Throne

The song 'Throne' is a powerful anthem of resilience, empowerment, and triumphant survival. Vocalist Oliver Sykes explained that the song is about transforming negative experiences into something positive and amazing. The core message is encapsulated in the lyric, 'So you can throw me to the wolves/Tomorrow I will come back leader of the whole pack,' which Sykes himself highlighted as summarizing the song's theme. This line illustrates the idea of overcoming adversity and emerging stronger from the very experiences that were meant to break you. It's a narrative of turning pain into power, where past hardships and betrayals are not sources of weakness but the very foundation of one's strength and authority—symbolized by the 'throne.' The lyrics also touch upon forgiveness as a form of empowerment. The line, 'Cos' I forgive you / You are the reason I still fight,' suggests that forgiving the transgressor is a way to reclaim one's own emotional state and use the experience as fuel for continued struggle and perseverance, rather than being consumed by hatred.

The narrative begins with a poignant memory of abandonment and betrayal. The protagonist recalls a specific moment of being left utterly alone, every promise made to them shattered. This experience plunged them into a state of deep emotional pain, described as being like a vast, lost ocean where the suffering was inescapable. However, this pain becomes a catalyst for a profound transformation. The song pivots to a powerful declaration of resilience. The protagonist challenges their former tormentors, stating that even if they are thrown to the wolves—a metaphor for being cast into a hostile and destructive environment—they will not only survive but emerge as the leader of the pack. This imagery signifies a complete reversal of power, turning a position of a victim into one of command.

The core message is that every hardship has contributed to their current strength. Each wound has shaped their character, and every scar has become a building block for their metaphorical throne, a symbol of their earned power and status. The very weapons used against them, the 'sticks and stones,' have been repurposed to construct an empire. This illustrates the ultimate form of empowerment: transforming negative energy and actions from others into the foundation of one's own success and dominion. There's a surprising turn towards forgiveness, but it's not a gesture of weakness. The protagonist tells their oppressor not to bother with insincere apologies ('don't even try to cry me a river') because they have already been forgiven. This forgiveness isn't about absolving the other person but about the protagonist reclaiming their own narrative. The reason they continue to fight and persevere is rooted in the very adversity they faced; the antagonist inadvertently became their greatest motivation. The song concludes with a promise of karmic justice and self-reconstruction. The protagonist vows to leave their tormentor choking on their unsaid, malicious words, while they themselves focus on rebuilding everything that was broken. The recurring affirmation that 'every scar will build my throne' solidifies the central theme: suffering, when endured and overcome, becomes the very source of one's strength, identity, and triumph.

'Throne' was written by all members of Bring Me The Horizon: Oliver Sykes, Jordan Fish, Lee Malia, Matt Kean, and Matt Nicholls. It was produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and vocalist Oliver Sykes. The track was one of the first written for their fifth studio album, 'That's the Spirit' (2015), and the band immediately felt it had the potential to be a comeback single. The recording sessions took place at Black Rock Studios in Santorini, Greece, with Al Groves serving as the engineer. The band had spent three months in pre-production before heading to the studio, so the song was well-structured and ready to be recorded. Keyboardist Jordan Fish described 'Throne' as one of the most simple and straightforward songs on the album, viewing it as a natural progression from the sound they had developed on their previous album, 'Sempiternal' (2013), characterized by an up-tempo rhythm and strong melodies. This song marked a significant point in the band's stylistic evolution, moving further away from their metalcore roots towards a more accessible arena rock and electronic rock sound. Sykes mentioned that the challenge was to create something impressive for a new audience, not just to showcase his developed clean singing vocals.

'Throne' employs a relatively simple and direct rhyme scheme that enhances its anthemic and memorable quality. The verses often follow an AABB or ABCB pattern (e.g., 'made'/'away', 'unspoken'/'broken'). The pre-chorus and chorus prioritize impact and repetition over complex rhyme structures. The rhythm is a driving force in the song, characterized by an up-tempo beat that propels the track forward with high energy. This consistent, powerful rhythm makes the song incredibly suitable for live performance and audience participation. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is tight, with Sykes's vocal phrasing often accentuating the main beats, especially in the chorus. The electronic elements, such as the pulsating synths, add rhythmic layers that complement the straightforward rock drumming, creating a full and dynamic soundscape that is both danceable and headbang-worthy. The overall rhythmic feel is one of urgency and defiance, perfectly matching the song's lyrical themes.

Musically, 'Throne' represents a significant stylistic shift for Bring Me The Horizon, blending electronic elements with rock sensibilities. The track is built on a foundation of synthesizers and electronic programming, courtesy of Jordan Fish, which provides a distinctive electronic rock texture. This includes a prominent lead synth with a time delay effect in the intro and a harp sample borrowed from an earlier version of their song 'Drown'. The song structure itself is more aligned with pop and arena rock, featuring a simple, straightforward, and highly catchy, anthemic chorus designed for singalongs. Oliver Sykes's vocal delivery is a key stylistic element; he largely abandons the screaming characteristic of the band's earlier work in favor of powerful, clean-sung vocals that convey a defiant and epic tone. Critics noted the vocals are reminiscent of Chester Bennington from Linkin Park, a band to which 'Throne' was frequently compared due to its fusion of electronic sounds, driving rock instrumentation, and melodic, emotional vocals. The production, handled by Sykes and Fish, is expansive and polished, creating a 'skyscraping' and 'thunderous' sound suitable for large venues.

'Throne' was a major commercial success for Bring Me The Horizon, signifying their definitive break into the mainstream rock scene. It became the band's first single to top the US Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and also topped the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart for 12 consecutive weeks. While it peaked at number 51 on the main UK Singles Chart, its sustained popularity made it the band's biggest single in the UK based on chart sales as of early 2021. The song received significant critical acclaim, with many praising its anthemic nature and epic sound, though some noted its departure from the band's metalcore roots and its similarity to Linkin Park. 'Throne' was frequently used in popular culture, notably as an official theme song for the WWE event NXT TakeOver: Respect. It was also made available as a playable track in the video game 'Rock Band 4'. The song is widely regarded as a fan favorite and a staple of their live shows, often praised in lists of the band's greatest songs by publications like Billboard and Kerrang!.

The lyrics of 'Throne' are rich with powerful symbolism and metaphors centered on strength and rebirth.

• The Throne: The central symbol, the 'throne,' represents a position of power, authority, and self-sovereignty. It's not inherited or given but built from 'every scar.' This powerfully suggests that true strength and status are earned through enduring and overcoming suffering.
• Wolves: Being 'thrown to the wolves' is a common idiom for being sacrificed or abandoned to a terrible fate. The song brilliantly subverts this by having the protagonist return as the 'leader of the whole pack,' transforming from prey to predator, from victim to a master of the very forces meant to destroy them.
• Sticks and Stones: The line 'The sticks and the stones that you used to throw have built me an empire' is a direct and potent metaphor for turning insults, attacks, and negativity into the foundation of one's success and resilience. It embodies the concept of using adversity as a building material for something great.
• Ocean: The lyric 'I was an ocean / Lost in the open' creates a powerful image of feeling boundless, directionless, and consumed by the overwhelming nature of pain and isolation following a betrayal.

The music video, directed by Sykes, adds another layer of symbolism, with its medieval, 'Game of Thrones'-esque aesthetic, featuring a child on a throne, surreal imagery, and figures in plague doctor masks, visually reinforcing the themes of struggle, power dynamics, and a strange, dark regality.

The most significant recurring motif in 'Throne' is the couplet: 'Every wound will shape me / Every scar will build my throne.' This phrase is the song's central thesis, repeated to hammer home the core message of building strength from pain. Its repetition in the chorus solidifies it as the song's primary lyrical hook and emotional anchor.

The defiant challenge, 'So you can throw me to the wolves / Tomorrow I will come back / Leader of the whole pack,' is another crucial recurring phrase. It serves as the song's battle cry, appearing in the chorus to establish a tone of unwavering resilience and ultimate victory. The repetition of this line creates a powerful and memorable anthem of overcoming adversity. The word 'throne' itself is a recurring motif, appearing in the title and the main hook, constantly reinforcing the central symbol of earned power and sovereignty.