"I'll Kill You" is the debut single by Japanese heavy metal band

X Japan is a Japanese Rock music, rock band from Chiba Prefecture, Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer and pianist Yoshiki (musician), Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi (musician), Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power metal, power/speed metal band with ...

, then named X, released in June 1985.

Overview

In 1988, Yoshiki explained that the song is not about killing people as the title would suggest, but is a love song in the vein of a disgruntled married couple. All 1,000 copies of the record sold out. The cover art notoriously features numerous photographs of dead bodies taken during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. A different recording of the B-side, "Break the Darkness", was included on the sampler ''Heavy Metal Force III'' in November 1985. While a re-recording of the title track was later featured on the band's first album, ''

Vanishing Vision ''Vanishing Vision'' is the debut studio album by Japanese heavy metal band X Japan, then known as simply X. It was released on April 14, 1988 by Extasy Records, topped the Oricon indies chart and reached number 19 on the main chart. Overview ...

''. "I'll Kill You" was

covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...

by French

symphonic black metal Symphonic black metal is a subgenre of black metal that emerged in the 1990s and incorporates symphonic and orchestral elements. History One of the earliest forerunners in what would come to be the sound of symphonic metal was Celtic Frost ...

band

Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa (AN), often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by Calorie restriction, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. Individuals wit ...

as a bonus track for the Japanese edition of their 2004 album ''

Redemption Process ''Redemption Process '' is the fourth album by the French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa (AN), often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by Calorie restriction, food restriction, ...

'' and later included on their 2005 '' The September E.P.'' as well.

Track listing

Personnel

;X * Toshimitsu "Toshi" Deyama –

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

* Yoshiki Hayashi –

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

* Atsushi Tokuo –

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

* Yuji "Terry" Izumisawa –

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

* Tomoyuki "Tomo" Ogata – guitar ;Production staff * Photo – Kazuyoshi Mori * Design – Atsushi Tokuo * Engineer – Mr. Ohzeki * Sleeve Design – Nobukatsu Hayashi"I'll Kill You" liner notes, 1985-06. Retrieved 2011-11-14.

References

{{authority control X Japan songs Songs written by Yoshiki (musician) English-language Japanese songs 1985 debut singles 1985 songs