Fans have been waiting for seven years for a new submission from iconic angst rap-rock band, Linkin Park. When lead singer, Chester Bennington, tragically committed suicide in 2017, the band went on an indefinite hiatus — after creating seven monumental studio albums together. Since then, there's been silence. Until today.
Linkin Park is used to causing a frenzy. Their hit album,
Hybrid Theory, catapulted the band into rockstar status in early 2000. For two decades, the group led a movement: reviving rock and roll — mixing in original dance, rap, and pop elements along the way. With tracks like "In The End" and "One Step Closer", Linkin Park was a staple in a defining music movement.
They're one of the best-selling bands of the 21st century, winning many fan-nominated and academy-voted awards such as two GRAMMYs. And now, they're ready to return with fresh faces and an even fresher single.
Last night during a live performance, the band announced that Emily Armstrong of the band Dead Sara will be the latest co-vocalists for Linkin Park. They also will be adding Colin Brittain, a songwriter and producer, as one of their drummers.
In addition, Linkin Park will be releasing their first song in seven years, "The Emptiness Machine" and a new album with lead single, "From Zero", out November 15!
The band is officially back in action, and fans are certainly excited for the return of yet another iconic music group!
Things I could have predicted this year: the drama surrounding the United States presidential election, Sabrina Carpenter's album being a hit, and the GRAMMY winners. Things I could not have predicted in my lifetime: Noel and Liam Gallagher, the brothers who've been publicly feuding for decades, waving the white flag and getting Oasis back together.
You don't need to be from the United Kingdom to know that Oasis is one of the greatest bands ever to exist. A viral video of The 1975's Matty Healy puts it perfectly: they would be insane not to get back together...and it seems as though they've finally listened.
History books will remember August 27 as perhaps one of the best (or worst) decisions a band has ever made. With a pair of hot-headed rockstars who also happen to be related, there's no telling what's going to happen on-stage during the 2025 reunion tour.
However, it seems Noel and Liam are serious this time. After publicly bashing each other for years, with stories and headlines endlessly swirling about their constant fighting, Oasis is back. The official accounts for Noel, Liam, and Oasis posted on social media yesterday with the caption, "This is it, this is happening."
The tour will begin on July 4, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales, and extend throughout the UK for the summer. While you may not get the chance to see Oasis immediately, there are plans in place to expand the tour across other continents...So maybe the United States will see them soon.
While we're all excited that we get to hear hits like "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova," and "Don't Look Back in Anger," let's take a look at some of the best moments from Oasis' chaotic past:
1. The 1996 MTV: Unplugged Show
What was unique about Oasis' success is that it seemed fueled by the feud. They created some of their best work while being at each other's throats. Their debut album, Definitely, Maybe, tore through Britpop, promptly counting Oasis as the top contender when it came to British pop rock- dethroning Blur and Pulse.
But they were still fighting constantly. During their MTV: Unplugged set, Liam pulled out of the show last-minute due to a sore throat...forcing Noel to perform the set alone. Liam sat, shouting at Noel from the balcony as he performed alone.
Then, the brothers were set to embark on their U.S. leg of the tour...but Liam once again stayed behind for a few shows to reportedly help settle housing for his then-wife. This forced the cancellation of multiple shows, but it was just the tip of the iceberg.
2. Noel Calling Liam "Monkey Boy" To BBC
It was no secret that Oasis couldn't get along. By the year 2000, multiple tours had been cut short thanks to one brother or the other, multiple band members had quit, and violence was a recurring factor between the group. As their fourth album, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, was touring, Noel was suddenly replaced as the guitarist.
Noel then proceeds to phone into BBC and refer to Liam as “monkey boy” and “a bit of an idiot.” He boasts of being the reason the band is together and says it’s “just been made impossible for me to let alone be on the same stage but be in the same room as” his brother.
3. The Fight at Rock en Seine Festival
Most long-term battles end with some catastrophic explosion. In Oasis' case, it came at the Rock en Seine Festival in 2009. After hearing Noel was planning to quit the band, a brawl ensued backstage (yes, literally at the festival) and Liam even smashed Noel's guitar.
Medical staff and security had to be called, and Oasis never made it to the actual performance. In a statement, Noel remarked, "He doesn't like me and I don't like him." That was the end of the band for 15 years until now. But we've seen Noel and Liam Gallagher take constant shots at one another publicly almost everyday since.
4. When Liam Tried To Sabotage The 1996 MTV VMA's
The poor MTV producers from 1995 must have hated Oasis. During their performance at the VMA's, disaster struck as Liam and Noel clearly had been fighting before their set. In a quote from an NYTarticle,
"Mr. Strauss, the music critic, wrote in The Times: “Liam Gallagher was swearing up a storm, knocking over the microphone, spilling beer, spitting, making lewd gestures and criticizing the lameness of the event as he sang ‘Champagne Supernova’ intentionally off-key, out of rhythm and with the wrong lyrics.”
5. The Soup Comment
While Oasis had ended, the fighting never really ceased. Liam and Noel took to media outlets, Twitter, and more, to talk poorly about one another. At one point, Noel quipped that Liam is "the angriest man you’ll ever meet. He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.”
Of course, Liam had to contribute by posting a photo of himself eating soup with a fork.
I think I can speak for the collective when I say this week has felt long and arduous. I feel like I've used every last shred of energy saved up to even survive all the workweek, so needless to say, I'm exhausted. But, that's not stopping me from gearing up for another week of new music.
If you don't know by now, we have a weekly thing going here. I round up all of these new, glorious releases every Friday and you, dear reader, run to your streaming platform of choice and listen! It's a mutually beneficial relationship, one that I look forward to weekly.
This week is no different, we've got heavy hitters coming out with new music now that the summer is essentially over. The Disney Trinity is returning to music soon: Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus all have music coming within the next two weeks. It's almost like it's 2006 and I'm tuning into a Disney Channel Original Movie soon.
And then, even further on the horizon, we have Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS looming. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves here, it's only August 18! And while it may be my roommate's birthday, it's also a week full of new music.
Let's Get Listening!
Demi Lovato - "Confident (Rock Version)"
Demi Lovato has one of the strongest vocal ranges in the music industry- which makes her voice perfect for rock and roll music. She's able to hit all the notes that pierce your soul, added the heavy drumbeat and scathing electric guitar to give us the versions of her old pop songs that feel fresh. It's apart of her new REVAMPED album, coming September 15, which features rock versions of all our fave Demi songs.
We first saw the new rock era of Demi on her 2022 HOLY FVCK tour, and fans have been anxiously awaiting to hear Demi's new spin on old faves. Alongside her all female band, Demi Lovato reinstates herself as the queen of genre-blending sound, a true musical genius.
Khloe Rose - The In Between (album)
Khloe Rose is our feature artist of the week: someone who has the ability to sing, write, and play multiple instruments deserves their own segment...especially when that someone is 19-year-old Khloe Rose. She's created a flawless album with The In Between, which includes the title track about those in-between moments in relationships...where you can't quite figure out what's happening.
It's a refreshing feeling to have all of your emotions put into words, which is exactly what her music provides. It's therapeutic to listen to, and her music is insanely catchy. She's one to watch these days, if you're a fan of artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift- check out Khloe Rose.
Icona Pop - "Fall In Love"
Icona Pop makes music for those who are ready to let loose and have a good time. The duo has given us bangers like "I Love It (ft. Charli XCX)", "All Night", and "Desire" with Joel Corry, but now they're here with "Fall In Love." It's the perfect taste of their new album, out September 1, CLUB ROMANTECH. "Fall In Love" feels fun, lighthearted, ethereal in ways, and makes us feel all the emotions falling in love does. Icona Pop says,
"'Fall In Love’ is about that moment when you fall sooo hardfor someone it’s almost like hitting a wall; you get all dizzy and almost lose touch with the ground andcan’t focus on anything else. The track is kind of an experiment for us to play around with our poppierside; we wanted to play around with mixing up our lyrics, but approach the melody almost like you wouldwith a sample, except it’s just us singing."
Mantra of the Cosmos - "X (Wot You Sayin?)"
Mantra of the Cosmos is like if you assembled the Avengers of UK music and put them into a band. Consisting of successful musicians from iconic bands, this group knows what they're doing. I mean, when you put together Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays, Black Grape), Zak Starkey (The Who, Oasis), Andy Bell (Oasis, Ride), Bez (Happy Mondays, Black Grape) and latest members, Brix Smith of The Fall, you know you're getting the best music.
Their latest single "X (Wot You Sayin?) is pure fun. A refreshing drumbeat and creative lyrics meld into harmonica runs to create a genre-blended single. Every single member of this band put a little of their magic into the song, which is prevalent when you're listening.
Surf Mesa - "First Time (ft. Stevie Appleton)"
Surf Mesa is making a name for himself quickly as a sought-after producer and someone who can make a banger track every single time. Ever since his essential debut with "ily (I love you baby)", the world has been enjoying Surf Mesa's ability to produce Beachy tracks that send you to the coast of California every time you press play. "First Time" with Stevie Appleton is classic Surf Mesa- chill, instilling within you some sort of wanderlust to be wherever the water is and the drinks are.
Following hit singles like "Manzanita," it's an exciting time to be a fan of Surf Mesa. He doesn't disappoint, giving you what you didn't know you needed.
POPULAR NEWS