RATINGS: A = must own B = buy it C= average D = yawn F = puke

Kiss - Monster
UMe
www.kissonline.com

Rating: A
 
Before going forward with this review, it should be noted, that I, the writer of this review, am, at best, described as a lukewarm Kiss fan. I like ‘em, but I am a long way from being described as a Kiss fanatic. Never belonged to the Kiss Army, only owned two, or three, of their albums and I have only seen them once, ever, in concert, well twice, if you include their performance at VH1’s Rock Honors in Las Vegas (I was there to see Judas Priest).
That said I have to admit “Holy shit, Kiss did it!” The band’s new album, Monster, released on October 9th is the best overall album that Kiss has released since the 1970’s – seriously.

While their last album, Sonic Boom, was well received, Monster is the album that is going to explode. The band wrote all of the songs and, somehow, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley evoked the spirit of Kiss past recapturing the magic that made the band so damn irresistible in the first place.
“Hell or Hallelujah” is a great rocker and while it is the first single on the album, it is in plenty of good company. The band should get airplay for “Wall of Sound” and “Freak” as well. “Back to the Stone Age” is the perfect Gene Simmons song, as the sentiment rings true for Gene. One could easily picture him in a fur loincloth clubbing the best looking cavewoman over the head and dragging her back to his lair for a little Neanderthal love!

“All for the Love of Rock & Roll” is a Paul Stanley classic hit. A fun lovin’ song with Paul’s upbeat guitar and songwriting and Eric Singer's vocals, this one will be a crowd favorite if the band chooses to include it in their set list.

Guitarist Tommy Thayer gives a strong performance and proves himself a Kiss worthy Rock Scribe, co-writing nine songs on the album. Eric Singer is a world class drummer and his presence definitely brings the groove.

Kiss is not only keeping real rock and roll alive with Monster, they are proving to themselves, and the entire music world, that they are more than a bunch of real life comic book characters. They are good songwriters who understand their brand and know how to market themselves to the masses, keeping the band relevant nearly 40 years into their career.

Buy this one and crank it up loud.

By Jeb Wright