"Kingslayer" is a song by British rock band Bring Me the Horizon and Japanese kawaii metal band Babymetal. Produced by Bring Me the Horizon's lead vocalist Oliver Sykes and keyboardist Jordan Fish, the song appears on the group's 2020 commercial release Post Human: Survival Horror.
| "Kingslayer" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Bring Me the Horizon feat. Babymetal | |
| from the album Post Human: Survival Horror | |
| Language |
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| Released | 30 October 2020 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:38 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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Despite not being released as a single, the song has become a commercial success, charting at no. 51 on the UK Singles Chart and receiving sales certifications in several countries.
Composition and lyrics
edit"Kingslayer" has been described as a industrial metal,[1] thrash metal,[2] and screamo song.[2] Oliver Sykes described the song as "sound[ing] like an anime TV trailer."[3]
Sykes initially came up for the idea of the song while he was playing Call of Duty in Amsterdam, with the Kingslayer being what everyone wants to be. He used this idea as an analogy for then US president Donald Trump calling ANTIFA a "terrorist organization" and the chaos caused by the Extinction Rebellion, with Sykes feeling that people have to go out and do what they feel is right, no matter the cost. Hence the themes and for "Kingslayer" to break the barriers of the reality. Sykes would go on to compare the sound of the song to something off their second studio album Suicide Season, and how the cute vocals of Babymetal on the chorus would make for a perfect contrast on "Kingslayer".[4]
Babymetal originally recorded all of their parts in English before Sykes asked them to re-record in Japanese.[5]
Live performances
editThe two bands toured Japan together in October 2023, performing "Kingslayer" throughout the tour. A live music video was released for "Kingslayer" composed of footage from the Tokyo performance on 14 December 2023.[6] Bring Me the Horizon and Babymetal would perform the song live together again at Sick New World 2024.[7]
Personnel
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Charts
edit| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 51 |
| UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[9] | 2 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[10] | 24 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 26 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[12] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| Australia (ARIA)[13] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[14] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[15] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
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‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Post Human: Survival Horror - Bring Me the Horizon". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin; Hawksley, Rupert (29 October 2020). "Album reviews: Bring Me the Horizon, Elvis Costello and Eels". The Independent. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Carter, Emily (27 November 2020). "This Is How Bring Me The Horizon And BABYMETAL Made Kingslayer". Kerrang!. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ NME (30 October 2020). "Bring Me The Horizon – 'Post Human: Survival Horror': Track By Track". YouTube. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Brown, Paul (2 November 2020). "Jordan Fish & Lee Malia – Bring Me The Horizon 'Post Pandemic Survival Stories'". Wall Of Sound. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Reed, James (14 December 2023). "Babymetal & Bring Me The Horizon Share New Live Video For "Kingslayer"". mxdwn.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Rincon, Skyy (27 April 2024). "Bring Me The Horizon & Babymetal Team Up For Live Performance Of "Kingslayer" During Sick New World". mxdwn.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart on 6/11/2020". 6 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Hot 40 Singles for 6 November 2020". Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Bring Me the Horizon Chart History: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – Kingslayer". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – Kingslayer" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "American single certifications – Bring Me the Horizon – Kingslayer". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 18 November 2024.