From the Vault...

04/18/1999
#625

info
Kiss
"Animalize"


© Mercury Records

Year of Release: 1984
Rating:

track listing
  • I've Had Enough (Into The Fire)
  • Heaven's On Fire
  • Burn Bitch Burn
  • Get All You Can Take
  • Lonely Is The Hunter
  • Under The Gun
  • Thrills In The Night
  • While The City Sleeps
  • Murder In High Heels

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    Kiss
    "Animalize"



    The 1984 lineup of Kiss consisted of a change: Guitarist Vinnie Vincent was replaced by Mark St. John, and the remaining (original) members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, along with drummer Eric Carr continued the 1980s heavy metal sound with Animalize, an album that defines the sound of Heavy Metal Rock, with a much harder edge.


    "I've Had Enough (Into The Fire)" starts the album out, and quite frankly, I don't think you'd have enough in listening. "Heaven's On Fire" is another great rocker as it surely defines the sound that many 1980s heavy metal bands would incorporate, such as the band Y&T, and their song that is similar to Kiss' "Heaven's On Fire", "L.A. Rocks".


    It seems that "Fire" references keep continuing, as the next song, "Burn Bitch Burn" is another rocker, yet the first two songs have better potential, especially "Heaven's On Fire". "Get All You Can Take" is another candidate as "Burn Bitch Burn", even though the album is rocking, it seems that these past two songs mentioned are not as exciting as the first two.


    However, "Lonely Is The Hunter" returns the spark a bit, and "Under The Gun" starts out with a rocking guitar intro that is often heard in Ted Nugent's music, yet the rest of the song is 1980s rock, Kiss style. It's loud, with it's continuing guitar riffs, and screaming lyrics, places this song as one of the least from this album to listen to, but it doesn't make you want to stop listening to the rest of the album.


    "Thrills In The Night" is not as hard rocking as previous songs, yet it has a much polished sound. "While The City Sleeps" definitely rocks, and its hard-driving guitars have a sonewhat Scorpions resemblence ("Rock You Like A Hurricane"). Yet again, it's Kiss, and this song is a good one to listen to. Lastly, "Murder In High Heels" has an Aerosmith beat to it, as in their hit "Love In An Elevator".


    Defining the common hard rock/heavy metal sound of the 1980s, Kiss has presented some impressive albums. One in particular, their later release in 1989, Hot In The Shade. However, Animalize doesn't match the "excellence" of the 1989 release, as Animalize was recorded before Hot In The Shade. It seems that Kiss was getting better as each album was released, even though some may not agree. But for the die-hard Kiss fan, one thing proves for sure, that the band known as Kiss can rock on every album they record, and Animalize does just that. It has its moments, but it is not categorized as one of their most premiere best.


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    Elvis Costello With Burt Bacharach--Painted From Memory