Monster (Kiss album)
Encyclopedia
Monster is the upcoming 20th studio album
from Kiss
, set to be released in late spring of 2012. The album's title was confirmed by Kissonline.com on August 21, 2011 to be Monster. The album is currently being recorded at Conway Recording Studios
in Hollywood, CA
and being produced by the band's co-founder and lead singer Paul Stanley
and co-produced by Greg Collins, as was 2009's Sonic Boom
.
said in an radio interview for Heavy Metal Thunder that the band will enter the studio in three weeks and that they have around 20 to 25 songs ready to record. Eric Singer
said during Eric Singer Project
soundcheck that the band will start recording the album on April 4th.
Paul Stanley has revealed that the album cover art will be stylistically similar to that of Destroyer, although painted by a different artist. According to an interview with lead guitarist Tommy Thayer
, the band had the intention of creating an album with a slightly heavier sound than Sonic Boom, as well as recreating the vibe that existed on the band's earlier material.Tommy Thayer's Express-Times Interview. Tommythayer.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011. Similarly, Gene Simmons
has likened the album to a combination of three of the band's previous albums, Destroyer, Revenge
and the album's predecessor Sonic Boom
. Also, while doing interviews for his appearance in ABC
's TV-show Castle
, Simmons commented the sound of the album: "Meat and potatoes. You know it's going to be like Santa Claus
. Up and down, everybody gets used to this and that, and things change, and fashion changes, but it's good to know that Santa comes, and he’s not going to change his outfit and you know what you’re going to get: gifts. Consistency of message."
The band also went to use old analog equipment instead of a more popular digital recording gear. Simmons said about it: "Technology is a seductive bitch, she will seduce you. You press this button, you don't have to do anything. But analog is the love of your life. You can push real hard and it always gives back. For the new album, the actual recording process was 24-track tape and an old Trident board. And as many tubes as possible. You need tubes, electricity and thick wood to make that thick sound."
It has also been confirmed by Simmons in an interview with Billboard Magazine
that Volume 4 in the "Kissology" DVD Series will be released at a similar time, and will feature "some new stuff but some stuff nobody's ever seen before, going all the way back to 1973". In an interview with Elliot Segal
on Elliot in the Morning
, May 2, 2011, Simmons mentioned that the band had recorded around five songs and that the album sounds as a mix between Destroyer and Revenge
. The album was originally supposed to contain 10 songs, but Simmons revealed before the American Music Awards of 2011
that Monster will contain 15 brand new songs, all studio written by the band. Also, a four foot high book and a 10 hour DVD
called Monster are also due out in June right before the band embarks on a world tour in support of the album.
. The following are:
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
from Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, set to be released in late spring of 2012. The album's title was confirmed by Kissonline.com on August 21, 2011 to be Monster. The album is currently being recorded at Conway Recording Studios
Conway Recording Studios
Conway Recording Studios is a recording and post production facility in Hollywood, California.Conway has hosted a variety of producers, mixers and artists, such as Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, The Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Britney Spears, Carlos Santana, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band,...
in Hollywood, CA
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
and being produced by the band's co-founder and lead singer Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley
Stanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
and co-produced by Greg Collins, as was 2009's Sonic Boom
Sonic Boom (Kiss album)
Sonic Boom is the 19th studio album and the first in 11 years from band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA and produced by the band's co-leader Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins...
.
Background
On March 10, Gene SimmonsGene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
said in an radio interview for Heavy Metal Thunder that the band will enter the studio in three weeks and that they have around 20 to 25 songs ready to record. Eric Singer
Eric Singer
Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
said during Eric Singer Project
Eric Singer Project
Eric Singer Project is an American rock band. ESP was founded in the 1990s by Eric Singer, drummer for such acts as Lita Ford, Black Sabbath, Badlands, Alice Cooper, and Kiss, along with it with Bruce Kulick on guitar, John Corabi on guitar and bass, and Karl Cochran on guitar and bass...
soundcheck that the band will start recording the album on April 4th.
Paul Stanley has revealed that the album cover art will be stylistically similar to that of Destroyer, although painted by a different artist. According to an interview with lead guitarist Tommy Thayer
Tommy Thayer
Tommy Cunningham Thayer is an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Kiss.- Early life :...
, the band had the intention of creating an album with a slightly heavier sound than Sonic Boom, as well as recreating the vibe that existed on the band's earlier material.Tommy Thayer's Express-Times Interview. Tommythayer.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011. Similarly, Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
has likened the album to a combination of three of the band's previous albums, Destroyer, Revenge
Revenge (KISS album)
Revenge is the 16th studio album by American heavy metal band Kiss, released on May 19, 1992. It was the band's first album after the death of long-time drummer Eric Carr in November 1991. His replacement, Eric Singer, had played with Black Sabbath, Brian May, Alice Cooper and even Paul Stanley,...
and the album's predecessor Sonic Boom
Sonic Boom (Kiss album)
Sonic Boom is the 19th studio album and the first in 11 years from band Kiss, released on October 6, 2009. The album was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, CA and produced by the band's co-leader Paul Stanley and co-produced by Greg Collins...
. Also, while doing interviews for his appearance in ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's TV-show Castle
Castle (TV series)
Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season...
, Simmons commented the sound of the album: "Meat and potatoes. You know it's going to be like Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
. Up and down, everybody gets used to this and that, and things change, and fashion changes, but it's good to know that Santa comes, and he’s not going to change his outfit and you know what you’re going to get: gifts. Consistency of message."
The band also went to use old analog equipment instead of a more popular digital recording gear. Simmons said about it: "Technology is a seductive bitch, she will seduce you. You press this button, you don't have to do anything. But analog is the love of your life. You can push real hard and it always gives back. For the new album, the actual recording process was 24-track tape and an old Trident board. And as many tubes as possible. You need tubes, electricity and thick wood to make that thick sound."
It has also been confirmed by Simmons in an interview with Billboard Magazine
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
that Volume 4 in the "Kissology" DVD Series will be released at a similar time, and will feature "some new stuff but some stuff nobody's ever seen before, going all the way back to 1973". In an interview with Elliot Segal
Elliot Segal
Elliot Segal is an American talk radio host. His Elliot in the Morning show is broadcast on WWDC in Washington, D.C. and WRXL in Richmond, Virginia.-Personal:...
on Elliot in the Morning
Elliot in the Morning
Elliot in the Morning is a morning radio talk show hosted by DJ Elliot Segal. It airs weekdays from "5:48 until 10-something" on WWDC-FM in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and on WRXL in Richmond, Virginia...
, May 2, 2011, Simmons mentioned that the band had recorded around five songs and that the album sounds as a mix between Destroyer and Revenge
Revenge (KISS album)
Revenge is the 16th studio album by American heavy metal band Kiss, released on May 19, 1992. It was the band's first album after the death of long-time drummer Eric Carr in November 1991. His replacement, Eric Singer, had played with Black Sabbath, Brian May, Alice Cooper and even Paul Stanley,...
. The album was originally supposed to contain 10 songs, but Simmons revealed before the American Music Awards of 2011
American Music Awards of 2011
The 39th American Music Awards was held on November 20, 2011 , at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles . The awards recognized the most popular artists and albums from the year 2011. Nominees were announced on October 11, 2011. The awards ceremony was host-free...
that Monster will contain 15 brand new songs, all studio written by the band. Also, a four foot high book and a 10 hour DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
called Monster are also due out in June right before the band embarks on a world tour in support of the album.
Confirmed tracks
Five tracks have been confirmed in an interview with Classic Rock MagazineClassic Rock (magazine)
Classic Rock is a British magazine dedicated to the radio format of classic rock, published by Future Publishing, who are also responsible for its "sister" publication Metal Hammer. Although firmly focusing on key bands from the 1960s through early 1990s, it also includes articles and reviews of...
. The following are:
- Hell or Hallelujah
- Born to Be a Sinner
- Out of This World (Written by/to be sung by Tommy Thayer)
- Are You Ready? (Written by Simmons)
- Wall of Sound
Personnel
- Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, vocals - Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Tommy ThayerTommy ThayerTommy Cunningham Thayer is an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Kiss.- Early life :...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, vocals - Eric SingerEric SingerEric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals