This product was advertised as a KISS reunion, be it: the four guys from their glorious days: the boss Stanley, the boss Simmons and Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

But, surprise!!! Altought Frehley and Criss's names are in the credits, they simply did not perform in the album!!! The guitar solos were made by Stanley; Criss played drums in only one track. Frehley played rhythm guitar in a pair of others.

How can Kiss devise such a scheme to swindle some of their loyal fans is beyond my grasp.


Total Waste   November 5, 2003
rick andreola (springfield, nj United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I think i listened to this 2 times since it came out. Its just kiss trying to make an overblown commercial album with the same producer from Destroyer but sorry folks it doesnt work at all. This is not where kiss was headed at the time. If you listen to Carnival of Souls which was recorded right before this with Kulick and Singer youll hear the direction that Kiss was going. This was basically made for the money because the fact that it was a reunion record made everyone buy it. Too bad its one of the most unmemorable Kiss albums ever. The best song recorded for this isnt even on the cd. Its called "its my Life" and its on the boxed set. Lord knows why this song was left off here. Its better than the every song here combined. Anyway dont buy this, buy CARNIVAL OF SOULS if you want to hear some music with some depth and not just throwaway junk.


SOFT AND PREDICTABLE   August 4, 2003
G. Abbate (Surprise, Arizona United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The attempt to make another Destroyer fell very short. The title track is easily the best song on this album. It was obvious right away that Peter Criss wasn't playing on it....he does't have that kind of talent so why go in and make this album at all? Before it even came out you knew that Peter would be singing a ballad. "I Finally Found My Way" is no "Beth" or "Hard Luck Woman." The rest of it is just too soft. There is no heavy drum sound. It almost like a weak Lick It Up minus the better songs. Get back with Eric and Bruce! Don't worry about makinganother Destroyer. I'll be satisfied with another Revenge.


With The Spotlight On Them, KISS Fails To Deliver   July 30, 2003
Jon Abbey (Anderson, Indiana United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

In 1996, the original foursome of KISS regrouped and embarked on a massively successful world tour, which lasted a little over a year. During that time, the hoopla, crazed fan hysteria, magazine coverage, television appearances and, of course, merchandising were all on a level near or equal to the band's halcyon days of the mid to late 1970's. The massive popularity and glory had returned, and the KISS juggernaut was huge once again.

When Paul, Gene, Peter and Ace returned to the studio in early 1998 to record their first full studio album together since 1977's "Love Gun" (Peter was replaced by "ghost" drummer Anton Fig on all but one track on 1979's "Dynasty"), the stakes and pressure were high. Could the original band once again create something as classic and memorable as such 1976 albums as "Destroyer" and "Rock and Roll Over"? Sadly, the answer is no. Although there are a few strong tracks here, the album as a whole is a big disappointment.

"Psycho Circus" (the song) starts things off in fine fashion. It's an epic, sweeping and brilliant rock masterpiece, one that feels like a fish out of water on this release. Only two other songs, also co-penned by Paul, really work here. "I Pledge Allegiance To The State Of Rock & Roll" and "Raise Your Glasses" are both catchy enough numbers to recall the band's 1970's life-affirming world view, yet both feel like they could have been originally written for 1987's "Crazy Nights".

Everything else falls short, on a myriad of levels. Paul's "Dreamin'" And Gene's "Within" are actually two of the best tracks on "Psycho Circus", but don't fit in stylistically. Seeing as both were originally written for their previous effort, "Carnival Of Souls - The Final Sessions" (recorded in 1995, but not released until 1997), it's easy to see why. That album was dark and grunge-inspired, and a reflection of the rock landscape of the mid-nineties. Although the two songs are worthy numbers for a KISS album, they don't belong on something that was supposed to be (at least ideally) a continuation of the primal and self-indulgent pure rock fun this quartet concocted in its heyday.

The rest of the album ranges from average to insipid and lame. Ace Frehley's "Into The Void" is okay, but not in the same league with previous gems such as "Shock Me" or "Rocket Ride". "You Wanted The Best" is rather laughable and utterly forgettable, and the Paul Stanley / Bob Ezrin penned ballad "I Finally Found My Way" (sung by Peter) is overly sappy and edgeless. The two songs which close each album side, "We Are One" and "Journey Of 1,000 Years" (both written by Gene), sound as misguided and un-KISS like as 1981's "Music From The Elder". Neither one is terrible, but they are watered down and wimpy tracks which feel out of place here. The recurring theme on "Psycho Circus" is that most of it is confused and not what you would have expected or hoped for from the original KISS.

Like "Dynasty", the last album released by the original foursome until this one, "Psycho Circus" is completely unfocused and pulls the listener in too many directions. It's not singular in its purpose like "Destroyer", "Hotter Than Hell" or "Love Gun". Also, like "Dynasty" (as well as 1980's "Unmasked"), too much of the music is second rate. This album is nowhere near as good as 1992's "Revenge", which actually feels and sounds much more like the classic makeup days than this. It's common knowledge that even Ace and Peter aren't crazy about the material presented on "Psycho Circus". Clearly, and not surprisingly, Paul and Gene were calling all the shots. If you're looking for a great KISS release from the nineties, buy "Revenge" or "Alive III" instead. Don't be fooled by the hype surrounding this album. It may be the original group reunited, but it fails to live up to expectations. Which is unfortunate, because this could have been a monster.