As I stated in the review for the
new ZZ Top album, there are a few older bands out there that do not have to
keep pumping out new music in order to stay relevant. KISS is one of those bands. They still tour like they were in their
twenties and continue to deliver great performances to sold-out
multi-generational crowds. Any new
albums are just icing on the cake. This
is clearly not a money grabbing scheme (and not just because Stanley and
Simmons are filthy stinking rich) because the quality is there as well. KISS could just put out Greatest Hits and
Live albums for the rest of their careers and keep cashing in, but no, they are
actually giving their longtime fans their money’s worth, which is commendable
to a band that has worked as hard as they have.
Monster, the newest studio album from
KISS is truly great icing on that cake.
With the release of Sonic Boom
a few years ago, KISS got back to a sound that they had not really embraced
since the early 80’s and their final albums with makeup on. Their hair metal and heavier days of the 80’s
and 90’s were good, don’t get me wrong, but they were not vintage KISS. Well vintage KISS returned on Sonic Boom, and it got louder on Monster.
In a way, it almost felt like the last few years of KISS were direct
descendants of the album Creatures of the
Night and natural successors to probably the most complete albums in a long
and storied discography.
This album
starts off with the newest single “Hell or Hallelujah” which is also the theme
song of the ACC football network this season, so I heard it quite a bit before
I even picked up the album. This is a
song that follows in the footsteps of Sonic
Boom’s “Modern Day Delilah” in that it is the perfect opening song on an
album. A great guitar riff coupled with
solid vocals and musicianship, basically vintage KISS and a great calling card
for the radio crowd.
The rest of
the album continues on as one would expect out of any KISS album at this
point. A few songs with Paul on lead
vocals, a few songs with Gene on lead vocals, and even a turn for Eric and
Tommy this time around. The vocals on
every track sounded great, and the age hat could be heard in Paul’s live
performances was obviously not a factor on the album. There is still the trademark Gene Simmons
long tongue planted firmly in cheek humor that you come to expect on at least
one song every KISS album (this time it was the song entitled “Eat your hear
out”). While it is in no way the
standout track on the album, it is still vintage KISS and well done in its own
right.
The entire album, if you are a
fan of KISS or just rock music in general, is not to be missed. As is the case with many of the artists that
are getting older, you never really know when your last chance to see them
live, or their last album will be, so it’s a good idea to get those experiences
when you can. If bands like KISS keep
pumping out quality albums like Monster,
then you won’t even feel guilty about supporting a band in the twilight of
their career.
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