Detroit News: Kiss-Psycho Circus
Review by Lisa Jackson -- Saturday, August 8, 1998

Kiss is back.

Oh sure, you say, they never went away - they've existed in some form or another since the original band fell apart in 1980.

But let's face it, when original band members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Freheley kicked off their reunion tour at Tiger Stadium in 1996, the band reestablished its place at the top of the heavy-metal kingdom.

And now, with the pending (Sept. 22) release of "Psycho Circus", the first disc from all four original members since 1979's Dynasty, Kissmania will likely rear its head again.

Starting With Stanley's catchy title track(with its sing-along chorus), whcih seems destined for heavy rotation on Metro Detroit rock stations, the disc offers old and new fans 10 melody-heavy songs recalling '70's-era Kiss, when they cranked out two albums a year.

Standouts include Simmons' gritty "Within"; "You Wanted The Best," featuring vocals from all four members; and "I Finally Found My Way," a Criss ballad that is an obvious attempt for Top-40 airplay, but is still really moving.

Freheley's track, "Into The Void," is a straight-ahead rocker, all meat and potatoes.

Everyone is in fine forme here: Stanley's vocals are top notch, making a case for him to finally surpass Robert Plant as hard rock's most heralded singer. Simmons, one of rock's most underrated bass players, keeps the beat thumping with a steady and unifying force. And Frehley gets creative with his guitar licks (he even makes like Joe Satriani on a few tracks).

If you're a long-ago Kiss fan who became disenchanted or a new member of the Kiss Army, you're probably asking whether you should buy, "Psycho Circus". The answer is a definite "yes". 3 1/2 stars out of 4

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