part of the band’s healing.
“I think we were able to lean on each other and be open just to start healing, and then with that you give each other encouragement, too, like, ‘Hey, you’re good at this. … Don’t worry about that, we’ll figure that part out later.’ ”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branchIf you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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