19 studio albums. 4 “Alive” albums. 1 Unplugged album. 4 Solos. 28 freaking albums in this band’s catalog. I’ve done 16 of them. Sometimes I even impress myself.
Kiss – Creatures of the Night – 1982
(Incidentally, this is the 10th Studio album by Kiss and there are 9 more to go. Which means that Creatures of the Night falls directly in the middle of their catalog. Not including live albums and solos)
Fresh from the Hell they created the year before Kiss jumped back in the studio and pumped out this record where they actually co-wrote a song with Bryan Adams!
From the first head pounding beat of the title track I can tell this is not going to be anything like the last record. It’s bold, aggressive, catchy and assaultive.
Vincent Cusano (Vinnie Vincent), the replacement for the newly departed and viciously alcoholic Ace Frehley is something of a tonic for the band. As is Eric Carr. Who is more of a classic metal drummer than Anton Fig and less apprehensive than Peter Criss was.
This is the early 80s. This is the era of Metal Sheen. Def Leppard, Robert John “Mutt” Lange. Big anthem rock is back but the recording studios can handle it. And this record brings it…loud.
Whatever Kiss sounded like in their heyday, appropriating glam, metal, 50s rock, power pop, is nowhere to be found on CotN.
The band sounds revitalized and energetic. And they FINALLY hit on a worthy Stadium Anthem sequel to “Rock and Roll All Night” in “I Love It Loud”. I even like the desperation and ferocity on the power ballad, “I Still Love You”.
This is all Power Metal. If you like that early 80s ear piercing sound, this is for you.
Grade B+
ASide: Creatures of the Night, I Love it Loud
BlindSide: Saint and Sinner, Keep Me Comin’, Danger, I Still Love You
DownSide: Killer
