Let me tell you a bit about myself before I'll give my opinion about the new album. Lick it up was the first metal album I ever heard. It blew my head. Since then I bought every new Kiss album. Paul became my hero, with his tongue-in-cheek lyrics about sex. However, three years ago I started liking bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam better than metal bands. Only sometimes I would buy another metallish album (the feeling for heavy music never really disappeared). The fact that there's a new Kiss album out together with the reviews, made me curious to hear it. So I bought the CD. Here's what I think of it:

Hate: makes my never-gone metal heart pumpin'! Really heavy, grindy, groovy, high-pace, angry metal song. Bang those heads!

Rain: Alice in Chains-like dark riff, Paul shows something of his deeper (and more negative) emotions. Great song.

Master and Slave: Typical Kiss-riff in Tough Love-style. Do I hear Alice in Chains there?

Childhood's End: Gene sharing his negative feelings. But the song is not that good, a bit dull chorus. Good try though.

I Will Be There: Paul's second-best ballad, after I still love you. Has a lot of atmosphere.

Jungle: typical Kiss riffs mixed with a bit of a funky groove. Very good chorus and great singing. Could become a classic!

In My Head: a bit boring although it's heavy

It Never Goes Away: this song knocks me out! Paul doesn't stop sharing his emotions. This song is very dark and slow and can stand up to the best songs Soundgarden ever made. Very dark, uncommon chords. I also hear a bit of I still love you in it.

Seduction of the Innocent: not one of the best songs on this album. It's groovy and strange though.

I Confess: another melodic, softer song by Gene. Dark lyrics. I think I have to get used to it.

In the Mirror: groovy song with typical Kiss-riff, not really metal, more easy-going rock. Starts to unfold after several hearings. Has some pretty dark breaks.

I Walk Alone: fits to the overall feeling on this record. It's honest and dark, atmospheric.

In summary:
Lots of bend strings and slow pace songs, yes. This album reveals a different side of Kiss. Maybe this side has always been there or maybe Paul and Gene changed as persons. The songs on this album in my opinion can be placed just in between Soundgarden and Kiss. They have something of both. The loud guitars and the riffs have stayed but there's also a more emotional atmosphere in music, singing and lyrics. To me the change in sound sounds honest, not wallet-based. I like it. I was NOT disappointed, but maybe that's because I am a Soundgarden fan. A real 'old Kiss'-like album would have made me glad but COS does that as well. I can imagine that fans of songs like Take it off, Detroit rock city, I'm alive or Get all you can take don't like this stuff. But some of them will think: hey, this is different but it's also cool. I'm sure lots of Kiss fans also have a darker side. I will you all lots of pleasure with this record!