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Editorial Reviews
Rock legends KISS return with Monster, the 20th studio album in their historic career. The 12-track, straight-ahead rock n roll album features collaborations among all four members including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that s saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history 28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.
Monster is the group s first studio album since the band s 2009 smash success, Sonic Boom, and was also produced by Paul Stanley with Greg Collins at Conway Studios in Hollywood, CA, and The Nook in Studio City, CA.
Monster represents KISS nod to the music that first inspired them to pick up their guitars and flame-throwers and don makeup to entertain millions. There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album, promises Gene Simmons. The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves. Tommy and Eric have revitalized this band, with a work ethic and the talent to back it up. This is a real band effort. KISS has become a behemoth. We re going where no bands have gone before.
Monster is the group s first studio album since the band s 2009 smash success, Sonic Boom, and was also produced by Paul Stanley with Greg Collins at Conway Studios in Hollywood, CA, and The Nook in Studio City, CA.
Monster represents KISS nod to the music that first inspired them to pick up their guitars and flame-throwers and don makeup to entertain millions. There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album, promises Gene Simmons. The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves. Tommy and Eric have revitalized this band, with a work ethic and the talent to back it up. This is a real band effort. KISS has become a behemoth. We re going where no bands have gone before.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 80 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I wasn't blown away by the summer single "Hell or Hallelujah," but as a long-term member in good standing in the Kiss Army, I was still understandably excited about this 20th studio album. After two thorough listens, I *still* come up short on how to describe it! I definitely think it's the logical successor to "Sonic Boom," while at the same time I'm unable to compare it to ANY of their previous releases. When "SB" came out, it very clearly sounded like an attempt to recapture the glorious riffs of "Rock and Roll Over." With "Monster," I feel almost like I did when "Revenge" came out 20 years ago: it both sounded exactly like what ought to have followed "Hot in the Shade," and yet sounded *nothing* like its predecessor.
Paul Stanley has often said (although not in so few words) that he despises comparisons between albums: "Oh, that sounds like "Creatures" mixed with "Love Gun," or whatever. In the case of "Monster," I can see why. I could go out on a limb and say that "Monster" is what you'd get if you threw "Animalize" in a blender with "Carnival of Souls," then whipped in liberal amounts of Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and other blues-based early '70s rock. But even that kind of comparison falls weakly on my ears. I just...don't hear anything like this in the Kiss canon.
I DO think the songwriting took a big leap over "SB," and the intricate guitar work is thunderous. This is *definitely* a guitar-driven album! The singing is good, and although Paul sounds a little raspier in 2012, there's none of the hoarseness and vocal pops that have so dominated the Kiss live show over the last two tours. Tommy's guitar playing, while definitely out of the Blue Cheer/Ace Frehley school of melodic lead, sounds WAY less Ace-ish than it did on "SB." The reverb on the record is good without being overpowering, and in all I find the mix really easy on the ears (esp. compared to the painful way "Destroyer Resurrected" comes across). Eric and Tommy get their obligatory songs, each sounding more-or-less like their original counterparts: Tommy's ode-to-Spaceman "Outta This World" could almost BE Ace vocal-wise, and if Eric had abused his voice with booze for decades he'd be a dead-ringer for Peter. Still, their songs are pretty great, and point up an interesting thing: for me, I like the LAST five songs better than the FIRST five. Go figure.
In all, this album sounds refreshingly modern, even as it obviously exists locked in the temporal time-slip that is hard rock/heavy metal. I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to "Monster" on my daily commute for the next couple of weeks; it's a solid album, and worthy of the Kiss lexicon.
Paul Stanley has often said (although not in so few words) that he despises comparisons between albums: "Oh, that sounds like "Creatures" mixed with "Love Gun," or whatever. In the case of "Monster," I can see why. I could go out on a limb and say that "Monster" is what you'd get if you threw "Animalize" in a blender with "Carnival of Souls," then whipped in liberal amounts of Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, and other blues-based early '70s rock. But even that kind of comparison falls weakly on my ears. I just...don't hear anything like this in the Kiss canon.
I DO think the songwriting took a big leap over "SB," and the intricate guitar work is thunderous. This is *definitely* a guitar-driven album! The singing is good, and although Paul sounds a little raspier in 2012, there's none of the hoarseness and vocal pops that have so dominated the Kiss live show over the last two tours. Tommy's guitar playing, while definitely out of the Blue Cheer/Ace Frehley school of melodic lead, sounds WAY less Ace-ish than it did on "SB." The reverb on the record is good without being overpowering, and in all I find the mix really easy on the ears (esp. compared to the painful way "Destroyer Resurrected" comes across). Eric and Tommy get their obligatory songs, each sounding more-or-less like their original counterparts: Tommy's ode-to-Spaceman "Outta This World" could almost BE Ace vocal-wise, and if Eric had abused his voice with booze for decades he'd be a dead-ringer for Peter. Still, their songs are pretty great, and point up an interesting thing: for me, I like the LAST five songs better than the FIRST five. Go figure.
In all, this album sounds refreshingly modern, even as it obviously exists locked in the temporal time-slip that is hard rock/heavy metal. I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to "Monster" on my daily commute for the next couple of weeks; it's a solid album, and worthy of the Kiss lexicon.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been a huge KISS fan for quite a few years now, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that I've been eagerly waiting for the release of Monster. After the release of "Sonic Boom" (which I waited over a decade for) and the highly successful world tour in support of it, KISS announced that they would be releasing their next album some time in late 2011 (November if memory serves me correctly). When I heard this news, I became ecstatic.
KISS would leak tidbits of information about the writing and recording process (which baited fans even more) but as November drew near, the band became somewhat quiet. Soon enough, they announced that there new album wouldn't hit shelves until February of 2012. "Okay," I thought, "it's just a few more months." As February drew closer, however, KISS announced the date would be "sometime in the spring." I became discouraged and even a tad angry. I wanted something new from the band.
Finally, KISS announced the release date of October 9 here in the good ol' U.S. of A. They released the first single, "Hell Or Hallelujah" in July and the media onslaught began. Just a few months before the release of the single, KISS released info on their Monster book and also leaked out pictures for what would eventually be known as the album's photoshoot. They also toured with Motley Crue (which I took in at The Woodlands, TX).
Finally, October 9 arrived and I picked up my copy of the album. I can honestly say that it is the first album from KISS that immediately grabbed me. Despite being a loyal soldier in the KISS Army, it has always taken me at least a few months (or in the case of "Music From The Elder," years) to warm up to each KISS album. Monster chewed me up and spit me out from the first time I heard "Hell Or Hallelujah."
The lead single opens the album with an assault on the ears. It beats the listener down and sets them up for the pounding "Wall Of Sound." The track (as well as the entire album) is string heavy, and Gene Simmons' thudding and plodding bass hits you hard. Following "Wall Of Sound" is the Paul Stanley fronted "Freak." It's one of my favorite tunes on the album, an anthemic track for weirdos and outsiders like myself.
"Back To The Stone Age" finds Gene on the mic once again and Eric Singer's pounding drums really drive this tune. It's quickly followed up by "Long Way Down" and "Shout Mercy," two steady rockers that kept my fists in the air.
It's after these three rockers that KISS does something that threw me for a loop at first. "Eat Your Heart Out" opens with the band singing acapella. The complete lack of instruments after six loud, screaming, and electrified tracks is a bit of a shock, but somehow it works extremely well, as "Eat Your Heart Out" uses its humble opening to set you up for a slap in the face from the Demon! It's one of the best tracks on the album, and its unique opening sets it apart from the rest of the tracks on the album.
Next up is another Gene tune, "The Devil Is Me." Much like "Wall Of Sound," it consistently dashes listeners on the rocks. It's followed by the Tommy Thayer fronted "Outta This World." Despite the title referencing the old Space Ace moniker originally worn by Ace Frehley, Thayer makes this track all about him. It does remind me a bit of "Lightning Strikes" from "Sonic Boom," but I think that is primarily due to Thayer's voice.
Following the Space Man's tune is the track that I personally believe is the best on the entire album. Gene and Paul might not like me saying this, but Eric Singer's "All For The Love Of Rock & Roll" is brilliant. It manages to harness the soul of classic KISS tracks that were inspired by bands from the 50's and 60's. It's a metallized version of boogie soul, if that makes any sense. It's not the hardest track on the album, but it is definitely my favorite.
"Take Me Down Below" is next, and it finds Gene and Paul swapping lead vocals. It's a token dirty track from the band, but it sounds new and fresh.
"Last Chance" tops it all off with a fast and steady rock beat, and draws KISS' best album (in my opinion) since "Revenge" to a close.
Overall, the main points I feel should be highlighted about this album is the fact that it's a rock n' roll record and nothing else. KISS didn't try to make it the next "Destroyer" or go off an an experimental tangent as they did with "Music From The Elder." There are no slow songs, power ballads, or overly complicated tracks as the band did on many of their albums (particularly during the 80's). Nope, there's nothing but a beatdown waiting for the listener here.
Also, Gene's vocals are amazing on this album! I've always believed that he had the best voice in the band over the years, despite not having the range of Paul Stanley. He melds his voice to the "wall of sound" created by the instruments and doesn't sound like he's forcing anything. Stanley does an excellent job as well, but I believe his best work came from putting this album together and producing it with Greg Collins. While Gene might be the branding god of the group, Paul is the heart of the band, and his use of old fashioned analog recording equipment made the album sound ten times better than any polished digital music cranked out by today's bands. Eric Singer established himself as KISS' drummer many moons ago, so it's no surprise that he handles his duties perfectly on "Monster." I really do wish he would get more lead vocal opportunities, though, as I believe he has a great voice.
I'm going to single out Tommy Thayer in his own paragraph here. Why? Because with "Monster," Thayer is finally given breathing room to play in his own style. He was made to mimic Ace Frehley's style of playing on "Sonic Boom" to a degree and has often been criticized for being nothing more than a Frehley clone. Those arguments should be null and void with the release of this album. Thayer's chops are awesome on this album, and I found no "cloning" of the Space Ace in Thayer's work on this album. He contributed writing to nine of the albums tracks, and it's very noticeable.
"Monster" is a grinding, fierce album that lets everybody know that despite knocking hard on the door of their fourth decade of rock and roll, KISS has no plans to stop any time soon.
This "Monster" is a beast!
KISS would leak tidbits of information about the writing and recording process (which baited fans even more) but as November drew near, the band became somewhat quiet. Soon enough, they announced that there new album wouldn't hit shelves until February of 2012. "Okay," I thought, "it's just a few more months." As February drew closer, however, KISS announced the date would be "sometime in the spring." I became discouraged and even a tad angry. I wanted something new from the band.
Finally, KISS announced the release date of October 9 here in the good ol' U.S. of A. They released the first single, "Hell Or Hallelujah" in July and the media onslaught began. Just a few months before the release of the single, KISS released info on their Monster book and also leaked out pictures for what would eventually be known as the album's photoshoot. They also toured with Motley Crue (which I took in at The Woodlands, TX).
Finally, October 9 arrived and I picked up my copy of the album. I can honestly say that it is the first album from KISS that immediately grabbed me. Despite being a loyal soldier in the KISS Army, it has always taken me at least a few months (or in the case of "Music From The Elder," years) to warm up to each KISS album. Monster chewed me up and spit me out from the first time I heard "Hell Or Hallelujah."
The lead single opens the album with an assault on the ears. It beats the listener down and sets them up for the pounding "Wall Of Sound." The track (as well as the entire album) is string heavy, and Gene Simmons' thudding and plodding bass hits you hard. Following "Wall Of Sound" is the Paul Stanley fronted "Freak." It's one of my favorite tunes on the album, an anthemic track for weirdos and outsiders like myself.
"Back To The Stone Age" finds Gene on the mic once again and Eric Singer's pounding drums really drive this tune. It's quickly followed up by "Long Way Down" and "Shout Mercy," two steady rockers that kept my fists in the air.
It's after these three rockers that KISS does something that threw me for a loop at first. "Eat Your Heart Out" opens with the band singing acapella. The complete lack of instruments after six loud, screaming, and electrified tracks is a bit of a shock, but somehow it works extremely well, as "Eat Your Heart Out" uses its humble opening to set you up for a slap in the face from the Demon! It's one of the best tracks on the album, and its unique opening sets it apart from the rest of the tracks on the album.
Next up is another Gene tune, "The Devil Is Me." Much like "Wall Of Sound," it consistently dashes listeners on the rocks. It's followed by the Tommy Thayer fronted "Outta This World." Despite the title referencing the old Space Ace moniker originally worn by Ace Frehley, Thayer makes this track all about him. It does remind me a bit of "Lightning Strikes" from "Sonic Boom," but I think that is primarily due to Thayer's voice.
Following the Space Man's tune is the track that I personally believe is the best on the entire album. Gene and Paul might not like me saying this, but Eric Singer's "All For The Love Of Rock & Roll" is brilliant. It manages to harness the soul of classic KISS tracks that were inspired by bands from the 50's and 60's. It's a metallized version of boogie soul, if that makes any sense. It's not the hardest track on the album, but it is definitely my favorite.
"Take Me Down Below" is next, and it finds Gene and Paul swapping lead vocals. It's a token dirty track from the band, but it sounds new and fresh.
"Last Chance" tops it all off with a fast and steady rock beat, and draws KISS' best album (in my opinion) since "Revenge" to a close.
Overall, the main points I feel should be highlighted about this album is the fact that it's a rock n' roll record and nothing else. KISS didn't try to make it the next "Destroyer" or go off an an experimental tangent as they did with "Music From The Elder." There are no slow songs, power ballads, or overly complicated tracks as the band did on many of their albums (particularly during the 80's). Nope, there's nothing but a beatdown waiting for the listener here.
Also, Gene's vocals are amazing on this album! I've always believed that he had the best voice in the band over the years, despite not having the range of Paul Stanley. He melds his voice to the "wall of sound" created by the instruments and doesn't sound like he's forcing anything. Stanley does an excellent job as well, but I believe his best work came from putting this album together and producing it with Greg Collins. While Gene might be the branding god of the group, Paul is the heart of the band, and his use of old fashioned analog recording equipment made the album sound ten times better than any polished digital music cranked out by today's bands. Eric Singer established himself as KISS' drummer many moons ago, so it's no surprise that he handles his duties perfectly on "Monster." I really do wish he would get more lead vocal opportunities, though, as I believe he has a great voice.
I'm going to single out Tommy Thayer in his own paragraph here. Why? Because with "Monster," Thayer is finally given breathing room to play in his own style. He was made to mimic Ace Frehley's style of playing on "Sonic Boom" to a degree and has often been criticized for being nothing more than a Frehley clone. Those arguments should be null and void with the release of this album. Thayer's chops are awesome on this album, and I found no "cloning" of the Space Ace in Thayer's work on this album. He contributed writing to nine of the albums tracks, and it's very noticeable.
"Monster" is a grinding, fierce album that lets everybody know that despite knocking hard on the door of their fourth decade of rock and roll, KISS has no plans to stop any time soon.
This "Monster" is a beast!
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First of all this cd need at leat 4 listens before it grows on you. I was i little disappointed with Sonic Boom but this cd is definetely much better. Songs like first single Hell Or Hallelujah, Wall of Sound, Back to the Stone Age, Shout Mercy are fists in you face, heavy rock with thunderous drumming and ferocious guitars. Awesome performance by Tommy Thayer as lead guitarist and i have to say Gene Simmons really deliver 4 classic tracks. This is the best Kiss album since Revenge.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
It rocks
KISS is back in fine form! They really rock it on this one and you won't find any power ballads/
Published 5 hours ago by deblo
5.0 out of 5 stars
KISS FOREVER!!!
KISS may have the new line up but with this album they did a good job of reverting their sound back to the glory days. Read more
Published 2 days ago by The Big G. Spot
3.0 out of 5 stars
2/3 there...
Even the unconditional Ace-era fan that I am can burry the hatchet and admit that, in the end, Kiss came up with an album that is pretty decent. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Rain
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great record, but not on vinyl.
As a lifelong KISS fan, literally, I truly enjoy this record. For the current lineup, it blows Sonic Boom away.
However, the vinyl edition sounds just okay. I like the CD v. Read more
However, the vinyl edition sounds just okay. I like the CD v. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Maya
5.0 out of 5 stars
*KISS
saw these guys* not too long ago and felt like i was a kid again, almost got singed from the pyro!!! Read more
Published 15 days ago by B57
5.0 out of 5 stars
KISS' Best Work in a Long Time
First off, let me say that I love this album. It is truly deserving of the 5-star rating I've given it, despite it's one (some might say major) flaw... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Byron Dean
4.0 out of 5 stars
it is KISS
Nice thing about KISS is that they know there sound and when they do an album,you know the product your getting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brent N. Humphrey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still the best
My favorite band of all time. I love what they do and what they've contributed to rock and roll. I see them in concert whenever they're in my area and I have practically... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Richard P. Devore
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of their best releases
This is the best Kiss record I've heard in years, not to say I haven't liked the others. "Back to the Stone Age" reminds me of Gene songs from back in the day. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mark Gladstone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kiss
Excelent album, one of their best ever. One of the hardest hitting albums the band has ever put out in their career.
Published 1 month ago by greg
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