| "All For Nothing" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Linkin Park | |
| from the album The Hunting Party | |
| Working title: | True Chainz |
| Recorded: | 2013 - 2014 |
| Length: | 3:33 |
| Stems: | Stagelight (Linkin Park Bundle II)[1] |
| Time signature: | 4/4 |
| Tempo: | 160 |
| Key: | E Minor |
| Writer: | Linkin Park |
| Producer: | Brad Delson, Mike Shinoda |
| Label: | Warner Bros. |
| The Hunting Party tracklist | |
| |
"All For Nothing" is the second track on Linkin Park's sixth studio album The Hunting Party. The song features guitars and vocals by Page Hamilton of Helmet fame. According to Mike Shinoda, it is one of the most underrated songs in Linkin Park's catalog.[2]
Background
"All For Nothing" may have a very "early-Linkin Park" structure to it, but the band as a whole thought the track was very similar to the alternative metal band Helmet, whose melodic, yet aggressive style was an inspiration to the band during the writing of The Hunting Party.[3] Seeing the similarity in style, the band decided to call in Helmet's singer, Page Hamilton, to sing on the track and add some extra guitar. Chester Bennington commented on how Mike Shinoda was struggling far more than usual to sing the track, and noted how similar Shinoda's voice was to that of Hamilton.[4] Shinoda later detailed Hamilton's involvement in the track in an interview with Revolver Magazine, where he stated “That’s Page singing—there’s a double of me in there, but that’s him way up front. We hung out with him over the course of a day or two, and went back and forth over the song. It was just as much about meeting the guy and picking his brain and hearing cool stories about things that he’s done. But the other thing was, I really wanted him to know that this was a song we wouldn’t have made if I’d never listened to Helmet—you know, ‘It’s because of you that we wrote this. If you don’t want to sing on it, that’s OK, but we wanted to play it for you first. And if you want to be on the song, then you can be on the song.’ He liked it so much that he wound up singing on it, and he added some cool layers and chords on guitar.”[5]
Speaking of the drums on the song, which are more programmed-sounding than on the rest of the album, Rob Bourdon said, "We wanted to have more of a sampled sound overall in that track. The verses have a sampled electronic sound. In that case we edited the live drums to sound more [rigid] on the grid, so that when we’re hitting the verse [from the chorus] it doesn’t sound too different. We want to have a similar aesthetic throughout the song. If the drums go from electronic and raw to garage-band sounding, it won’t sound cohesive. We actually recorded that song quickly. There wasn’t as much attention paid to the feel, because we knew we’d work with sampled sounds. It’s live but electronic at the same time."[6]
The short interlude at the end of the track is an original piece with Shinoda doing soft vocals over top of it.[7] Shinoda and Brad Delson can also be heard talking about placing "the heavy shit" next.
Remix
On December 24, 2014, several members from the Linkin Park Association community teamed up to release a remix album of The Hunting Party titled Viscera. The album was later released to the LP Underground on June 18, 2015 after the band received the full rights to distribute the album. There were two remixes of "All For Nothing" released on the album. One was done by Shurpi, and the other was done by zwieR.Z. The latter remix incorporates the famous "Crazy Train" riff into the song. The instrumental version of the remixes were released February 28, 2015.
Versions
Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.
Studio
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All For Nothing (feat. Page Hamilton) | The Hunting Party | 3:33 | 2013-2014 | June 13, 2014 |
|
| All For Nothing (Instrumental) (feat. Page Hamilton) | The Hunting Party: Acapellas + Instrumentals | 3:14 | 2013-2014 | August 12, 2014 |
|
| All For Nothing (feat. Page Hamilton) (Acapella) | The Hunting Party: Acapellas + Instrumentals | 3:33 | 2013-2014 | August 12, 2014 |
|
Remix
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All For Nothing: Shurpi | Viscera | 4:14 | 2014 | December 24, 2014 |
|
| All For Nothing: zwieR.Z. | Viscera | 3:34 | 2014 | December 24, 2014 |
|
| All For Nothing: Shurpi (Instrumental) | Viscera (Instrumentals) | 4:14 | 2014 | February 28, 2015 |
|
| All For Nothing: zwieR.Z. (Instrumental) | Viscera (Instrumentals) | 3:34 | 2014 | February 28, 2015 |
|
Live
'All For Nothing' was included in the initial setlist draft Mike created in early 2014 transitioning out of 'Runaway,' a slot which ultimately went to 'Wastelands.'[8] The song was likely rehearsed since it was in Mike's guitar sounds presets for live shows in his keyboard rig.[9] 'All For Nothing' was never performed live during The Hunting Party Tour, even when Page Hamilton joined them onstage for their final show of the the cycle at Relief Live! 2015, instead playing 'Bleed It Out' and 'Faint' with them. It was no secret that Linkin Park wanted to perform more songs from the album live, even admitting so in interviews, but they never got around to performing quite a few of them... "All For Nothing" included.
"All For Nothing" finally received its live debut in 2024, at the band's show in Arlington, Texas on November 8, 2024 on the From Zero World Tour.[10] Helmet opened for the band, with Hamilton ultimately joining them for the song's live debut after they performed 'Castle Of Glass.' Mike introduced the opening bands and said that they had a surprise for fans, with Page able to join them to play the song. Ironically, "Keys To The Kingdom" also received its live debut on the From Zero World Tour as well - just two months prior.
Personnel
Linkin Park is
- Chester Bennington
- Rob Bourdon
- Brad Delson
- Phoenix
- Joe Hahn
- Mike Shinoda
Production
- Produced by Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson
- Lyrics & Vocals by Mike Shionda and Chester Bennington
- Background Vocals by Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Rob Bourdon, and Phoenix
- Additional Lyrics by Brad Delson
- Engineering by Ethan Mates and Mike Shinoda
- Digital editing by Josh Newell
- Assistant Engineer: Alejandro Baima
- Additional Assistant Engineers: Brendan Dekora and Jennifer Langdon
- Studio Electro Tech: Warren Willis
- Studio Drum Tech: Jerry Johnson
- Album Production Coordination: Ryan DeMarti
- Recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, CA
- Additional Recording at EastWest Studios and Glenwood Place Studios
- Mixed by Andy Wallace
- Pro Tools Engineered by Paul Suarez
- Assisted by Del Bowers
- Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge
- Assisted by Rich Morales
Additional Musicians
- Additional Vocals and Guitar by Page Hamilton
Lyrics
Yeah
Uh, So what'cha waiting for?
Anticipating more
While you debate what it could take to instigate a war
Yeah, I been hated more than time I wasn't hated for
There's nothing they can fucking say they didn't say before
But you could never see it
Your battle's not mine
Wanna skate and play it safe but this is take a shot time
While you're waiting for a purpose I already got mine
While you tell me step to it like 1, 2, 3, 4
And if I do what you demand
(You say!) You'll let me understand
(You say!) You're gonna hold me to your word
And if I sell myself away
(You say!) I'll have no debt to pay
(You say!) I'm gonna get what I deserve
Woah, oh, woah, oh, oh
YOUR WORD / OBEYED
MY DEBT / REPAID
OUR TRUST / BETRAYED
ALL FOR NOTHING
ALL FOR NOTHING
Kick back there's no other way to say it
So let me break this fucker down for ya
I really don't know ya
You talk but let me show ya where to put your paranoia
You're joking, I don't have a half a sucker bone to throw ya
I'm disgusted, wonder what could've made ya tuck your tail below ya
And no I'm not your soldier I'm not taking any orders
I'm a five star general, infantry controller
Need a lesson? Let me show ya
Have you checking your composure
While I make you step to it like 1, 2, 3, 4
And if I do what you demand
(You say!) You'll let me understand
(You say!) You're gonna hold me to your word
And if I sell myself away
(You say!) I'll have no debt to pay
(You say!) I'm gonna get what I deserve
Woah, oh, woah, oh, oh
And if I do what you demand
You'll let me understand
YOUR WORD / OBEYED
MY DEBT / REPAID
OUR TRUST / BETRAYED
ALL FOR NOTHING
ALL FOR NOTHING
ALL FOR NOTHING
Oh, woah, oh, oh
Mike: Maybe we went too far.
Brad: I don't think we went too far.
Mike: Okay.
Brad: That's a good verse... put the heavy shit there.
Mike: The heavy shit, right here?
Gallery
-
Mike Shinoda presets
In Other Media
- "All For Nothing" is featured in the 2014 videogame Pro Evolution Soccer 2015.
External Links
References
- ↑ New Linkin Park Track: Asteroids - Newswire - Linkin Park Live, November 27, 2014
- ↑ Linkin Park Live on X: "We have answers about #TheHuntingParty! Paging Brad Delson 📣 https://t.co/2ZcnpGT26F" / X, February 25, 2024
- ↑ Linkin Park Association, June 2014
- ↑ Linkin Park Live, April 2014
- ↑ Mike Shinoda Clan, June 2014
- ↑ Linkin Park's Rob Bourdon - Modern Drummer Magazine, September 2014
- ↑ Twitter, June 2014
- ↑ "LP LIVE EXPERIENCE DRAFT ONE" - 2014 Tour - LPLive Exclusives and Specials - Linkin Park Live, June 13, 2019
- ↑ Writing a song live and giving away plugins by GetGoodDrums - YouTube, May 13, 2020
- ↑ 'Casualty' World Premiere + 'All For Nothing' Live Debut in Dallas - Newswire - Linkin Park Live, November 9, 2024