There is a MONSTER up ahead

OK. This is a new little feature I will try to do each month. As It says in the title It’s just me rambling on… So if It seems a little unstructured, don’t take It to seriously.

Most of you have probably read the news about the new record and a world tour that were released last week. And I hope you are as excited as I am. Just that we will be able to sit down and listen to a new album from Kiss after almost 40 years is just incredible and nothing I would have expected just 4-5 years ago. The thought that they were to deliver a ‘masterpiece’ like Sonic Boom was total unreal to begin with. That they would release a second album is something almost no one would even dare to dream about. After living with Kiss more or less as a nostalgia act for almost a decade It feels damn good that they are a creative unit again. Specially after having thought ever since 2001 that whatever happened in ‘Kisstory’ after the Farewell Tour would just be a bonus.

Sonic Boom was for me a real boost as a fan after many years without any new releases. An album that showed that Kiss was more creative and vital than they had been at least since Revenge, maybe as far back as Lick It Up. The album also showed how vital Eric and Tommy is to Kiss today. So Sonic Boom is still on high-rotation at home, in the car and on iTunes at work. I don’t think I have played a ‘new’ Kiss record this much since Unmasked or The Elder came out. And lets face It in 1980/81 there really wasn’t much competition with Kiss for me. Today the competition for my time is strong from other bands, girlfriend and kids.

The time ahead until we get the new record will be very exciting. I must go really far back to find a record I have looked so much forward to as ‘Monster’. Before Sonic Boom came out I really didn’t dare to hope for much more than a decent record. So after delivering Sonic Boom my anticipation this time around is really high. I just hope they are able to deliver and don’t drift to far of from what they did on Sonic Boom. When the members in interviews start to compare the new record with Destroyer meets Revenge and use much more time in the studio, I must admit It makes me a little scared. Kiss is a band that have made their best records in a short time span and the spontaneity is really important. Let’s just hope that they don’t think to much and make It to complex. That have never been a good recipe for a great Kiss record.

There has also been a lot of discussion about naming the album MONSTER. Many find the name a little cliche and are not to excited about the name. I really like the name if It’s a description of the record and band, and they keep monsters of the cover. But then the band has to really deliver an monster album. ‘Monster’ really remind me of other Kiss titles as Destroyer, Dynasty, Animalize, Asylum and Revenge. I believe that’s a good thing. A simple, strong name that people will remember. The song titles ‘Hell Or Hallelujah, Born To Be A Sinner, Out Of This World, Are You Ready? and Wall Of Sound’ they have confirmed for the record also sound really cool. Real rock’n roll titles and not ‘Kiss camp fire songs’ like they managed to make a lot of on Psycho Circus.

So 2011/12 will probably be a really eventful Kiss years for me. Starting with the Kiss Cruise that I’m still really pissed about because I won’t be able to attend. But It will be cool to hear the stories and watch videos and pictures from friends who are attending anyway. And I’m starting to accept the fact that I won’t be able to go. Then there will be the ‘No Regrets’ book from Ace Frehley in November and two Ace Frehley concerts for me in the UK in December. Hopefully Kissology 4 also will be released before Christmas. If the unconfirmed lists that have been published on the net are correct It seems like It will be one hell of a set. And most of us will probably be abel to dump a couple of more of the old bootlegs we have.

And then, last but most important. ‘Monster’ and a new world tour. This time around I will try to see as many shows as I can, and at least one Meet & Greet. So all us Kiss maniacs will just have to save up. It will be an expensive year.