LOS ANGELES — Kicking off their new musical era, Linkin Park opened a sold-out concert at the Kia Forum on Wednesday night with powerful performances of three songs. Mike Shinoda, the band’s co-founder and lyricist, paused to greet the excited audience before making an important introduction.

“It’s so fantastic to see you all again. This marks the first show of our tour,” Shinoda announced, launching the From Zero World Tour—the first for the Grammy-winning nu metal band since the passing of their iconic frontman, Chester Bennington, in 2017.

“Have you all had the chance to meet our new friend, Emily?” he asked.

The lively crowd at the Forum had indeed met Emily Armstrong, who was revealed as Linkin Park’s new co-lead singer just a week prior, on September 5. The band also announced an international tour with stops planned in cities like New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul, and Bogota, along with the upcoming release of their eighth album, “From Zero,” set for November 15.

Armstrong, a co-founder of the alternative rock band Dead Sara, made an immediate impression with her powerful vocals, daring stage presence, and energetic movements. She kicked off the show with the aptly titled “Somewhere I Belong,” followed by classic tracks like “Crawling” and “Lying from You.”

However, Shinoda made it clear that the memory of Bennington was at the forefront of everyone’s minds. “You know you’re singing for Chester tonight, right?” he remarked before leading the crowd in a sing-along of “Points of Authority.”

There was some backlash regarding Linkin Park’s reformation, which features DJ Joe Hahn, bassist Phoenix, and new drummer Colin Brittain. Notably, Jamie Bennington, son of the late singer, criticized the band in an Instagram post, claiming that Armstrong’s inclusion “quietly erased my father’s life and legacy in real time.”

Despite any negative feedback, Linkin Park and Armstrong turned the criticism into energy for their enthusiastic two-hour, 27-song performance, with the new singer commanding the stage at the center of the renowned LA venue.

During the concert, Armstrong revealed the band’s already-released single, “The Emptiness Machine,” encouraging the audience to sing along. She exuded confidence during “Burn It Down,” as if she had been performing it for years.

“How are you feeling, Em?” Shinoda checked in after Armstrong fell to her knees singing “Waiting for the End.” Her playful response was unprintable, except it conveyed she was feeling “great.” After an energetic performance of “Friendly Fire,” she cheekily remarked, “That was fun.”

“Emily, there are children here,” Shinoda humorously admonished from the stage.

“I’m so sorry,” Armstrong replied, emphasizing, “Not sorry.”

Shinoda also apologized for the late introduction of Armstrong, explaining that she had been working discreetly with the band. “Sorry we kept it a secret,” he said.

Armstrong reflected on the difficulty of keeping her role a secret: “That was the hardest thing.”

“But we’re so (expletive) back,” Shinoda declared.

Linkin Park’s rejuvenated sound showcased some areas for improvement, such as when Shinoda accidentally collided with a mic stand during a solo performance in the medley “When They Come for Me/Remember The Name.” He took it in stride, commenting, “That was my favorite part of the night,” with a smile.

Before concluding with their encore song, “Bleed It Out,” Shinoda honored their new addition by asking, “How about Emily?” This prompted a loud cheer from the audience.

A quick show of hands revealed that about half the crowd was experiencing their first Linkin Park concert, which delighted Shinoda.

“That’s amazing. That’s part of why we’re back out here,” Shinoda explained. “It’s not about erasing the past, but about starting this new chapter for the future. We love playing for you guys and can’t wait for our new record.”