I just got the new studio album, and it is just awesome. It is very hard throughout. This is by far the best work since Creatures. Both Gene and Paul's vocals are the best they've been in a while. Bruce's guitar work is just great. He plays with a lot of balls on this album. This is not the new
"grunge" version of KISS, as many of you are alluding to. To me it sounds like they have finally gone back to their roots, and progressed from there. Lyrically, it is not as dark as you might think. I don't think it's as dark
as Unholy. It is more reminiscent of songs like Parasite, God of Thunder, Creatures, and War Machine. The sound picked up where Unholy left you hanging. No poppy, marsh mellowy tunes on this one. I'll give a brief review of each song (I am going by memory, since I was too busy rockin' to take notes):

HATE (Is What I Am) - Gene - Very Heavy. Nasty solo by Bruce. Just an awesome tune.
I THINK IT'S GONNA RAIN (Down on me) - Paul - Slower, Heavy guitar rhythm. This is very heavy for Paul. Great song.
TELL ME - Paul - Very cool bass. Aggressive rhythm guitars. Another great Bruce solo.
CHILDHOOD'S END - Gene - Very cool chorus. Kind of a Zepplinish rhythm. I love this tune.
I WILL BE THERE - Paul - Kind of a Zepplinish ballad. Very cool acoustic rhythm, and an awesome acoustic solo. I think this is Paul's best ballad ever. His vocals really shine on this one.
THE JUNGLE - Paul - Kind of a funky beat. Another very cool chorus.
SEDUCTION OF THE INNOCENT - Gene - Kind of slower song, with very neat guitar work.
IT NEVER ENDS - Paul - Another heavy Paul tune.
IN MY HEAD - Gene - Awsome tune. Very evil Gene vocals. Very heavy.
YOU CONFESS - Gene - Very neat song. Kind of a slower song, with a faster chorus.
TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR - Paul - Faster tune. Very catchy rhythm, with some neat drum work. Very cool song.

Believe me this has KISS written all over it. You just have to hear this to believe how good it is.