It has been in the bootleg-circles for a very long time. Words had it this bootleg would have a great, "close-to-official-realeases" sound. Now we know it had not! Carnival Of Souls has finally been released. Whatever made Mercury/PolyGram change their minds and bring this album out: It was definately a lucky decision. Recorded two years ago, this KISS- album sounds fresh and up to date.
The CD starts off with a speaker-blowing intro that is just telling you "Feel tha noize!". It ends by starting "Hate", which presents Gene at his best. Rough and shouting, a pumping bassline and Paul singing back-up vocals. But it's always Gene you will hear shouting upfront. The chorus gives a little expression as if it was a left-over from the "Revenge"-sessions and reminds me of "Though Shalt Not". (Don't ask me why!). "Hate" is followed by "Rain" where Paul is definately in a singing-mood. It's not a fast song, but it's hard by sound. A way I didn't hear Paul that often...
"Master & Slave" is by now my favorite song on the album, because the guitars are played in the typical way the band sounded since "Revenge". Paul's doing a great job and excites me one more time with his voice which always seems to grow currently.
Gene's "Childhood`s End" is one of his more quiet songs. It has a nice melody-line, nicely instrumented and is simply a good song. It crawls into your ear and finds a place to stay at, you will sing along for a while. Trust me.
Paul sings "I Will Be There", a beautyful acoustic ballad dedicated to his son. Nothing more, but also nothing less. Smooth voice.
No more words about "Jungle" here. This one's storming up the U.S.-Billboard.charts, and I hope it'll do so in Europe, too. A killer!
"In My Head" brings us Gene "The Demon" Simmons. This one really fits to his image. If some parts would keep being agressive, this could be a brutal follow-up to "God Of Thunder"... Test it!
The next songs seems to go round and round soundwise. I would love to hear it through a "Surround- Sound"-HiFi-system. Sung by Paul, slowly and dark.... ah, it's called "It Never Goes Away"
Your parents will love the next track, which is according to Bruce Kulick "Gene's trip to the middle east with tablas and all!!", but to me it sounds more latin. It's "SeductionOf The Innocent" and there's definately a rhumba-pattern played by Eric. Yes, folks, this one is a dancer like we never had before, your parents could dance a Rhumba - cheak to cheak! And you will love it, too. Just crank it!
"I Confess" could be a very old song. Remember the 80's: It could be an outtake from "Music From The Elder". It ain't, but it is as cool and good as it should be. Gene again, really singing!
"In The Mirror" is one of the Paul Stanley-rockers. Only the Guitars make it sound a bit different.
But the biggest surprise to me is "I Walk Alone" Bruce Kulick has a voice - and he can sing! He's backed-up by Gene and Paul a bit, but he's definately good singing. It makes me hope there will be more vocal-works for "Union". This one is a song he can be proud of. Congrats, Bruce! I love this one.
Finally, remeber this album is two years old, but it sounds fresh and strange and familiar and this means itīs a real KISS-album! And it's a killer! And if it should climb the charts this would mean that KISS were up to date two years before and still are! Buy this one and then:
Songlist: Hate (4:36) * Rain (4:46) * Master & Slave (4:57) * Childhood`s End (4:20) * I Will Be There (3:49) * Jungle (6:49) * In My Head (4:00) * It Never Goes Away (5:42) * Seductione Of The Innocent (5:16) * I Confess (5:23) * In The Mirror (4:26) * I Walk Alone (6:07)