Songfacts®:

• Chvrches vocalist Lauren Mayberry sings here of recommitting to a relationship after deciding to walk out, a threat she never really meant. Her bandmate Iain Cook said of the track:
  
  "Whenever we work on a new song, it's of paramount importance that we find the right balance between the various elements in the track and instrumentation. Whether it's the tension between brighter melodies and darker lyrics, or sparkling synths and gritty production, it's a signature of what we do. We worked hard to get the right combination of those things for 'Empty Threat,' and in the end we managed to find the sweet spot that captures the essence of Chvrches."
• The video was shot in Miami, and directed by Austin Peters, who's also worked with Haim and Bastille. The clip follows a group of suburban goths on a jaunty outing to a Florida water park in their all-black attire.