Best KISS Studio Albums

RustynRose 3,757 views 20 items 30 voters

Kiss is undeniably one of the most polarizing bands in rock history. From their outrageous makeup and stage shows, to bassist Gene Simmons massive ego and gratuitous fiscal gluttony, the music is often overlooked. However, Kiss as a whole has inspired innumerable bands, many of whom have gone on to stellar careers, even finding their name in the rock 'n roll Hall of Fame. Unlike this dynamic band which is made a unique impact in the world of rock music, for better or worse. This summer Kiss will release its 20th studio, "Monster". In honor of that landmark, Metalholic Magazine (metalholic.com) will be ranking all 19 of the band's studio albums. So if you are a fan of the band, this is your chance to help us define and refine that list. Please note if you are not a fan of the band we ask that you not denigrate the list by "thumbing down" all of the entries. \m/

List Criteria: This list covers all 19 kiss studio albums. It does not include live, greatest hits, or mixed albums

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Love Gun

“ Released in 1977, Love Gun represents the last of the band's classic 70s albums before disco and new wave twisted rock 'n roll into another dimension. „
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Kiss

“ Released in 1974, the band's debut effort went largely unnoticed but is home of some of the band's mainstay hits. „
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Destroyer

“ Released in 1976, Destroyer marked the first studio album after the band's mammoth success with Kiss Alive!. Produced by Bob Ezrin this became the album that catapulted the band to headline status. It also marked the release of the band's first ballad, "Beth". „
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Creatures of the Night

“ Released in 1982, Creatures of the Night marked the band's first album without Ace Frehley, though he is credited on the record. Once again numerous guitarists filled in. Simmons also found his bass duties handled by others on several of the Stanley penned tunes. Drummer Eric Carr even played bass on the ballad "I Still Love You". the album would be re-released with a new cover featuring future guitarist Bruce Kulick. Kulick never played on the record, though his brother Bob did perform on one track. „
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Hot in the Shade

“ 1989 saw the band release its 15th studio album, which featured 15 tracks. Future guitarist Tommy Thayer would cowrite two songs with Simmons for this record. It would also be the last album to feature drummer Eric Carr who died of cancer in 1991. The album's lead off single featured a video with Stanley and Simmons dressing up in their old makeup and costumes. The album also featured the radio friendly hits, "Forever" which Stanley co-wrote with Michael Bolton, and "Hide Your Heart". The latter has been covered by numerous artists, including, oddly enough, swamp rockers Molly Hatchet. „
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Crazy Nights

“ With Gene Simmons preoccupied with his movie and producing career, Crazy Nights saw the band heading more of a pop metal direction. The record saw the introduction of keyboards into the band sound. The power ballad "Reason to Live" became a radio hit and found regular rotation on MTV. „
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Hotter Than Hell

“ Released in 1974, the band's second album saw a darker side of the band emerge. „
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Music From "The Elder"

“ Released in 1981, Music from the Elder was meant to be the soundtrack for a movie that never saw the light of day. there are some intriguing tracks on this record, but overall it pushed Kiss farther out of the spotlight and farther apart internally. This marked the band's first album with new drummer Eric Carr, and while Ace Frehley is credited as guitarist, it is widely known that much of the guitar work was handled by outside musicians. „
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Rock and Roll Over

“ Released in 1976, Rock 'n Roll Over found the band returning to more of a straight up rock vibe. Another album full of concert staples, and the ballad "Hard Luck Woman", which frontman Paul Stanley wrote for Rod Stewart. „
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Lick It Up

“ 1983's Lick It Up continued the heavier rock sound that began on Creatures of the Night. This was the first album to officially show the band without makeup, and featured new guitarist Vinnie Vincent. „
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Asylum

“ 1985 saw new guitarist Bruce Kulick take over for the next dozen years or so. Asylum offered some weighty songs, but like much of the band's 80's efforts received little recognition. „
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Dynasty

“ Released in 1979, many mark Dynasty as the turning point for the band musically. With disco and new wave taking over radio, Kiss altered its image slightly, and Paul Stanley penned the band's anthemic disco hit, "I Was Made For Loving You". Rumor has it, Stanley came home from a night Club 54 in New York City and wrote this song in 10 minutes to prove how simple disco music was. „
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Unmasked

“ While the band had already begun to splinter internally In the late 70s, 1980s Unmasked is when the chasm begin to widen between Stanley and Simmons and drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley. Much of the lead guitar and drum work was performed by outside musicians. Unmasked is Kiss' adaptation to the new wave movement, the album is full of catchy pop oriented tunes, that while good, were far from the classic Kiss sound. while Peter Criss is credited on the album, Late Night with David Letterman drummer Anton Fig handled all the drum duties. „
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Dressed to Kill

“ Released in 1975, this marks the band's third effort, and the album which featured the massive hit, "Rock and Roll All Nite" „
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Revenge

“ 1992 found the band releasing its heaviest album to date. Revenge seemed like a heavier version of Creatures of the Night with a touch of Destroyer. Tracks like "Unholy", "Domino", "Take it Off", and "I Just Wanna" were stage ready anthems. Stanley And Simmons even co-wrote one track, "Spit" for the first time in years. new drummer Eric Singer replaced the tragically departed Eric Carr. However, Carr did make a guest vocal appearance on the hit "God Gave Rock and Roll To You II". if not released at the height of the grunge era, the album might have done infinitely better. „
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Animalize

“ 1984's Animalize found the band with yet another new lead guitarist in Mark St. John. One of the band's most underrated albums, it turned out to be the only one for St. John who had his fingers swell during the recording of the album and was later diagnosed with Reiter's Syndrome. „
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Sonic Boom

“ Sonic Boom was released in 2009, 11 years after the band's previous studio effort. it marked the first album for new guitarist Tommy Thayer. Paul Stanley produced the effort, which Gene Simmons hailed as a return to the band's glory years of the 70s. In truth the album melded elements of their 70s and 80s sound, and showed promise that the band still had gas left in the tank. „
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Monster - Kiss
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Psycho Circus

“ 1998's Psycho Circus was the first Kiss album since the 70s to feature all four original members. A solid album, however diluted by a lack of cohesiveness among the members. „
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Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions

“ Recorded over the course of 1995 and 1996, the album was eventually released without fanfare in 1997, as the band was already in the midst of its reunion with original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. The impact of the early 90s grunge movement surfaced in the songwriting. While there were many intriguing tracks, it did not feel much like a Kiss album. „