#MusicBlog

[downtherabbitholewithauntieblegh]

Linkin Park/Emily Armstrong Controversy

Y'all paying way too much attention to this Linkin Park business. Move on. Rock and metal are suffering from drama. We're forgetting the music and why we pack into venues and festivals. We're forgetting that band members have families they're away from for months at a time. We're forgetting that suicide, depression, mental illness and addiction are rampant in our business because of the stress. STFU about Linkin Park and let those people move forward. Go to a show, buy a t-shirt, hit the pit and tell all your friends about it.

#inuswetrust always. Peace.

~ AJ Channer (Lead Singer of Fire From the Gods)

So, let's talk about Linkin Park, Emily Armstrong and this controversy. Almost a week ago, Linkin Park premiered a new song along with their new co-singer, Emily Armstrong. Emily is the front woman of the band Dead Sara. The controversy was almost immediate with a huge amount of backlash.

The first round came from Cedric Bixler-Zavala (The Mars Volta) and his wife, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler. The husband-and-wife duo did not hold back with their disdain for Armstrong, her ties to Scientology and her alleged support of convicted rapist, actor Danny Masterson. According to one article, Carnell was a victim of Masterson. Bixler and Carnell are former Scientologists themselves and left years ago.

Armstrong has since come out and apologized for her actions in supporting Masterson, explaining that she went to one court appearance and supported him as an observer to later realize her mistake. Some people, including Bixler and Carnell, say that the apology isn't enough.

Bixler and Carnell released a statement after Armstrong's apology and did not accept it, stating, "If you're not going to speak out against the human and child trafficking cult in which you are a part of and in which you enable by remaining silent on crimes you know about then you have no right to fill the shoes of Chester Bennington, a true advocate."

Mike Shinoda, original founding member, as well as Joe Hahn, have both released statements. Both stated that they support Armstrong and know that having her a part of their band would be a "hard pill to swallow" for most people.

"To say it as clearly as possible, I do not condone abuse or violence against women, and I empathize with the victims of these crimes," Shinoda said as a part of his statement.

That wasn't good enough for Chester's son, Jaime Bennington. Bennington released a scathing statement, denouncing Shinoda and the other original members that are still in the band. Bennington released his statement via Instagram on September 9th. Ever since Bennington made his feelings known, he has been getting death threats from Linkin Park fans.

Some folks are even questioning him and whether he truly understands what his dad would want if Chester were alive today. Bennington highlighted the hypocritical comments, saying if they really understood how his father died, they would realize that their comments are inappropriate and crass.

Bennington was very outspoken with his disdain and blasting Shinoda for betraying their fans by choosing Armstrong as their new singer, especially during International Suicide Awareness month. Bennington addressed Armstrong's alleged ties to Scientology and support for Masterson.

Bixler-Zavala resurfaced some messages, one that showed Armstrong did indeed attend the 2020 preliminary hearing of Masterson. That did hit fans hard, as Chester had openly discussed surviving sexual abuse in the past. Chester passed away back in 2017.

With the drama weighing heavily on everyone involved, Shinoda, Hahn and the others are sticking by Armstrong and their decision to have her as their singer. We cannot take away the noticeable missing original drummer, Rob Bourdon. Bourdon made the choice to not reunite with the band for this new venture.

It just came out that original lead guitarist, Brad Delson, will not be touring with the band moving forward. In a statement by Shinoda, Delson has made the choice to just record with them in the studio and not take part in live performances in the future. Colin Brittain has replaced Bourdon on the drums. Brittain is known for playing with Oh No Fiasco.

Alex Feder has been announced as Delson's replacement for the upcoming tour to support their new album, From Zero.

With all this information provided, people are still divided on whether Linkin Park making a comeback, 2.0 as some people have called it, is a good thing. What people are failing to realize is how hurtful their comments are. Shinoda has stated that they will not be getting rid of Armstrong.

Some fans are saying they should change their name. Something a lot of people agree with. Some are saying they should just not continue on with Linkin Park without Chester. At this point, everyone just needs to take AJ Channer of Fire from the Gods advice. We are forgetting the music. We are forgetting that these musicians have families at home. We are forgetting that suicide, depression, mental illness and addiction run rampant in the music industry.

We are forgetting that they are people like we are. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. If you want to listen to Linkin Park, by all means, listen to Linkin Park. If you don't want to support them, don't. That's the end of that story. How do expect people to heal and move forward when people constantly bring up the past, negative or not?

Everyone's feelings in this situation are real and valid. Don't negate someone's feelings if they don't align with yours. We as a society, we must do better. In the end, it does really matter....

[violatorverse]

Depeche Mode, 1988

[warrenwoodhouse]

Fallout 4 Main Theme Guitar Tab (Guitar Tabs) (Music Tabs) (Music) (Guitar Tutorials)

Photo and Tab by @warrenwoodhouse #warrenwoodhouse

Written up this guitar tab for the main theme song of @fallout #Fallout4. The theme song is by #InonZur.

[dark-rx]

"All These Years" - Sawyer Brown

All These Years Sawyer Brown Cafe On The Corner, 1992

She likes adventure with security And more than one man can provide She planned adventure feeling sure that he Would not be home 'til after five He turned on the lights and turned them off again, And said the one thing he could say

All these years Where have I been I've been down the road to work and home again And I'm still here Until I'm gone And don't you rub it in too hard that I've been wrong All these years

She said, "You're not the man you used to be" And He said, "Neither is this guy" She said, "There's some things you refuse to see... But I guess sometimes so do I" She made no excuse why she was lying there, She said the one thing she could say

All these years What have I done? I made your supper and your daughter and your son Still I'm here, And still confused But I can finally see how much I stand to lose All these years...

I'm still here And so confused But I can finally see how much I stand to lose, All these years.

[illuminatingfacts]

🎸✨ Rock out with the best all-time rock bands from the San Francisco Bay Area! From legendary classics to iconic sounds, discover the music that shaped generations. 🌉🎶 📖 Read more: [https://mentalitch.com/the-best-all-time-rock-bands-from-the-san-francisco-bay-area/]

[popchopstick]

PopChopstick Best New Track: ifeye - NERDY

New K-pop girl group ifeye made their debut on April 8 with the EP ERLU BLUE, and its lead single NERDY immediately stands out.

NERDY follows a classic K-pop formula: a steady drum kick and spacey synths run through the track, creating a sleek, minimalistic backdrop. The chorus shifts gears—starting with a slightly tacky Western-style power pop, then snapping back into the familiar, charming world of K-pop where the girls spell out “N-E-R-D-Y” with playful flair.

What earns NERDY its Best New Track title is ifeye’s vocal delivery—refreshing yet full, sweet yet subtly coy. The group sounds like one unified chorus, filling the track’s sparse production with vibrant personality. It’s the kind of debut that makes you curious about what’s coming next.

[hiphophaven]

Wholeheartedly agree with Tyler the Creator, hip hop has become a cash grab and it’s been more love than that always for the genre

Some folks say to bring gatekeepers back. I definitely think there should be more discernment in who you allow to build community before that community crumbles.

[opusscience]

Not done of these in a while...

[song-writer-melo-wrath]

Most recent song in this series this time! I gave it the title "Your Therapist", and in terms of title expectations, it's a bit of a plot twist.

Also, I sometimes wear glasses irl (I'm not blind without them, but they are a requirement to drive…or read menu displays) so I thought I'd add that to the drawing this time. This song does feel like the musical equivalent of an anime glasses tilt, after all.

If you like this, head over to @athy-art ! All my work is archived on there for easier access.

[downtherabbitholewithauntieblegh]

Makes me sad but I get it.

[ladynahualli]

My song 'Outcast' was added to this playlist!! 💥💥

[dark-rx]

Rich Men North of Richmond by Oliver Anthony

Rich Men North of Richmond Oliver Anthony Single, 2023

I'll never understand how modern conservatives have co-opted a song about class warfare into a rallying cry for conservative policies which have always supported the exact same class structure.

In 100 years, we went from the working poor heroically winning the literal and cultural Battle of Blair Mountain to the working poor voting for politicians who are trying to abolish OSHA so the top 1% can get a tax break... MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!

I've been sellin' my soul, workin' all day Overtime hours for bullshit pay So I can sit out here and waste my life away Drag back home and drown my troubles away

It's a damn shame what the world's gotten to For people like me and people like you Wish I could just wake up and it not be true But it is, oh, it is

Livin' in the new world With an old soul These rich men north of Richmond Lord knows they all just wanna have total control Wanna know what you think, wanna know what you do And they don't think you know, but I know that you do 'Cause your dollar ain't shit and it's taxed to no end 'Cause of rich men north of Richmond

I wish politicians would look out for miners And not just minors on an island somewhere Lord, we got folks in the street, ain't got nothin' to eat And the obese milkin' welfare

God, if you're 5 foot 3 and you're 300 pounds Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds Young men are puttin' themselves six feet in the ground 'Cause all this damn country does is keep on kickin' them down

Lord, it's a damn shame what the world's gotten to For people like me and people like you Wish I could just wake up and it not be true But it is, oh, it is

Livin' in the new world With an old soul These rich men north of Richmond Lord knows they all just wanna have total control Wanna know what you think, wanna know what you do And they don't think you know, but I know that you do 'Cause your dollar ain't shit and it's taxed to no end 'Cause of rich men north of Richmond

I've been sellin' my soul, workin' all day Overtime hours for bullshit pay

[24strawberry]

O kay tagal din kitang minahal...

2 years...

In those two years, you made me feel loved in a way I’ll never forget. I still hold on to those moments—the laughter, the quiet nights, the way you made me feel safe just by being there.

We ended unexpectedly, and though it hurts, I have no regrets. Loving you, sharing my life with you, and being part of you will always be something I treasure.

I just hope you know how much I wanted it to be you—how much I wished we could’ve made it work. But even if we didn’t, I’ll forever carry the love we shared in my heart.

" Dahil katulad mo ako din ay nag bago, 'dina tayo tulad ng dati.

we passed each other at school, but I didn’t even look at you. We just walked past as if we never knew each other.

I’m not avoiding you anymore. I can feel your presence now without remembering what we used to have. Like you, it doesn’t matter to me anymore, even if we’re standing side by side. I no longer feel the excitement of seeing your face.

I still look at you from afar, even if it’s blurry, but it’s no longer a gaze that wishes for something in return. I’ve accepted it—I’ve accepted that all the happiness I shared with you will never happen again. "Dahil katulad mo ako rin ay nag bago hindi na tayo tulad ng dati.

"Burnout" by Sugarfree

Sugarfree's "Burnout" is a song about love, change, and letting go. The lyrics express the pain of a relationship that has faded over time, as both people have grown and changed. The chorus, "Kay tagal din kitang minahal" ("I loved you for a long time"), shows the protagonist’s lingering love, even as they realize it's time to move on.

The line "O, kay tagal din kitang mamahalin" ("I will love you for a long time") reflects the lasting feelings, but also acknowledges that the relationship is over. In the verse "Dahil katulad mo, ako rin ay nagbago, hindi na tayo tulad ng dati" ("Because just like you, I have changed too, we are no longer the same"), both people have evolved, making the connection feel different.

Ultimately, "Burnout" is a song about accepting that love can remain even if the relationship doesn’t. It’s a bittersweet reminder that sometimes, letting go is the healthiest choice for both people to grow.

[illuminatingfacts]

🎸📀 Rock legends and record-breaking hits! 🤘 Dive into **The 15 Rock Albums That Sold the Most Copies** and see which classics made the list. 🎶 📖 Read more: [https://mentalitch.com/the-15-rock-albums-that-sold-the-most-copies/]

[popchopstick]

PopChopstick Best New Track(s): Yves - DIM ∞ (EP)

On April 1, 2025, Yves released the DIM ∞ remix EP, featuring five different versions of her viral track, as a direct response to the song's explosive popularity on social media.

Originally from her EP I Did, DIM ∞ is a beautifully simple modern R&B track, with hints of trap floating around its smooth surface—until it unexpectedly, yet seamlessly, switches into drum and bass, adding a dynamic twist that makes the track all the more compelling.

With such an evolving sound at its core, five versions of this song don’t just feel justified—they feel essential.

[imjessica]