Linkin Park [Official Press Photo]
Linkin Park have experienced quite a few ups and downs throughout their career. Despite all of that – or perhaps because of it – the band from California is considered one of the greats in the world of guitar-driven music. In their early years, they made nu metal accessible to the mainstream. Heavy riffs combined with catchy singalongs and strong rap parts attracted a broad audience from a wide range of genres. With just their first two albums, Hybrid Theory (2000) and Meteora (2003), they secured their place at the very top among bands that would go on to have a lasting influence on the scene.
The lowest point was certainly marked by the death of singer Chester Bennington in 2017. The long-time frontman left behind a huge void, and for a long time it was unclear whether it could ever be filled again. In 2024, Linkin Park launched their comeback with Emily Armstrong on vocals – and with great success. The comeback album From Zero was a global hit and reached top chart positions.
Like hardly any other band, Linkin Park have managed to remain relevant with their music over the years. In our opinion, these 8 bands have similar potential to strike a chord with their fans.
Bring Me The Horizon
A band that has undergone a similarly exciting transformation as Linkin Park is Bring Me The Horizon. From the brutal deathcore of their early days, the British group has continuously evolved and now combines heavy guitars with electronic elements, pop influences, and massive hooks. Since their album That's The Spirit at the latest, they have shown how well emotional depth and mainstream appeal can be combined. Thematically, Oli Sykes and co. often deal with inner conflicts, self-doubt, and mental health – topics that have always played a major role for Linkin Park as well. A band that truly captures the spirit of the times.
Landmvrks
Landmvrks bring back an element that many fans loved about early Linkin Park: the combination of heavy riffs and strong rap parts. Frontman Florent Salfati effortlessly switches between aggressive shouts, clean singing, and technically skilled rap passages – sometimes in English, sometimes in French. The band gives their songs a unique dynamic. Especially on The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, it becomes clear how well this mix works when you dare to experiment. Similar to Linkin Park, this results in an exciting combination that blends different genres with ease while remaining extremely catchy.
Sleep Token
The songs of Sleep Token are just as emotional as those of Linkin Park. The music of the masked group around frontman Vessel is a blend of metal, R&B, rap, pop, progressive… and something in between. A modern crossover that’s hard to define. Like Linkin Park, Sleep Token can switch between heavy screams and emotional singing within the same song as if it were effortless. The emotions of listeners are targeted very deliberately. Especially the soundscapes of Take Me Back To Eden and Even In Arcadia are made for big emotions.
Bad Omens
Bad Omens consistently move between modern heaviness and atmospheric sensitivity – a combination that also made Linkin Park great. The band skillfully combines heavy guitars with electronic elements and almost pop-like melodies. Especially on the album The Death Of Peace Of Mind, it becomes clear how strongly emotions are used: the songs fluctuate between anger, melancholy, and a certain inner emptiness that runs like a thread throughout the record. This also defined early Linkin Park releases. Their emotional and musical versatility, along with a modern sound, makes Bad Omens one of the most exciting acts of today.
I Prevail
I Prevail follow a similar musical path as early Linkin Park: heavy riffs meet catchy choruses and a dynamic interplay between clean vocals and aggressive shouts. A major lineup change, marked by the departure of clean singer Brian Burkheiser, also shaped the band and forced them to fill a significant gap. Like Linkin Park, they handled it brilliantly by splitting the “work” internally between guitarist and backing vocalist Dylan Bowman and screamer Eric Vanlerberghe, who now share the clean parts. With albums like Violent Nature, Trauma, and True Power, they prove that there is more behind their sound than just energy. Personal crises, fears, and emotional lows are openly processed here.
Electric Callboy
When it comes to crossover, Electric Callboy are right at the very front. The band from Castrop-Rauxel combines metalcore with heavy screams, catchy electronic beats, pop elements, and a good dose of humor. They consciously – and often somewhat exaggeratedly – push beyond genre boundaries. Their album TEKKNO in particular shows how multifaceted their work is. Even though their approach is more tongue-in-cheek, their stylistic openness strongly resembles that of Linkin Park: heavy guitars meet danceable parts, catchy hooks, and modern production.
Spiritbox
Spiritbox stand for the emotional depth that many fans also appreciate in Linkin Park. The band around singer Courtney LaPlante manages to shift between fragile moments and crushing outbursts without it ever feeling forced. On the contrary: her vocal range is on par with that of Chester Bennington or Emily Armstrong. Albums like Eternal Blue and Tsunami Sea perfectly showcase this musical range: atmospheric sounds meet heavy riffs and intense vocals. A play of emotional extremes that Linkin Park also explored in their songs, possibly laying the foundation for these ambivalent soundscapes.
Turnstile
Turnstile take a slightly different musical approach but still hit a similar nerve. The band blends hardcore with influences from alternative, indie, and even pop, creating a sound that is fresh, emotional, and highly accessible. With albums like GLOW ON and NEVER ENOUGH, it became clear that heavy music doesn’t have to be one-dimensional. Just like Linkin Park, Turnstile show that familiarity and experimentation can be perfectly combined to create an entirely new kind of energy – and that genre boundaries are more meant to be crossed today than ever before.
