The Paper Kingdom

Lore & Background

The Paper Kingdom was envisioned as a return to the theatrical storytelling of The Black Parade, but with a more intimate, familial focus. The album's narrative reportedly centered on a family struggling with grief and the supernatural, set in a decaying, paper-like world where memories and emotions literally unfold. The title itself evokes a fragile, handmade realm—a kingdom built from paper, easily torn or burned, mirroring the vulnerability of its characters.

In Their Own Story

In the dim light of a forgotten attic, a child unfolds a paper kingdom from a shoebox. The castle walls are creased with tears, the king's crown a folded note. As the child whispers a name, the paper figures stir—not alive, but remembered. Outside, the rain falls like a curtain, and somewhere in the house, a door opens that should have stayed shut. The kingdom waits, patient as a held breath, for the story to begin again.

Reader's Guide

The Paper Kingdom's aesthetic was described by the band as a blend of dark fantasy and domestic horror, with visual motifs of origami, parchment, and ink. Key locations hinted at in early concept art and interviews included a paper house, a graveyard of folded flowers, and a throne room made of letters. The setting connects to the band's broader mythology by exploring the liminal space between life and death, similar to The Black Parade's afterlife, but with a more personal, claustrophobic feel—a kingdom built from the fragments of a family's memories. The unreleased nature of the album adds to its mystique, with fans speculating about songs like "The Paper Kingdom" and "Burn Bright" that were never officially recorded. Its legacy lives on in the band's later solo work and in the enduring curiosity of the fanbase.

Did You Know?

• The Paper Kingdom was originally intended to be released in 2013, but the band's breakup in March of that year halted production.
• Some early demo recordings from the sessions were later shared by the band members in interviews, but no official tracks were ever released.
• The album's concept was partially inspired by the band members' own experiences with parenthood and loss, giving it a more personal tone than previous records.
• The Paper Kingdom's visual aesthetic heavily influenced the band's final music video for 'The Kids from Yesterday' from their previous album, which featured paper-like imagery.