Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Following the massive success of their 2024 comeback album “From Zero” and its record-breaking world tour — which Billboard reported as the band’s most lucrative to date, grossing $251 million across 2.2 million tickets sold — Linkin Park are already looking toward the future, as per theprp. In a new interview with NME, DJ Joe Hahn revealed that the band has returned to the studio to write new material.
Yeah, because we really enjoy being around each other, and we especially love the creation side of things and making music. When we were touring in different cities, if there was a day off, we would go into studios just to tinker around with stuff. And when we finished touring, we decided to take a month off because we needed a break, but then we jumped right back into the studio.
He also addressed whether these sessions will culminate in a full-length follow-up album.
“Oh, yeah… and it’s going to be really slow and boring, and very polarising to everyone [Laughs].
Writing sessions are currently paused while the band promotes their new feature-length live film and documentary, directed by Hahn himself, which premieres on September 30. The film intertwines the story of the band’s resurgence following the tragic loss of vocalist Chester Bennington with live footage from their November 15, 2024 performance at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil. An official soundtrack accompanying the documentary was released late last week.
Linkin Park was originally founded by Agoura High School classmates Mike Shinoda, Rob Bourdon, and Brad Delson in Agoura Hills, California. Following high school graduation, the trio pursued music more aggressively, expanding the lineup with Joe Hahn, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, and lead vocalist Mark Wakefield under the original name Xero. Working with limited resources out of Shinoda’s bedroom studio, the group recorded and produced a four-track cassette demo titled “Xero”, released in November 1997. That same month, Xero played their live debut opening for SX-10 and System of a Down at the iconic Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood.
Delson eventually connected the band with Jeff Blue, then vice president of A&R at Zomba Music, for whom Delson had previously interned. Blue offered constructive feedback to help the band refine their pitch to record labels, and after attending a live performance in 1998, he saw immense potential in Xero — though he believed a new lead vocalist was necessary for a breakthrough. As rejection from labels mounted, internal frustration grew, prompting Wakefield to quit the group to pursue other opportunities. Around the same time, Farrell temporarily exited the lineup to tour with the Christian punk and ska outfit Tasty Snax.
