# Heavy Is the Crown (Linkin Park song)

"Heavy Is the Crown" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released on September 24, 2024, as the second single from the band's eighth studio album From Zero. The song serves as the anthem for Riot Games' 2024 League of Legends World Championship. A version of the song with newly-recorded vocals by Armstrong and Shinoda appears in the soundtrack for the second and final season of Arcane.

## Composition

Stylistically, "Heavy is the Crown" is described as a nu metal and rap rock song. Emily Armstrong's vocals are compared to the late Chester Bennington's by Emmy Mack of Music Feeds, who stated "It's actually really easy to imagine Chester singing this one", and described the chorus as "gritty".

## Release

"Heavy Is the Crown" is the second song released by the band since their return with new vocalist Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, following a hiatus that lasted since 2017 due to the death of former vocalist Chester Bennington. First performed live on September 22, 2024, during a performance at the Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany, during the From Zero World Tour, the track was released as the second single from their upcoming eighth studio album, From Zero, on September 24, 2024. It was accompanied by a music video themed after Riot Games' video game League of Legends, serving as the theme song for its 2024 World Championship. The band would also perform the song during the opening ceremony for the grand finals, held at The O2 Arena on 2 November. A version of the song, as produced by Mike Shinoda and Alex Seaver of Mako, also appeared on the soundtrack for the second season of the television series Arcane.

## Reception

Gregory Adams of Revolver magazine wrote: "Fueled by hungrily melodic guitar hooks and a propulsive and bouncy, Meteora-esque beat, ['Heavy Is the Crown'] bursts out the gate with a classic Mike Shinoda rap. Armstrong recalls late vocalist Chester Bennington’s rasp, while also bringing some big screams of her own." The song became the band's seventh No. 1 on Billboard's Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, moving them into sole possession of the third-most No. 1's in the chart's history. It also became the band's twenty-first top 10 song on the Alternative Airplay chart, tying for the fifth-most songs by any artist in the chart's history.

## Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.
Linkin Park
* Emily Armstrong – lead vocals
* Colin Brittain – drums
* Brad Delson – lead guitar
* Dave "Phoenix" Farrell – bass, backing vocals
* Joe Hahn – samples, programming, backing vocals, turntables
* Mike Shinoda – rap vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards
Additional personnel
* Colin Brittain – production
* Brad Delson – production
* Mike Shinoda – production, record engineering
* Linkin Park – composition
* Mike Elizondo – additional production, composition
* Rich Costey – mixing
* Emerson Mancini – mastering
* Ethan Mates – record engineering
* Jeff Citron – assistant mixing

## Certifications

Certifications for "Heavy Is the Crown" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^‡$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 100,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 5,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||