"Sonic boom" CD by Kiss

by Michael Rother (30.10.2009) Their last studio album "Carnival of souls" (1998) didn’t exactly overwhelm all the Kiss aficionados, be it the veteran ones or the newbies. So of course we all have high expectations concerning the new output of the old Shock Rock posse! Eleven years is a long time, even for a dyed-in-the-wool fan, so the masters of make up release numerous (bonus) versions of their latest album (as is usual for them). What you’ll get is a crispy mixture of the very old, the old and the modern stuff, and no ballads or keys - so it’s a no-frill thing. Together with lead guitar man Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, Simmons and his stalwart sidekick Paul Stanley demonstrate their kind of peppy Hard Rock. Remarkable: master Gene`s voice, sounding as throaty and unique as we love it, and the front cover artwork which is a feast for the nostalgics among you. "Sonic boom" is 100% Kiss. Sometimes, whishes come true - finally.