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37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A return to form, February 19, 2005
In the early 80s, KISS was in trouble. After a string of classic hard-rocking albums, the band started to change direction and follow a disco path with Dynasty and Unmasked (the former being excellent and the latter not being up-to-par). Their troubles were confounded by tensions with drummer Peter Criss and he did not play on either album (although he is credited). Criss was soon replaced by the very talented Eric Carr. KISS next tried its hand in making a concept album with 1981s "Music From The Elder." Although this album was interesting and adventurous, it didn't click with the fans and was an almighty flop. "Killers," a greatest hits album was released the following year with four new rockers, in an attempt by the band and its label to regain some credibility and popularity.
1982s "Creatures of the Night" was going the be the bands make-it-or-break-it album. Although Ace Frehley is depicted on the cover, he neither wrote for, nor played on the album. This album actually has a few people stepping in for Ace Frehley--Steve Ferris, Bob Kullick, and most importantly Vinnie Vincent.
This album was a true return to form for the band. After a lack of focus, they came back with their finest album since "Love Gun" (1977). The band sounds superb. Simmons and Stanley sound committed, as if they wanted to prove that they still had it in them to rock. Although a few different guitar players stepped in for Ace, the band sounds very cohesive. Eric Carr really shines and his drumming is intense. His playing was more proficient and superior to Criss. His drumming gives the album a real shot of adrenaline. And although Ace Frehley was a huge part of the band, surprisingly, his presence is not really missed. The guitar playing by Steve Ferris, Bob Kullick and Vinnie Vincent is superb. Vincent soon became Ace Frehley's permanent replacement.
The songs on this album are all excellent. This is probably the most heavy KISS album in their catalogue. All rockers, with only one balled, the beautiful "I Still Love You." It was Simmons and Stanley's best work in years. Vinnie Vincent also co-wrote three of the songs and proved to be a good writing partner. There are no filler songs here. Every song is a winner. The album opens with the classic title song. It has a killer riff and awesome solo by Ferris. The album never looses momentum, it has one killer song after another. Other standouts include "Rock and Roll Hell," "I Love it Loud" "I Still Love You," and "War Machine."
KISS attempted to regain focus, credibility, and popularity with this album. Although the album was not a huge hit at the time of its release, they mostly succeeded in achieving their goals. The band was reborn with this album and used it as a springboard to regain popularity with a sting of platinum albums in the 1980s. This album was also the end of an era, as it was the last KISS album to feature the band in makeup.
This is probably the best post Criss/Freley KISS album. If you are starting to build a KISS collection--this is one of the first albums to buy--along with ALIVE, KISS, Destroyer, and Love Gun.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kiss at their heavy best. . ., April 15, 2003
From the original album cover (thankfully brought back) to the last metallic note recorded, this album is one of THE BEST hard rock albums of all time! KISS is my personal favorite band and I prefer the original lineup, but this album deserves praise for the songwriting and recording. It is an incredibly heavy album for KISS. I use "metallic" to describe it. Other descriptive words that come to mind would be "thunderous" (Eric Carr's drum sound is one of the biggest in recorded hard rock), "powerful" and "in your face". There is NO filler on this disc. It's not a long disc, so listen to it start to finish. One of my favorite tracks is "Danger". "Creatures of the Night" is an amazing track and kicks the album off properly. That song sets the tone for the tracks to follow. "I Love It Loud" is a terrible song live (IMHO), but here it is a masterpiece in it's simplicity. "Saint and Sinner" is one of Gene's shining moments. "I Still Love You" is an excellent power ballad. The recording of this album is a critical part of it's magic. If Eric Carr's drums sounded weaker, the album won't be nearly as bombastic. Just a great, great album. KISS didn't record many like this. "Lick It Up" followed and has some of the same elements ("Not For The Innocent" and "Young and Wasted"), but misses the mark overall when compared to "Creatures". Forget your friends who tell you Revenge is heavy. Not even close. This is one of the best KISS albums. Period. It might even be the best overall. I've been a fan for 25 years and have listened to more bootlegs than most average KISS fans own of their released albums. You know how people talk about "desert island" albums? Pack this one.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yowsers! Now this is a KISS record for fans of true heavy, December 7, 1998
metal lineage. Highly recommended, especially now that it is finally remastered with a better mix and the original cover artwork. Even the non-remaster cranks. Gene is demonic-sounding as ever on tracks like "Killer," "Rock and Roll Hell," "I Love It Loud," and "War Machine." Paul gets a bit funky on "Keep Me Comin'" but cooler heads prevail on the notoriously heavy title track. Only letdown is that dreaded power ballad-type-thing goin' down with "I Still Love You." (Blech) Do chicks really dig that drivel? Creatures of the Night is chocked full 'o power chords no thanks to Ace Frehley, even though his name appears in the credits somewhere and his mug is on the cover- doesn't sound like Ace played a lick anywhere. Vinnie Vincent seems the likely culprit here, making KISS once again vital in the HM/HR scene. Oh man, Eric Carr sounds so good on this record, it should be illegal. Classic, classic drum sound. Carr was way too talented for KISS; he will forever be sorely missed. Yep, this is the album before they took the make-up off. Dig it, cause it'll be a few years before anything else fom KISS becomes crank-worthy. -David Newman 1998
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