Kiss – 鈥楳onster鈥�
As ghosts, ghouls and goblins prepare to roam the grounds for Halloween, it seems only fitting that an album called 鈥淢onster鈥� is on my mind.
My favorite costumed rock legends return with their 20th album and the follow-up to 2009鈥檚 comeback release 鈥淪onic Boom.鈥� 鈥淢onster鈥� possesses the quintessential Kiss sound and is perhaps the band鈥檚 best release since 1977鈥檚 鈥淟ove Gun.鈥�
While the core of Kiss has changed, the seasoned rockers offer an explosive collection of anthems filled with fist-pumping choruses, fiery guitar riffs and thunderous bass lines that are delivered with swagger and attitude.
Gone are original drummer Peter Criss and lead guitarist Ace Frehley, replaced by Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer respectively.
Led by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, 鈥淢onster鈥� is only the second release featuring the new lineup that has played together over the last eight years.
The album鈥檚 first single, 鈥淗ell or Hallelujah,鈥� is fueled by Stanley鈥檚 electrifying and charismatic vocals and Thayer鈥檚 rousing guitar riffs and spirited solos. 鈥淲all of Sound鈥� follows with a thumping bass and fervent guitar riff mindful of 鈥淗elter Skelter.鈥�
Thayer takes the lead on the self-penned 鈥淥utta This World鈥� with its Leslie West guitar riffs and infectious chorus. One of the big surprises comes when Singer fronts the party anthem 鈥淎ll for the Love of Rock & Roll.鈥� The underrated singer produces a Bad Company sound in the piece.
鈥淢onster鈥� was produced by Stanley and all the tracks were written as a collective effort by the entire band. After nearly 40 years of making memorable music and delivering stunning live performances, Kiss proves that there is still plenty left in the tank to sustain the band鈥檚 success for many years to come.
鈥淥pen the door and let the night come crawling in,鈥� sings Stanley on the closer 鈥淟ast Chance.鈥� Once invited in, 鈥淢onster鈥� is a beast of an album, offering tricks as well as treats. Happy Halloween!
I need to give a 鈥渟hout out鈥� to Agnes Soom of Uniontown as she attended a recent performance of singer Engelbert Humperdinck. Soom said the 76-year-old crooner was in fine form and delighted the crowd with a stirring set of hits that made for a memorable evening.