Visual documentaries about rock bands tend to fall into two categories: they’re either great or they’re avoidable. To the outsider, documentaries revealing the inner workings of a rock band can provide a fascinating insight into an almost always unattainable world for most, they can also almost ruin the magical dream world you have created for your favourite band.
For nu-metal titans, Linkin Park, letting cameras into their world was a brave move. From becoming not only the soundtrack to a generation with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, to experiencing one of the most heart-breaking losses in that of frontman and voice of an entire generation, Chester Bennington, Unshatter takes you inside life with Linkin Park as they traverse tragedy and rebirth.
Documenting the journey to their long-awaited return in 2024 with new vocalist Emily Armstrong and new drummer Colin Brittain, Unshatter is a warts-and-all look into one of the most tragic stories to hit the rock world in many years. Documenting their decision to return as a band, the sessions which led the remaining members to bring in a new vocalist and, ultimately, their return to the live stage at an emotional stadium gig in Sao Paulo, Unshatter is an emotional rollercoaster of a view.
Taking you behind the scenes as the band brings new members into the line-up, Unshatter is an unfiltered look as vocalist Emily Armstrong navigates joining not only one of the most important rock bands of the last generation but also the gargantuan pressure of stepping into the shoes of one of the most iconic and important frontmen of the last generation. The laughs, the tears, the jokes – it’s all documented on camera for fans to see, including the announcement of Emily’s joining at a surprise live event which, at the time, broke the internet.
Directed by turntablist/co-founder Joe Hahn, Unshatter is exactly what fans would want from a Linkin Park documentary. It would have been easy to just put out the visual live recording of the spectacular show, but Hahn, thankfully, didn’t take the easy route. Instead, he chose a route that showed how one of the biggest rock bands in modern history navigated one of its most challenging and tragic periods.
The end result is one which shows how something quite incredible can be born from a situation which affected so many people all over the world. The arrival of Armstrong and the triumphant return of Linkin Park started an exciting new chapter for the band and their fans who, judging by the show footage spliced into the documentary, had been waiting a long time for a day which many, including the band, feared would never happen.
On the arrival of Armstrong, Shinoda comments about his former bandmate and how unique he was before noting how, in Armstrong, they’ve managed to achieve that twice.
Be prepared, though, if you’re a Linkin Park fan, Unshatter will continue to take you on the emotional journey you have been on with the band over the past decade and beyond. Even if you’re not a fan, it would be hard for you not to be aware of the importance of Linkin Park to the rock world and their heartbreaking story. Unshatter is the unmissable documentation of that story and their triumphant return.
“It’s good to see you again,” Shinoda says with a huge smile on his face. Millions of fans all over the world couldn’t agree more.
For more information on Unshatter, visit the Official Website here.
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