Country: Auz USA UK CAN
Chart peak:

5

 6 10 11

RIAA: Gold

 

After all the late 70’s and 80s' experimentation with pop, disco and 'concept albums', someone finally figured out that it was time for Kiss to get back to their hard rock roots, and the result was this outstanding album.

 

This could be the most surprising album that KISS has released since The Elder. I saw the video for Unholy about a week or so before Revenge came out and I couldn't believe it was KISS! They looked all leathery and tough, Gene was sporting a bad goatee and that ponytail that grew out of the back of his head; what happened to the big, permed hair, fluorescent scarves, and spandex? Could it be that KISS had returned to leathery hard rock? YESSSS!!!! The album is such a killer, nasty, bitchin' album, full of prime riffs, sleazy lyrics, and strong songs, something a Kiss album hadn't seen in a good 10 years.

 

One thing 'Revenge' does that maybe no other KISS record does is feel like a Gene Simmons record. This is a dirty, intense KISS that had shed it's 80's color scheme for black leather and a more in-your-face sound. The result is the best KISS record since 'Creatures of the Night,' a hard rock record to be remembered.

 

Gene Simmons found his balls and got that demonic, cocky attitude back. "Unholy", the album opener, is the darkest, heaviest, and one of the best song KISS ever recorded.

 

The band was going through a difficult time as their drummer Eric Carr was sick and eventually died of cancer before he could even start the recording. But you will quickly fall in love with KISS’ new skin basher Eric Singer...he plays like a killing machine!

 

Although the reunion tour was a great success, one whishes Kiss had keep making records like this one.


 01. Unholy                     

 02. Take It Off             

 03. Tough Love              

04. Spit                  

05. God Gave Rock N Roll To You

06. Domino                     

07. Heart Of Chrome                  

08. Thou Shalt Not                  

09. Every Time I Look At You         

10. Paralyzed                  

11. I Just Wanna                 

12. Carr Jam 1981                  

(3:40) - Simmons/Vincent

(4:50) - Stanley/Ezrin/Roberts

(3:44) - Stanley/Kulick/Ezrin

(3:32) - Simmons/Van Zen/Stanley

(5:18) - Ballard/Stanley/Simmons/Ezrin

(4:01) - Simmons

(4:02) - Stanley/Vincent/Ezrin

(3:59) - Simmons/Damon

(4:38) - Stanley/Ezrin

(4:14) - Simmons/Ezrin

(4:07) - Stanley/Vincent

 (2:46) - Carr


 

Produced by Bob Ezrin.Recorded at Rumbo Recorders, Track Records, Cornerstone Recorders, Ocean Way Recording, Acme Recording Studios, The Enterpriseand A&M Studios, December 1991 - March 1992. Engineered by Chris Steinmetz, Niko Bolas and George Tutko, assisted by Pete Magdaleno, Dick Keneshiro, Bart Stevens, Andy Udoff, Julie Last and Richard Hasai. Mixed by Mick Guzauski and Rall Rogut at Record One Studios, LA. Japanese special edition comes with a 24 page booklet. Eric Carr, by the time that the album was released, had been deceased for 6 months. He appears on backing vocals on track 05, an alternate mix to the song appearing on Bill and Ted, and on Track 12 which was his instrumental jam with Ace, called "Heaven" which was recorded in 1981 and which became "Breakout" on Ace's debut solo album. KISS replaced Ace and  with Bruce and cut out most of the song except for the drum solo. Released May 14, 1992.