Kill Or Be Killed
by Muse

Album: Will Of The People (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Kill Or Be Killed" finds Muse frontman Matt Bellamy, demoralized by the state of the world, espousing a survival-of-the-fittest philosophy. He's tried to spread love and compassion, but with so much hatred around him, the singer has become "cold and detached." Now, Bellamy sees the only way he can exist is to "kill or be killed."
  • Bellamy says the track takes influence from Paul McCartney & Wings' 1973 James Bond theme song "Live And Let Die." He described Macca's tune as "a dark take on how life's adversity can sometimes bring out the worst human instincts to survival at any costs."
  • With industrial-tinged, granite-heavy riffs accompanied by Bellamy's death growl, this song marks a return to Muse's hard-rocking roots. "'Kill Or Be Killed' is Muse at their heaviest!" said Bellamy. "We wanted to update our hard rock sound on this album and with 'Kill or Be Killed' we found a modern metal sound featuring double bass drum action and even a death growl."
  • Muse debuted "Kill Or Be Killed" live when they played it as the first song of the encore at their June 4, 2022 show at the Rock am Ring music festival in Germany. The band played the track at subsequent festivals to huge acclaim, and concertgoers swarmed onto social media with calls for it to be released. Responding to the overpowering "will of the people," Muse dropped "'Kill Or Be Killed" on July 22, 2022.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."