Kiss News

It's always great to get nice reviews but so much more important when they come from the fans!! Here are some of the thousands of wonderful comments that were sent to KOL or posted on our Facebook and Myspace pages after we posted "Modern Day Delilah".


Peter R Nowfel:

I've just spent the last hour playing Modern Day Delilah and am already in love with it. Paul's vocals are outstanding and Tommy's solo is absolutely magnificent. I've tasted boom and I like it. I crave boom, I need boom, give me more boom Delilah!! Boom baby boom!!!


Raymond Carr:

"Modern Day Delilah" KICKS ASS!! This is a straight blast! if this song is any indication of how Sonic Boom is going to sound...this will be an instant classic!!


Rob Hodge:

This track ROCKS! I like it a lot, Paul's vocals are powerful, Tommy's solo is excellent, and the rhythm section sounds tighter than ever! KISS rocks, this lineup is awesome and this album is going to prove that once and for all!


Iain Hutchison:

Just listened to the new single...Rock and Roll is alive and well & it's name is KISS!It's always great to get a nice review but so much more important when it comes from the fans!! Here are some of the thousands of wonderful comments that were sent to KOL or posted on our Facebook and Myspace pages after we posted "Modern Day Delilah".


Peter R Nowfel:

I've just spent the last hour playing Modern Day Delilah and am already in love with it. Paul's vocals are outstanding and Tommy's solo is absolutely magnificent. I've tasted boom and I like it. I crave boom, I need boom, give me more boom Delilah!! Boom baby boom!!!


Raymond Carr:

"Modern Day Delilah" KICKS ASS!! This is a straight blast! if this song is any indication of how Sonic Boom is going to sound...this will be an instant classic!!


Rob Hodge:

This track ROCKS! I like it a lot, Paul's vocals are powerful, Tommy's solo is excellent, and the rhythm section sounds tighter than ever! KISS rocks, this lineup is awesome and this album is going to prove that once and for all!


Iain Hutchison:

Just listened to the new single...Rock and Roll is alive and well & it's name is KISS!


Phillip Northern:

Modern Day Delilah" kicks ass!!! Can't wait to here the rest of the album. It does have a 70's meets 80's with a tough of Revenge in there. It's about time the Gods Of Rock show these crappy other bands out there how it's done!


Chris Carnaghi:

Man just hearing the little snipet of "Modern Day Delilah" has all of us salivating. This will be awesome!!. I am going to Cobo. ! Thank you Paul for kicking ass as always. You met and exceeded the high bar you set !


Blaine Martino:

Really impressed with this track. Paul's voice is great love the rough screams not over produced real raw and I have to tip my hat to Tommy he finally won me over.


K. Ripper Broughton:

DAMN STRAIGHT UP ROCK!!!!!! KISS IS THE BEST!!!! NOT SO PATIENTLY WAITING!!!! AMAZING!!!!! Tommy shines!!!!


Steven Kohler:

The first single sounds friggin great I couldn't believe my ears strong solid song awesome! Tommy's lead is great it sounds like Ace a bit but with his own touch,again I'm one of their greatest fans and didn't want to let go of the Peter and Ace thing but if the rest of the album sound this good, well I guess its time to let go!


Greg LeMaster:

Finally! They grabbed a-hold of their ballsack and delivered big time! About time....Listening to this, I'm traveling back in time to the LA Forum in August 1977!!!!! Sick....


Steven Adamson:

I Love it!!! Can't wait for the album! RELEASE IT ON VINYL!!


Don Krouskop:

Love it! I hear the 70s and influences in it.


David Gaines :

Sounds really great guys!! Thayer's solo is solid. Counting the days...


Lion67:

Cover is simple but GREAT ! Love it ! Modern Day Delilah rocks!


Dodd:

The new Modern Day Delilah is intense and is what the Kiss Army deserves! Way to go guys! I know the rest of the cd will be just as good or better....We got the Best!


Miguel Angel Santom�:

Modern Day Delilah sounds great!!! Song is killer....can't wait.


Nicholas Buckland:

Great song guys. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album. Roll on Oct 6.


Doug Maneth

KISS ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta have the new CD,just wish it was already out!


Kevin Everhart :

This kicks ass!!! To my ears, it's Dressed To Kill, Love Gun, and Revenge, nuclear-fused together and time-warped into 2009. Well done, KISS!!


Joshua Philip Brogdon :

Great track and am look forward to the rest as well.


Pete Stark:

Thanks for the heads up. That song is absolutely f**king awesome!!!


Riccardo Batori:

Awesome song........great job.


JR Schultz:T

They sound TIGHT!


Adrian Ferreyra :

JUST F**KING GREAT.


Roy Adkins:

Love it. Its the best new song I have heard in a VERY LONG TIME. I am talking since Revenge have we wanted something that was this awesome! Its very old skool Kiss meets kinda 80s sounding Kiss. A great mix of the 2. Definitely what us Kiss fans needed after not only a long break but something really kicked us in the ass!!!


Larry Maher:

I just listened to the song and I've got to say it's a true rockin' Kiss song, can't wait for the new album to come out.


Dominique Degre:

Damn KISS, you guys are better than ever! Keep on showing the kids how its done because they don't seem to understand!


Julien Boisvenu:

F**kin' great song, man!


Patrik Hanson:

I�m actually going to buy this one. First for me since 1977 ( ! ).


Kissteen Lyn Connell:

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!! YAYYYYYYYOHYAHHHHHHHHHH NEW KISS!!!!! :))))))


Kev Curtis:

Killer single!!!!!!! Tommy's solo is very impressive! Cant wait until oct 6th :)


Jason Hlinka:

I dig it. Overall, really excellent job! And great solo from Tommy as well.


Michael Champagne:

Song sounds great! Can't wait for sonic boom.


Bosse Vaara:

I f**king love it!!!!!


Silver Hammer:

AMAZING SONG! The Chorus Reminds me Heart of Chrome. Tommy Kicks asses, amazing guitar player.


Christopher Tate:

Modern Day Delilah sounds amazing!


Charles L Clark Jr:

Love the new song.KISS is the best and will always be the best!


Christopher Layne:

I'm really digging this song. Tommy's solo is the best part. Very cool.


Ed Keller:

It ROCKS! I can't wait to buy this album!


Steve Mitchell:

I LOVE this song!!!!!


Buddy Hayes:

Kick ass!


Diego Javier Debais:

I want the CD nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!


Tom Cicchitti:

SONG SOUNDS AWESOME!!! I NEED THIS ALBUM NOW!!!


Randy Ferguson:

Listened to it a few times and it is a great track, very well done.


Andy Issik:

Sounds awesome totally classic KISS!!!


Clint McCollum:

Great Song! Simple the Best!


Alexis Komodikis:

Perfection. This is as good as anything off Creatures or Lick It Up. Incredible....and THAT solo....Wow..!!!!!!!!!!!!


Matthew Coscino:

That song ABSOLUTELY F**KING ROCKS!!!! Love it........CANNOT wait to hear the entire CD!!!!!!


Mike Rose:

Outstanding song, everything I expected. Just one problem: I WANT THIS RECORD NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I DON'T WANT TO WAIT!!!!!! Great job, great playing, I haven't gotten this song out of my head since the sample first came up. I think I can say honestly, we have a winner on our hands here!!!!!. And now, the wait begins until 10/6/2009.....hurry.....hurry....hurry...


Abraham El�as Miranda:

KISS IS BACK !!! Modern Day Delilah is a great song !!! I can't wait anymore to get KISS - Sonic Boom.


Darren Dubuisson:

The new song sounds awesome!!!!


Eli Boley:

Kick-ass song, KISS is back!


Mike Sanchez:

This song ROCKS!


Michael E. Johnston:

Uh, ooooh, YEAH!!


Michael Walsh:

Oh Yeah...no band can top KISS!!


Kelly King:

Great song!!! Great solo... Can't wait to hear the rest.

Sylvie Roy :

You are back on track, wow, amazing song! Great music, I can't wait to hear the rest of the CD. Rock on!

Tim Birkett:

Sounds great!

Rob Davis:

Excellent. We FINALLY get a return to kick-ass Kiss. No watered-down tracks, nothing slow and plodding when it should be played quicker. Just good rock music. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Rockgodess Susie:

Awesome!!

Trygve Johan Solheim:

Kick ass song! Love the solo, the sound, the song. This will be a great album!

Vincent Russo:

Just listend to the full version of MODERN DAY DELILAH from the new cd sonic boom. aces man...if all the other songs are like this one, this album will be a hit.

By Mark Eglinton

Modern Day Delilah

Given the eleven years since their last barely passable studio album � 1998's Psycho Circus it seemed unlikely that Kiss would ever release another album of new material. Seemingly invigorated by a huge recent upsurge in interest in their hefty back catalogue by the younger generation of rock listeners into the studio they went, and six weeks later emerged armed with Sonic Boom. However, we didn't expect them to knock one out of the park this early with this heaving, sweating lump of fabulous groove straight from 1975. "Yeah yeah" are the first words to exit Stanley's mouth and immediately our ears are pricked to what is not stylistically a typical Kiss track, a circular, bass heavy riff driving everything along. The net result is your immediate desire to renew that direct debit to the' Kiss army' while arranging to graft eight or more inches of surplus off your backside on to your tongue�it really is that good.

Russian Roulette

The first of Gene Simmons's vocal contributions and this isn't at all bad. In fact the years have been pretty kind to the 'god of thunder', and his voice has actually developed more than a semblance of melody. It's raw, punchy and lyrically the usual innuendo ridden stuff "this is Russian roulette�one pull of the trigger is all you're gonna get" etc, which we've heard often before but here's it's done with a freshness of attitude that's been absent for a long, long time.

Never Enough

Classic Kiss and this could easily fit into their live set without being noticed as a brand new track. Paul Stanley seems to have done some kind of 'Benjamin Button' reverse ageing thing with his vocals because he sounds every bit as energetic as he did back in their 70's heyday.By Mark Eglinton

Modern Day Delilah

Given the eleven years since their last barely passable studio album � 1998's Psycho Circus it seemed unlikely that Kiss would ever release another album of new material. Seemingly invigorated by a huge recent upsurge in interest in their hefty back catalogue by the younger generation of rock listeners into the studio they went, and six weeks later emerged armed with Sonic Boom. However, we didn't expect them to knock one out of the park this early with this heaving, sweating lump of fabulous groove straight from 1975. "Yeah yeah" are the first words to exit Stanley's mouth and immediately our ears are pricked to what is not stylistically a typical Kiss track, a circular, bass heavy riff driving everything along. The net result is your immediate desire to renew that direct debit to the' Kiss army' while arranging to graft eight or more inches of surplus off your backside on to your tongue�it really is that good.

Russian Roulette

The first of Gene Simmons's vocal contributions and this isn't at all bad. In fact the years have been pretty kind to the 'god of thunder', and his voice has actually developed more than a semblance of melody. It's raw, punchy and lyrically the usual innuendo ridden stuff "this is Russian roulette�one pull of the trigger is all you're gonna get" etc, which we've heard often before but here's it's done with a freshness of attitude that's been absent for a long, long time.

Never Enough

Classic Kiss and this could easily fit into their live set without being noticed as a brand new track. Paul Stanley seems to have done some kind of 'Benjamin Button' reverse ageing thing with his vocals because he sounds every bit as energetic as he did back in their 70's heyday. Tommy Thayer too has slotted in nicely as an Ace Frehley replacement but without all the 'space' and its associated discordant rambling solos. This is obvious single material, if such things exist anymore, and is Kiss at their best. They've remarkably managed to summon the best attributes of their past without sounding dated, while at the same time making it all sound relevant to now�brilliant.

Yes I know (Nobody's Perfect)

Simmons's rumbling bass drives this fairly standard Kiss number along in a way that it hasn't for years (apparently he was really motivated in the studio) Not just that, he sings too, and tunefully does it. Chunky and not overly overdriven guitar combined with that satisfying emphasis on bass give this a solid feel with some more good-time, tail chasing lyrics, as you'd expect...

Stand

This one will completely divide opinions. Initially a straight-ahead rocker in the vein of the classic 'Strutter' which at no time threatens to dissolve into a 'Crazy Nights' or 'God gave Rock 'n' Roll To You' type anthem; until it does exactly that with the chorus, which no other band on the planet would get away with. Not content with that, it even dives into a multi-vocal layered mid section before returning to the huge stadium rock chorus which you could imagine appearing in some teen movie. Though it works, it's probably the closest relative to some of their late 80s and early 90s howlers.

Hot And Cold

Cowbell-accented drums and more classroom innuendo punctuate this chunk of typical Kiss fodder (think 'Calling Dr Love'). It all sounds very live and not in any way over-produced (seemingly no Pro-Tools were used anywhere on the record). "Baby feel my tower of power" should give you some idea of what Gene's referring to and the song's easily good enough to forgive him such childishly dated folly.

All For The Glory

Drummer Eric Singer, who has assuredly hammered out rock-solid backing thus far, lends a hand on vocal duties with fabulous result. This is absolutely solid gold stuff reminiscent of Destroyer era Kiss, but with the nastier edge of later incarnations like Creatures of the Night. Tommy's solo is absolutely killer too - what talent he's brought to the band.

Danger Us

Starting with a quietly picked guitar intro before fading satisfyingly (why do bands not fade-in much these days?) Aerosmith like riff and Stanley's most effective vocal outing on the record. You get the impression that they're all really enjoying this stuff and again Simmons's sonorous bass rumble is very much in evidence, aidded by Stanley's own intentionally Spartan studio production.

I'm An Animal

A huge, lumbering riff of Zeppelin-esque ('Dazed and Confused' springs to mind) proportions and another Simmons vocal characterise this beast of a track bristling with stalker menace. Similar in nature to let's say 'War Machine' off Creatures of the Night it stomps emphatically all over some of the tedious filler of recent albums. "I'm an animal, and I'm free" Gene divulges, and who the hell are we to argue. This is fast becoming Simmons's showpiece and surely his richest vein of contribution in their history.

When Lightning Strikes

'Musical singers' continues with guitarist Tommy Thayer wrestling control of the mic this time around. He in no way disappoints, dialling in a pretty effective vocal effort that many more established singers would die for. More cowbells and a riff that's been done before give way to a straight-forward bridge/chorus.

Say Yeah

When we expect filler we get utter killer, and if you're not singing this in the car or the bath you've no business whatsoever reading this review. Again, Stanley's vocals are a revelation � wielding an insanely addictive hook reminiscent of 'Tears are Falling' from the Asylum era but much, much better. Thayer's solo is brilliant too and resembles a lot of the stuff Bruce Kulick (surely their most underrated axe-man) came up with; fitting the song brilliantly and carrying no excess fret flab whatsoever. The Kiss of 2009 have left the building, and what a way to sign off...

By Michael Doret

In developing and refining my pencil sketch for Sonic Boom I wasn't completely happy with how the background was working with the diamond shape and the positioning and scale of the lightning border (a small nod to RaRO). I also wanted to play up the idea of something shattering (i.e. from a sonic boom). So I came up with the semi-abstract idea of concentric circles rippling outward like water, only breaking up incrementally into smaller and smaller segments as they expanded, changing the background color from violet to black. It seemed like a fairly simplistic idea, so I tried it and it worked. It also seemed to serve well to both ground and amplify the light beams emanating from the center, which break through the faces. I went through several color iterations, ending with one that had a dark red bleed border. I showed that version to Paul. He looked at it for a minute and then suggested we just change the border to black. We both agreed that this worked better, finishing the design process on this piece.

I did have to redo all the art for the CD/DVD package, which has a slightly more horizontal proportion. That meant shifting and manipulating the proportions of many of the elements. Because the angle of the beams had changed in the new configuration, the most complicated part of this was redoing all the faces. It's a little difficult to tell what went into the face art, transforming them from normal color photographs, so check out the enlarged detail to the left.By Michael Doret

In developing and refining my pencil sketch for Sonic Boom I wasn't completely happy with how the background was working with the diamond shape and the positioning and scale of the lightning border (a small nod to RaRO). I also wanted to play up the idea of something shattering (i.e. from a sonic boom). So I came up with the semi-abstract idea of concentric circles rippling outward like water, only breaking up incrementally into smaller and smaller segments as they expanded, changing the background color from violet to black. It seemed like a fairly simplistic idea, so I tried it and it worked. It also seemed to serve well to both ground and amplify the light beams emanating from the center, which break through the faces. I went through several color iterations, ending with one that had a dark red bleed border. I showed that version to Paul. He looked at it for a minute and then suggested we just change the border to black. We both agreed that this worked better, finishing the design process on this piece.

I did have to redo all the art for the CD/DVD package, which has a slightly more horizontal proportion. That meant shifting and manipulating the proportions of many of the elements. Because the angle of the beams had changed in the new configuration, the most complicated part of this was redoing all the faces. It's a little difficult to tell what went into the face art, transforming them from normal color photographs, so check out the enlarged detail to the left.

At first glance, it might look as though I accomplished this using some version of Photoshop's posterize filter�but I didn't. The photos needed to be manipulated quite extensively to gain the look I was trying to achieve. I used a similar process when I did the graphics for the Jewish Zodiac pieces.

I'm hoping this art will elicit strong reactions from KISS fans and art enthusiasts alike. My intention was to stir nostalgia for the era of Rock and Roll Over, while inviting the same enthusiasm for new adventure that the Sonic Boom albums and DVD intend to do.

The avid KISS fan will note that the KISS logo on Sonic Boom is not the "official" logo. As I did with RaRO, I redrew the KISS logo after discussing the idea with Paul Stanley. He knew that I had redrawn it for RaRO, and liked the result. In fact, he told me that I'm the only designer who he would ever allow to do that! Below I've posted an image with the official KISS logo (upper left) and just to it's right, my redrawn version. Below that are (on the left) the logo from Sonic Boom, and the one from RaRO.

Tinkering with the KISS logo, ever so slightly, was an important step towards seamlessly blending the iconic logo with the (hopefully) iconic cover design. I'm very happy with end result, which you see on the cover of Sonic Boom. It truly has been a pleasure to return to my roots, in essence, by rejoining the creative process with KISS. As it was the first time, this experience was one to remember! I can't wait for the next adventure...

by Gary Graff

The self-proclaimed "hottest band in the land" is following the hottest trend in classic rock.

Kiss' new "Sonic Boom" is a three-disc set that mixes new songs and old material with video content at a low price -- in this case, $12. It will be available exclusively at Walmart properties starting on Oct. 6.

"Sonic Boom" includes a full new album, Kiss' first since "Psycho Circus" in 1999. In web site postings, bassist Gene Simmons describes the 11-track set, produced by singer-guitarist Paul Stanley at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles, as "the best new record we've done since 'Destroyer.' It is 'Rock And Roll Over' meets 'Love Gun'...If you're a fan of our stuff from about 1977, you'll feel right at home." It's Kiss' first studio album with guitarist Tommy Thayer, and drummer Eric Singer's first since 1997's "Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions."by Gary Graff

The self-proclaimed "hottest band in the land" is following the hottest trend in classic rock.

Kiss' new "Sonic Boom" is a three-disc set that mixes new songs and old material with video content at a low price -- in this case, $12. It will be available exclusively at Walmart properties starting on Oct. 6.

"Sonic Boom" includes a full new album, Kiss' first since "Psycho Circus" in 1999. In web site postings, bassist Gene Simmons describes the 11-track set, produced by singer-guitarist Paul Stanley at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles, as "the best new record we've done since 'Destroyer.' It is 'Rock And Roll Over' meets 'Love Gun'...If you're a fan of our stuff from about 1977, you'll feel right at home." It's Kiss' first studio album with guitarist Tommy Thayer, and drummer Eric Singer's first since 1997's "Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions."

Accompanying the new material will be a disc of Kiss greatest hits re-recorded by the original lineup and previously available in Japan, as well as a DVD filmed at a concert earlier this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The cover was designed by artist Michael Doret, whose previous Kiss credit is 1976's "Rock and Roll Over."

Kiss plans to tour extensively to promote "Sonic Boom," but only two dates have been announce so far: Sept. 25 at Detroit's Cobo Hall, where the group recorded its breakthrough "Kiss Alive!" album and portions of "Kiss Alive II;" and a Halloween show at the Voodoo Experience festival in New Orleans City Park.

Classic Rock can confirm that the new Kiss album will be called Sonic Boom - and we've got the full tracklisting. Not only that, but we've heard six of the album's 11 songs!

Classic Rock's Geoff Barton was invited to an exclusive preview of the new Kiss album this past Friday (August 14), in the convivial company of Doc McGhee, the band's manager.

"Kiss promised to deliver a back-to-their-roots album and that's exactly what we've got," Barton reports.

"Recorded in the old-fashioned, analogue way, it sounds spectacularly good - no ProTools nonsense in evidence here.

"The interesting thing is, it's not simply a homage to the band's first few albums. There are even nods to records such as [1982's] Creatures Of The Night, which had Vinnie Vincent, Bob Kulick and others guesting on guitar.

"Kiss seem to have cleverly combined the best of all their eras into a single winning package."Classic Rock can confirm that the new Kiss album will be called Sonic Boom - and we've got the full tracklisting. Not only that, but we've heard six of the album's 11 songs!

Classic Rock's Geoff Barton was invited to an exclusive preview of the new Kiss album this past Friday (August 14), in the convivial company of Doc McGhee, the band's manager.

"Kiss promised to deliver a back-to-their-roots album and that's exactly what we've got," Barton reports.

"Recorded in the old-fashioned, analogue way, it sounds spectacularly good - no ProTools nonsense in evidence here.

"The interesting thing is, it's not simply a homage to the band's first few albums. There are even nods to records such as [1982's] Creatures Of The Night, which had Vinnie Vincent, Bob Kulick and others guesting on guitar.

"Kiss seem to have cleverly combined the best of all their eras into a single winning package."

McGhee confirmed that Sonic Boom will be available exclusively through Wal-Mart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club stores in the US and Canada, as part of a package including a completely re-recorded greatest hits CD (previously available in Japan) plus a live DVD shot in Argentina during the Kiss Alive 35 South American tour.

Sonic Boom will be released in Europe on a soon-to-be-announced record label - Classic Rock knows the name of the label, but is sworn to secrecy. Suffice to say, its identity might surprise you!

The CD set will retail for just $12 on the other side of the pond. "I actually wanted to make Sonic Boom available as a download for a dollar, but I was overruled," McGhee chuckled.

"I still think it's a great idea. Millions of people would've downloaded it, I guarantee. At just a dollar a throw, it would've been the bargain of the century."

McGhee is delighted that Kiss decided to play to their strengths on Sonic Boom. "It's exactly want people want: the classic Kiss sound played by the band looking like they've always done: Starchild, Demon, Spaceman and Kitty Kat.

"Kiss are like James Bond or Mickey Mouse. They're not simply a band, they're a remarkable brand. They're timeless; they're part of the fabric of rock'n'roll and they'll likely go on forever.

"When I took over management of Kiss in the mid-1990s, that was my major plan: to get the band back to basics. They needed to recognise - and capitalise on - their core strengths.

"I mean," McGhee laughed, "when Kiss had a squirrel in their line-up - what was the hell was that all about?"

McGhee also revealed that Kiss will celebrate the release of Sonic Bloom with a special concert on September 25 at Cobo Arena in Detroit.

The full tracklisting of Sonic Boom is:

1. Modern Day Delilah (Check out an audio sample here)
2. Russian Roulette
3. Never Enough
4. Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)
5. Stand
6. Hot And Cold
7. All For The Glory
8. Danger Us
9. I'm An Animal
10. When Lightning Strikes
11. Say Yeah

Here's our quickfire reaction to the six songs we heard:

Modern Day Delilah

Based around a lumbering, War Machine-style rhythm, Paul Stanley's high-pitched vocals sound top-notch and timeless, almost like they've been sampled from Kiss Alive! There's a further ear-popping blast from the past when Mr Eisen howls (in his inimitable style): 'Listen!' (Or, more accurately: 'LISSEN!') Meanwhile, Tommy Thayer's guitar work is straight out of the Ace Frehley riff book - page 37, paragraph five, to be precise. At a concise 3:35 in length, this is a perfect slam-bang beginning to the new album.

Russian Roulette

Gene Simmons takes the vocals on this one; it's an archetypal lumbering, loping, pummelling offering, made all the better by the addition of a signature 'ah-ah-ah-ah' chant-line. Simmons's vocals sound a little bit more refined than you might expect (we prefer it when he's gruff and grumbling) but that's a minor gripe. The lyrics are simplistic but effective: 'This is Russian Roulette... one pull of the trigger is all you're gonna get... you feel the hunger and it's much too much... go on take a bite.' To a fan of classic Kiss, that's sheer poetry.

Never Enough

You're know you're on to a winner immediately as this one begins with a time-honoured Stanley shout of... wait for it... 'Woah-yeah!' This is a much jauntier offering than the preceding two tracks, recalling the more commercial, 1980s side of Kiss. The song has a real reach-for-the-sky spirit, full of uplifting phrases such as 'rules just for breaking', 'life for the taking' and (you guessed it) 'love 'til I'm shaking'.

Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)

Another three minutes of perfection - and if you're worried about the brevity of some of the tracks, don't. Remember, the key to a great Kiss song - whether it's Strutter, Shock Me or Shout It Out Loud - is 'don't outstay your welcome'. This is a light-hearted, hyper-commercial ram-raid of a tune with Simmons at the mic-stand again, offering a growling 'YEAH' (capital letters, natch) followed by the inevitable invitation: 'C'mon baby, take off your clothes.' There's no word on whether Simmons kept his T-shirt on during the 'session', however.

Stand

Our favourite so far; a proper, dyed-in-the-wool anthem recalling the crowd-rousing grandeur of God Gave Rock'N'Roll To You. Stanley delivers the words 'Stand by my side, I'll be next to you/Stand by my side, we'll make it through/Stand by my side, we'll get by, you and I' with consummate Starchild passion. This one just grows and grows... and then offers a neat false ending with some soft, CSN&Y-style harmonies (yes, really) before picking up the pace once more.

I'm An Animal

Full of giant, stalking menace, this is based around a dense, Zeppelinesque riff. Thayer plays a marvellous slick-but-stumbling Frehley solo, and you can rest assured the lyrics - 'I'm an animal and I'm free... I'm an animal in the street' - don't refer to an old lady with her poodle off the leash. Late in the song, the band issue the urge: 'Stand up, raise your fists.' Little do they know, we've been doing that since track one...

"Is there any way to play it back on a man's level?" says Gene Simmons, requesting more volume and rolling his eyes at Conway Studios in Los Angeles. Kiss are finishing up Sonic Boom, the band's first new studio album in 11 years, and the God of Thunder wants to hear the songs played back at maximum loudness.

The band announced today that the 11-song Sonic Boom will be released October 6th in the U.S. and Canada exclusively in Walmart stores. The album will be part of a three-disc set that includes a CD of re-recorded greatest hits and a live DVD from a recent tour stop in Buenos Aires. "The world's biggest retailer," Simmons boasts in a statement, "had better get ready for the hottest band in the world and hire more cashiers." The band will celebrate the new LP at a September 25th gig at Detroit's Cobo Arena."Is there any way to play it back on a man's level?" says Gene Simmons, requesting more volume and rolling his eyes at Conway Studios in Los Angeles. Kiss are finishing up Sonic Boom, the band's first new studio album in 11 years, and the God of Thunder wants to hear the songs played back at maximum loudness.

The band announced today that the 11-song Sonic Boom will be released October 6th in the U.S. and Canada exclusively in Walmart stores. The album will be part of a three-disc set that includes a CD of re-recorded greatest hits and a live DVD from a recent tour stop in Buenos Aires. "The world's biggest retailer," Simmons boasts in a statement, "had better get ready for the hottest band in the world and hire more cashiers." The band will celebrate the new LP at a September 25th gig at Detroit's Cobo Arena.

Back at the studio, Simmons and lifetime musical partner Paul Stanley radiate supreme confidence as they reveal the new songs, which reflect the same charged in-your-face sensibility, if not the actual sound, of their classic '70s work. The album was produced by Stanley and is the first to feature the current lineup of guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer (who replaced founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss early this decade).

Kiss have remained active as a hugely successful touring act around the world, but the new album is a surprise from a band that hasn't released a studio album since the disappointing Psycho Circus in 1998. "We tried to do a Kiss album, and it was an ill-fated attempt because there was no real band," says Stanley, relaxing behind the control board at Conway, his shirt opened to a chest of medallions and chains. "For a band to make a great album, it has to share a common purpose, and we didn't have it."

In the years since, the lucrative Kiss licensing juggernaut rolled on, both Simmons and Stanley released solo albums, and the Simmons family became reality TV stars. And Kiss played the old hits to massive audiences around the planet. "Things happen when they're ready," says Stanley. "We couldn't have made this album without Eric and Tommy. I've known Eric now for 20 years. He's been in and out of the band, and the best times are when he's in."

The Kiss Merchandising Machine: Check out Kollectibles from M&M's to Mr. Potato Heads.

Kiss started jamming and collecting song ideas in December, and by the spring began recording as a band live in the studio to analog tape. "Modern Day Delilah" is classic hard rock with thundering guitars and a wailing Stanley vocal. There's a '70s guitar grind to "Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)," and thundering pop hooks within "Russian Roulette," as Simmons sings, "You got me where you want me... take a bite," before unleashing a ripping Thayer solo.

"The great thing about these tunes is that we can reproduce them live. Just four guys," says Simmons, standing in black leather and cowboy boots with silver tips. "We don't have to prove anything to anybody. All the nay-sayers who didn't understand it, we walk on their graves in our 8-inch platform heels. If you want to say rebirth or born again, you're goddamn right. There's a sense of pride here. When you get up onstage with these guys, you look over and you go, 'Wow, I'm in Kiss.' "

Sonic Boom track list:

Modern Day Delilah
Russian Roulette
Never Enough
Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)
Stand
Hot and Cold
All for the Glory
Danger Us
I'm an Animal
When Lightning Strikes
Say Yeah

Kiss Klassics:
Duece
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Hotter Than Hell
Calling Dr. Love
Love Gun
I Was Made For Lovin' You
Heaven's On Fire
Lick It Up
I Love It Loud
Forever
Christine Sixteen
Do You Love Me?
Black Diamond
Rock and Roll All Nite

Kiss: Live In Buenos Aires DVD:
Duece
Hotter Than Hell
C'Mon and Love Me
Watchin' You
100,000 Years
Rock and Roll All Nite

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, will offer a $12 CD set with rock band Kiss's first new music in 11 years, and plans to expand into other merchandise licensed by the group.

The collection will go on sale Oct. 6 exclusively at Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. and Canada, said Tom Welch, senior music buyer at Walmart, in an interview Aug. 13. The set includes "Sonic Boom," an 11-track compact disc with new material; a greatest-hits album with titles such as "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "I Was Made for Loving You;" and a DVD of a live concert in Buenos Aires.Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, will offer a $12 CD set with rock band Kiss's first new music in 11 years, and plans to expand into other merchandise licensed by the group.

The collection will go on sale Oct. 6 exclusively at Walmart and Sam's Club stores in the U.S. and Canada, said Tom Welch, senior music buyer at Walmart, in an interview Aug. 13. The set includes "Sonic Boom," an 11-track compact disc with new material; a greatest-hits album with titles such as "Rock and Roll All Nite" and "I Was Made for Loving You;" and a DVD of a live concert in Buenos Aires.

Exclusive deals with retailers typically give artists more money than a traditional record contract, while helping chains such as Walmart and Target Corp. get more customers to the stores. Kiss joins the Eagles, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC and Pearl Jam in striking deals with retailers to distribute music.

"This is the world we live now where the artists get a much bigger percentage of sales," said Steve Gordon, a music industry attorney in New York.

Kiss, which started in the early 1970s as a New York-based rock band called Wicked Lester, is still led by its co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Over 32 years, Kiss has recorded 36 albums and sold more than 75 million copies.

The band drew attention for its costumes and face paint, smoking guitars and fireworks on stage. Its site sells items such as Kiss baby jumpers, wine, 11-inch rubber footballs, necklaces, shoes and mugs. In May, Kiss performed on News Corp.'s Fox television show American Idol, the most-watched primetime program in the U.S.

The Kiss Brand

"I've been impressed with the way the Kiss brand has been able to reinvent itself over the years," said Greg Hall, 38, Walmart's vice president of media and services. "I'd say the Walmart mom loves Kiss and looks fondly back on that as one of the first concerts she went to."

Walmart plans to sell Kiss merchandise other than the new CD/DVD set, Hall said. The specifics of those products are still being worked out, he said.

"As we talked to other merchants within Walmart, they're just as excited about this as the music team is whether it be toys or apparel or candy," said the music buyer Welch, 34. "They're saying this brand resonates with Walmart customers."