Kiss

Sonic Boom

Kiss are back with their first album in 11 years a throwback to the sound of their heyday, and another perfect demonstration of why they polarise rock fans.

The Kiss Army will shake their heads like mad, while haters will deride it for the usual reliance on lazy boogie riffs and singalong choruses, like a kind of amped-up Def Leppard.

Russian Roulette, Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect) and Hot and Cold (Baby, feel my tower of power) are typically sleazy Gene Simmons, and the anthemic chorus and ethereal-sounding bridge sound out of place in Stand.

The album reaches its cliched nadir as it runs out with All For the Glory, , I'm An Animal and When Lightning Strikes.

And they don't forget to give special liner-note credits to their lawyers and accountants. For true believers, the expanded edition, featuring new recordings of their greatest hits, is probably a better buy.

Best tracks: Never Enough, Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)

Reviewed by Nick Ward. CDs for review supplied by Everyman, Nelson

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