Behind The Tracks: Mary Was A Machine - Thorns (Single) (2024)

After releasing The End and Lost and Golden in 2023, we knew we wanted to dive into something bigger. Those initial singles were just a way to test the waters, but from the start, we had a clear concept and direction. Thorns was the first track we wrote together for the upcoming album. Cris came up with this intense riff, inspired by bands like Lamb of God and Trivium, while Dama followed up with the chorus and second verse, opening the song’s dynamics to an emotional break. Boga enriched every section with lead parts and a stunning solo, while Carlo structured the breakdown. Shortly after, Nick added drums that pulled together all the dimensions of the song, and Hakem brought his full vocal versatility to Thorns. With added electronic elements by Dama and Stead (our sound designer) and stellar production from Jarno (Theorem Studio), Thorns came to life at its fullest potential. The lyrics tell a story of personal struggle, loss, and pain. Thorns represent daily challenges and the suffering each person faces; yet, there’s always a hope that the heart can hold on and rise above adversity. Thorns is dedicated to those who fight every day against destructive habits or find themselves in difficult relationships and circumstances. It’s something we’ve all experienced personally, and through our writing, we aimed to channel this shared pain into music. The video, directed by the ever-amazing Mattia Castiglia, also stems from a well-defined concept. The nun represents purity and conformity within a system. Like anything pure inside a system, sooner or later, it’s bound to gather roses—beautiful but destined to wither. And even as they fade, the thorns of these roses continue to wound and make us bleed day by day. Yet, perhaps one day, from our suffering, a new rose will grow and bring us happiness. Who knows if the cycle will repeat. In the video, the nun is in a sterile, empty, illuminated space, while the band performs below, watching the beam of light coming from this limbo. We’re truly proud to have captured this concept in a way that is both simple and powerful, through music and visual art, and we hope it resonates with you too.