Unholy

Kiss

About Unholy

"Unholy" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, written by Gene Simmons and Vinnie Vincent. Featured on their 1992 album Revenge, the song is one of the three Vincent co-writes to appear on the album despite the fact that he had been fired from the band 8 years earlier. The release of "Unholy" signaled the return to a heavier sound for Kiss and was their first single to feature a lead vocal by bassist Gene Simmons since "I Love It Loud" in 1982 (a song also co-written by Vincent). The song was played live during the Revenge Tour and was included on the 1993 live album Alive III, but did not return to the live Kiss set list until 2004's Rock the Nation Tour.  


Year:
1992
3:40
77 
#3

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

I was there through the ages
Chained slaves to their cages
I have seen you eat your own
I'm the cycle of pain
Of a thousand year old reign

I'm suicide and salvation
The omen to nations
That you worship on all fours
I'm the infection and famine
That's knocking at your door

That's why you're feeling so
Unholy
Oh, I was created by man, you know I'm
Unholy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I am the incubus, 
I lay the egg in you
The worm that burrows through your brain
But you are the beast that calls me by my name

You send your children to war
To serve bastards and whores
So now you know 
You created me on the day that you were born

Unholy
I was created by man, yeah I'm the Lord of the Flies, you know I'm
Unholy
From the left hand of power comes the father of lies, yeah
Unholy
Unholy

I lay you down to sleep
Your soul to keep
Better cross your heart before you die
And now you know
Know that you are mine

That's why you're feeling so
Unholy
Unholy
Unholy
Unholy

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Kiss

A kiss is the act of pressing one's lips against the lips or other body parts of another person or of an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, affection, respect, greeting, friendship and good luck, among many others. In some situations a kiss is a ritual, formal or symbolic gesture indicating devotion, respect or greeting, as in the case of spouses kissing at the conclusion of a wedding ceremony or national leaders kissing each other in greeting, and in many other situations. more »

11 fans

Written by: ROBERT JOSEPH ELLSWORTH, CARLO VERNI

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


23 facts about this song

Release Date
"Unholy" was released by Kiss in 1992 as part of their album "Revenge."
Chart Ranking
The song enjoyed reasonable success in the charts, reaching number 13 on the Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks in the USA.
Songwriting
One of the interesting facts about "Unholy" is that it was co-written by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Vinnie Vincent. This is particularly noteworthy because Vinnie Vincent had left the group in 1984 and "Unholy" marked his return as a contributing songwriter.
Music Video
The music video for "Unholy" is infamous because it features Gene Simmons breathing fire, a classic Kiss stage trick, but for the first and only time in a music video.
Performance
"Unholy" is known for its edgier sound which is creditable to the band's heavy metal departure from their original hard-rock style.
Themes
Designed as an anthem for the dark side, the song represents a return to the band's earlier, grittier style, with dark themes and a heavy guitar riff.
Album Success
"Unholy" helped the "Revenge" album become a big hit. The album reached seventh place on the Billboard 200, eventually achieving gold status.
Lead Vocalist
This is one of the few Kiss songs which features Gene Simmons on lead vocals.
Live Performances
"Unholy" is a staple of Kiss's live performances and is often used to open their concerts.
Critic Reactions
The song has often been praised by critics, with Rolling Stone magazine calling it a "head-bangin' classic."
Fan Reaction
"Unholy" is considered one of Kiss's best songs by many fans, indicating the band's successful return to their heavier roots.
Symbolic Importance
The song's tough sound and dark theme has often been seen as symbolizing a departure from the softer, more commercial sound that characterized much of Kiss's output during the 80s.
Band origin
"Unholy" is a song performed by the American hard rock band Kiss.
Album details
The song was released as part of the band's 16th studio album, "Revenge," which came out in 1992.
Genre
Marking a departure from the band's traditional glam-rock style, "Unholy" showcased a heavier and more aggressive sound, stepping into the heavy metal genre.
Single performance
"Unholy" served as the lead single from the "Revenge" album. Despite not reaching the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the song made it into the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number 26.
Co-written
The song was written by Gene Simmons and Vinnie Vincent. It was the first time Vincent had contributed to the band's songwriting since he left the band in mid-1983.
Lyrics theme
The lyrics of the song "Unholy" express a darker theme, reflecting Simmons' alter ego, "The Demon."
Music video
A music video was made for "Unholy," and it showcased the band's new image and edgier sound.
Drummer's debut
"Unholy" marked the studio debut of drummer Eric Singer, who replaced Eric Carr following his death in 1991.
Live performance
It was performed live during the Revenge tour and featured heavily in set lists throughout the 1990s.
Critics review
Many rock critics praised "Unholy" as a return to the band's heavier, rawer sound, likening it to their work from the mid to late 70s.
Resurgence
Despite the initial lukewarm response, the song has been viewed more favourably in hindsight and underlines the band’s successful transition into the '90s rock scene.

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