When original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley was asked how he felt about current band member Tommy Thayer donning the Spaceman costume and makeup, he replied on the lines of “Tommy used to be in a Kiss tribute band, and as far as I’m concerned he still is”.
Well, although purists amongst you may agree that it doesn’t feel right Kiss wearing the original makeup still after all these years and with only half the original members, I personally don’t think it’s really a concern anymore when it comes to the band reaching their 20th studio album “Monster”.
The follow up to 2009’s “Sonic Boom” this is the second album release with Thayer and Eric Singer in makeup (this isn’t including the mind blowing live album “Kiss Symphony”), and this line-up is now fully established after several years together.
So unlike Sonic Boom I’ve given Monster a few listens now, and with the balance of vocals between Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons evenly matched, there are several stand-out tracks such as the Stanley opener of “Hell or Hallelujah” and Simmons being very much in the old school Kiss vein on “The Devil is me”.
This release also has Tommy Thayer being credited as co-writing the majority of the albums tracks, and as well as laying down some great solos, Thayer is also given lead vocals on “Outta This World” – which let’s face it could easily be an Ace Frehley tune.
Drummer Eric Singer then steps up to the microphone for the Kiss-by-numbers “All for the Love of Rock n Roll”. However the rest of the album leaves you on a constant buzz right from the opening note through to the last on album closer “Last Chance”.
With Kiss having always been more about providing a show as a live band, the production on Monster is sounding very much like a live in the studio album rather than over produced and loosing it’s edge like many of the 80’s releases, and as such although never likely to be considered a classic Kiss album by many… it’s sure one hell of a monster.
Mr Teeth
