Linkin Park Unveils Their Latest Track, ‘Heavy is the Crown’

The 2024 League of Legends World Championship anthem, “Heavy Is The Crown,” performed by Linkin Park, marks a major moment in both gaming and music. As the official Worlds anthem, the song captures the intensity and stakes of the global esports event, combining the iconic sounds of Linkin Park with the high-energy competition of the League of Legends world. The anthem reflects the band’s comeback, following years of absence after the passing of Chester Bennington, and it stands as a bold return with co-founder Mike Shinoda taking a lead role alongside new vocalist Emily Armstrong.

The accompanying music video for “Heavy Is The Crown” is fully animated, integrating the band into a visually stunning, painterly world reminiscent of the Arcane series, a previous League of Legends project on Netflix. The animation style, paired with the song’s intense, nu-metal sound, creates a powerful anthem that resonates with both League fans and long-time Linkin Park listeners. The track fuses Mike Shinoda’s signature rap elements with Armstrong’s fiery vocals, adding a modern edge while staying true to the band’s roots.

Linkin Park’s involvement in Worlds 2024 is part of Riot Games’ tradition of featuring major global artists for their annual anthems. Past performances included songs by Imagine Dragons, Lil Nas X, and NewJeans, all designed to capture the spirit of the competition. “Heavy Is The Crown” fits seamlessly into this legacy, offering a powerful narrative about leadership, struggle, and triumph—elements that mirror the journey of the competitors in the tournament.

Emily Armstrong, known for her work with the rock band Dead Sara, adds a new dimension to the group with her energetic and fierce vocal style. Her presence as the new co-vocalist alongside Shinoda marks a new era for Linkin Park. This is the band’s second collaboration with Riot Games in recent times, further solidifying their connection to the gaming community. The song also follows their recent hit, “The Emptiness Machine,” showing their ability to evolve while maintaining the intensity that fans expect.

The release of the Worlds anthem coincides with the band’s world tour, which will conclude just after the finals of the League of Legends Championship on November 2, 2024, in London. Fans are eagerly awaiting the live performance of “Heavy Is The Crown” during the grand finale at the O2 Arena, a fitting stage for the band’s dramatic return and the culmination of one of the most-watched esports events in the world.

This collaboration between Linkin Park and Riot Games is seen as a perfect match, blending the competitive nature of esports with the raw emotional energy that the band has always been known for. As esports continue to grow in prominence, anthems like “Heavy Is The Crown” symbolize the merging of gaming with mainstream music, creating a cultural moment that is as much about entertainment as it is about the players themselves. The anthem reflects the personal and professional struggles of both the gamers and the band, making it a memorable entry in the League of Legends Worlds music catalog.