Kiss Monster

One of the Best Kiss tribute bands. Without Ace or Peter, that is all this band will be.

Kiss will always be Ace, Peter, Gene and Paul. Much like Rush, each member is as important as the other. I'm just glad I got to see all four original members in concert before this travesty occurred! Gene and Paul are all about the money. Always have been and always will be. Very sad!

KISS will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2013 and that, in itself, is an incredible accomplishment. How many of the "current" bands out there now do you think will last even half that long? That being said, this album shows why they have managed to stay relevant and maintain a constantly growing and changing fan base. They deliver what is expected. They aren't trying to reinvent themselves here, they're just giving KISS fans a great KISS album. And isn't that all we expect from them? Buy it. It's good.

With "Monster," KISS proves that after nearly 40 years, the band is still at the top of its game. Like it's predecessor, "Sonic Boom,""Monster" is entirely written and performed by the band (Paul Stanley on guitar and vocals; Gene Simmons on bass and vocals; Tommy Thayer on lead guitar and vocals; and Eric Singer on drums and vocals), with no outside writers or musicians. Paul Stanley co-produced the album with Greg Collins, achieving a "live-in-the-studio" sound.

Highlights include the high-energy lead track, "Hell or Hallelujah," the personal choice anthem "Freak," the Led Zepplinish rocker "Long Way Down" and the swaggering "Eat Your Heart Out." Thayer's catchy "Outta This World" is another standout. Similarly, "All For The Love of Rock & Roll" features Eric Singer on lead vocals on a sing-along song that sounds like it's party ready.

Gene Simmons contributes two of "Monster's" harder-edged tracks - the appropriately titled "Wall of Sound" and the confessional "The Devil is Me."

"Monster" will please the KISS Army and might even win over new fans looking for a solid, no compromises rock 'n' roll album.