Kingslayer (feat. BABYMETAL)

"Kingslayer" is a powerful anthem of rebellion and defiance against oppressive systems, be they political, social, or technological. The term 'Kingslayer,' borrowed from the video game Call of Duty, is used metaphorically to describe a person who does what is morally right, even if it is illegal or socially unacceptable. Frontman Oli Sykes was inspired by contemporary events, including the classification of groups like Antifa and Extinction Rebellion as terrorist organizations, viewing it as a perversion of justice where those fighting for positive change are vilified. The song encourages listeners to 'wake up' from a state of blissful ignorance and recognize how they are being controlled and manipulated, like 'puppets' whose strings can be cut at any moment.

The collaboration with the Japanese kawaii metal band BABYMETAL creates a stark and effective contrast. Sykes' aggressive, raw vocals represent the anger and urgency of the rebellion, while BABYMETAL's melodic, J-pop infused vocals in both English and Japanese provide a counterpoint that Sykes described as sounding like an "anime TV trailer." This juxtaposition enhances the song's cyberpunk theme, portraying a battle between humanity and an artificial, controlling system. The Japanese lyrics, which speak of a 'dark, unseen world' and the desire for 'another world,' reinforce the theme of seeking a new reality free from corruption. Ultimately, "Kingslayer" is a call to arms, urging people to find the courage to overthrow the 'kings'—the corrupt powers—and fight for a better future, assuring them they won't be alone in the struggle.

The song initiates with a direct address, almost like a system diagnostic or a call to someone feeling disillusioned and out of place, questioning if they are looking for something more, a reality beyond their current, corrupted existence. It probes their loyalties, asking whether they will be passive or take aggressive action against the monstrous 'system' that controls them. This introduction serves as a recruitment call, a challenge to 'wake up' and sever the ties of manipulation before it's too late, warning that once disconnected from the controlling power, there's no going back.

The central figure of this rebellion is the 'Kingslayer,' a title bestowed upon an individual who dares to dismantle these oppressive structures, described as 'castles in the sky.' This figure is revered, seen as an 'angel of the flame' for whom the narrator would sacrifice everything. They are a beacon of hope, called upon to rescue others from the darkness and uncertainty of their world. A voice, speaking in Japanese, echoes this sentiment, describing a dark, unseen world but expressing a desire to find and attain a new, unextinguished future.

The narrative continues by depicting life within the system as being fundamentally compromised. People are 'encrypted' and their very being, their 'genome,' is 'modified.' This existence is likened to a virus hidden within a seemingly innocuous 'lullaby,' suggesting a form of control that is both pervasive and deceptively gentle. Individuals are described as 'silly programs,' artificial until death, reinforcing the idea of a populace stripped of its autonomy and humanity. The call to 'get the fuck up' is repeated with more urgency, a desperate plea for self-awareness and resistance against being a mere puppet.

The chorus returns with heightened intensity, reaffirming the role of the Kingslayer in destroying illusory power structures. The commitment to this figure is absolute; the narrator pledges to fight and sacrifice everything to guide and protect them, ensuring they never have to fight alone. The song then shifts into a critical 'wake up call,' signaling a descent into a deeper, more complex reality—the 'rabbit hole.' A direct, aggressive confrontation follows, questioning the listener's readiness and desire for this raw, unfiltered truth. It culminates in a furious outburst, suggesting that this brutal awakening is the inevitable consequence of their choices, a harsh reality they must now face.

"Kingslayer" was created for Bring Me The Horizon's 2020 release, Post Human: Survival Horror. The band, particularly frontman Oli Sykes, had been fans of BABYMETAL for a long time and had wanted to collaborate with them for years. The two bands had developed a special connection, having met in 2015 and toured together in Japan in 2019.

The initial idea for the song came to Sykes while he was playing the video game Call of Duty in Amsterdam, with the term 'Kingslayer' sticking with him. He saw it as a fitting metaphor for resisting oppressive authority. The song's sound was intentionally designed to be chaotic and intense, with Sykes comparing it to the band's earlier work on their album Suicide Season. The inclusion of BABYMETAL was seen as the perfect way to add a unique, contrasting element to the track. Sykes felt their 'cute' vocals would elevate the song, giving it an 'anime theme tune' feel that fit the record's overall cyberpunk aesthetic.

The collaboration process was highly organized. Sykes sent BABYMETAL the concept and theme of the song. Initially, BABYMETAL recorded their parts entirely in English. However, Sykes requested they re-record their verses in Japanese to enhance the song's unique flavor. BABYMETAL's team responded professionally, providing multiple lyrical options in Japanese along with their English translations. The song was produced by Oli Sykes and Jordan Fish, and it appears as the sixth track on the EP.

"Kingslayer" utilizes a versatile and impactful approach to rhyme and rhythm to drive its aggressive message.

Rhyme Scheme: The song doesn't adhere to a strict, traditional rhyme scheme, instead favoring a more free-form structure that prioritizes raw energy over formal constraints. However, it strategically employs rhyming couplets and internal rhymes to create punchy, memorable lines. For example, in the opening verse, 'right' rhymes with 'bite,' and 'pipe' with 'knife.' This creates a sense of cohesion and lyrical flow amidst the musical chaos. The pre-chorus uses a strong AABB pattern ("Get the fuck up, wake the fuck up / Wipe the system, and back the fuck up").

Rhythm and Meter: The song's rhythm is one of its most defining features. It operates at a breakneck tempo, driven by a relentless drum and bass style beat that creates a feeling of perpetual motion and urgency. There are frequent shifts in meter and feel, moving from fast-paced, almost frantic verses to a more stomping, anthemic rhythm in the choruses. This rhythmic complexity keeps the listener off-balance and mirrors the chaotic nature of the rebellion described in the lyrics. The interplay between the frantic drumming, Sykes' syncopated vocal delivery, and the more melodic, flowing lines from BABYMETAL creates a rich rhythmic tapestry that is both aggressive and catchy.

"Kingslayer" employs a dynamic fusion of literary and musical techniques to create its chaotic and powerful atmosphere.

Literary Techniques:

• Rhetorical Questions: The song opens with a series of questions ("Hi, are you looking for the other side? / Feel like nothing ever seems quite right?") that directly engage the listener, pulling them into the song's narrative of disillusionment.
• Aggressive & Imperative Language: Phrases like "Get the fuck up, wake the fuck up" create a sense of urgency and command, functioning as a call to action.
• Contrasting Narrative Voices: The song features a stark contrast between Oli Sykes' raw, screaming vocals and the melodic, almost ethereal, vocals of BABYMETAL. This dichotomy mirrors the central conflict between the harsh reality of rebellion and the idealized, almost mythical figure of the 'Kingslayer.'

Musical Techniques:

• Genre Fusion: The track is a prime example of genre-bending, seamlessly mixing metalcore's aggressive breakdowns and distorted guitars with electronicore's synthesizers and drum and bass beats, and J-pop's catchy, high-pitched melodies.
• Vocal Processing: Sykes' vocals are often layered with distortion, making them sound more like another instrument in the mix and adding to the track's raw energy. In contrast, BABYMETAL's vocals utilize heavy autotune, giving them a robotic, futuristic quality that enhances the cyberpunk aesthetic.
• Dynamic Shifts: The song's structure is built on extreme dynamic shifts, moving from frenetic metal verses to soaring, anthemic choruses. This creates a rollercoaster effect, keeping the listener engaged and reinforcing the track's volatile emotional landscape.
• Instrumentation: The song features a dense instrumental arrangement with layers of heavy guitars, pounding drums, icy synth lines, and percussive elements contributed by Mick Gordon, known for his work on the Doom video game soundtrack. This creates a massive, cinematic soundscape.

Despite not being released as an official single, "Kingslayer" achieved significant cultural impact and commercial success. The song was a fan favorite from the Post Human: Survival Horror EP and performed well on the charts, reaching number 51 on the UK Singles Chart and number 2 on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart. The album itself debuted at number one on the UK charts after its physical release, driven in part by the popularity of tracks like "Kingslayer."

The song is highly regarded for its innovative fusion of genres and its successful collaboration between a major UK rock band and a Japanese kawaii metal phenomenon, which was celebrated by fans of both artists. It became a staple in Bring Me The Horizon's live shows, with the two bands performing it together on several occasions, including at Japan's NEX_FEST and the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, creating viral moments and further cementing the song's iconic status. A live music video was released in December 2023, capturing the energy of their joint performance in Tokyo. The track's heavy inspiration from video game culture, both thematically and musically, with its cyberpunk aesthetic and contributions from Doom composer Mick Gordon, also resonated strongly with a wide audience.

"Kingslayer" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that construct its narrative of rebellion against a dystopian society.

• Kingslayer: The central metaphor, taken from Call of Duty, represents anyone who defies and overthrows a corrupt or tyrannical power. It's not about literal regicide but about challenging and dismantling oppressive systems of control.
• Castles in the sky: This imagery symbolizes false or illusory power structures. They are grand and imposing but ultimately baseless and ripe for destruction by the 'Kingslayer'.
• Puppets and Strings: The lyrics "You're a puppet when they cut your strings off / Don't come crawling back" vividly portray the masses as being manipulated by an unseen force. The 'strings' represent the mechanisms of control (media, government, societal norms), and being cut off signifies a forced, and perhaps unwelcome, awakening to individual responsibility.
• Virus in a Lullaby: This metaphor describes the insidious nature of the system's control. Life is 'encrypted' and 'genome modified,' suggesting a deep, biological level of manipulation that is disguised by something seemingly harmless and soothing (a lullaby), highlighting the deceptive nature of the oppression.
• The Rabbit Hole: A clear reference to Alice in Wonderland, this symbolizes a journey into a deeper, disorienting, and often disturbing truth. The song declares, "We're going down the rabbit hole," indicating a point of no return in the quest for awareness.

"Kingslayer" features several powerful recurring phrases and musical motifs that anchor the song's themes and structure.

• The word "Kingslayer": This is the central motif of the song, repeated in the chorus as a title and a rallying cry. Its repetition solidifies the identity of the song's hero figure and reinforces the central theme of overthrowing corrupt authority. Each time it's sung, often with soaring vocals, it acts as a moment of empowerment and declaration of purpose.
• "Get the fuck up, wake the fuck up": This aggressive, imperative phrase appears as a pre-chorus, acting as a recurring call to action. Its repetition serves to drill the message of awareness and resistance into the listener, functioning as a sonic jolt to shake them from complacency.
• The opening synth line: The track begins with a distinct, descending icy synth melody that immediately establishes the song's cyberpunk, video-game-like atmosphere. This musical motif reappears throughout the song, often signaling a shift in intensity or a return to the core theme, acting as a sonic signature for the track.
• Contrasting Vocal Hooks: The interplay between Oli Sykes' screamed hooks and BABYMETAL's melodic, Japanese-language hooks creates a recurring structural element. This contrast is a motif in itself, representing the fusion of cultures and styles and the multifaceted nature of the song's narrative.