Monster (Kiss album)

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|

2012 studio album by Kiss

Monster

Studio album by

Kiss

Released| October 9, 2012 (2012-10-09)
Recorded| April 13, 2011 – January 6, 2012
Studio|

* Conway, Hollywood, California
* The Nook, Studio City, California

Genre| Hard rock, heavy metal
Length| 43:39
Label| UMe
Producer| Paul Stanley, Greg Collins
Kiss studio album chronology
| Sonic Boom
(2009)  | Monster
(2012)  |

|
|

Singles from  Monster

1. "Hell or Hallelujah"
Released: July 3, 2012
2. "Long Way Down"
Released: October 23, 2012

Professional ratingsAggregate scores

Source| Rating
AnyDecentMusic?| 5.2/10[1]
Metacritic| 67/100[2]
Review scores
Source| Rating
Allmusic| [3]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles| 8.5/10[4]
The Guardian| [5]
Consequence of Sound| D[6]
Los Angeles Times| [7]
Montreal Gazette| [8]
Rolling Stone| [9]
Sputnikmusic| 2/5[10]
The A.V. Club| B−[11]
Washington Times| [12]

Monster is the twentieth and final studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on October 9, 2012. It was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, California and The Nook in Studio City, Los Angeles. As with 2009's Sonic Boom, Monster was produced by Paul Stanley and Greg Collins, and featured the lineup of Stanley, Gene Simmons (vocals/bass), Eric Singer (drums/vocals), and Tommy Thayer (guitar/vocals).

## Background

[edit]

Gene Simmons first mentioned Kiss' intention to record a follow-up to Sonic Boom in 2010.[13] On March 10, 2011, Simmons said in a radio interview for Heavy Metal Thunder that the band will enter the studio in three weeks and that they have around 20 to 25 songs ready to record.[14]

In an interview with Elliot Segal on Elliot in the Morning, May 2, 2011, Simmons mentioned that Kiss had recorded around five songs.[15] The album was originally supposed to contain ten songs, but he revealed before the American Music Awards of 2011 that Monster will contain fifteen brand new songs, all studio written by the band. This was then reduced to thirteen songs.[16]

On August 21, 2011, Kiss officially revealed the album's title and confirmed that it was being recorded in Los Angeles, with Paul Stanley producing, for a 2012 release.[17]

The band uploaded a video on January 3, 2012, on YouTube in which Stanley commented that the album was two to three days from completion.[18] The recording process ended three days later. The following day, Stanley stated, "Listening to the tracks back to back is like sensory overload. Everyone who has heard any of it is completely blown away. Powerful, heavy, melodic and epic. It makes us very proud. You all will be too."[19]

The album's first single, "Hell or Hallelujah", was released on July 2, 2012, internationally and July 3 in North America along with the Monster Book. It received play on rock radio and climbed onto the middle reaches of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. The second single, "Long Way Down", was released to radio stations on October 23.[20] While it failed to make the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart, it did reach the Billboard Heritage Rock Charts by the end of the year, and also occupied a spot on America's Music Rock Chart for several months.

After several release delays, Monster was released in the U.S. on October 9, 2012.

## Composition

[edit]

According to an interview with Tommy Thayer, the band had the intention of creating an album with a slightly heavier sound than Sonic Boom, as well as recreating the vibe that existed on the band's earlier material.[21] Similarly, Simmons has likened the album to a combination of three of the band's previous albums, Destroyer, Revenge and Sonic Boom.[22]

While doing interviews for his appearance in ABC's Castle, Simmons commented on the album's sound: "Meat and potatoes. You know it's going to be like Santa Claus. Up and down, everybody gets used to this and that, and things change, and fashion changes, but it's good to know that Santa comes, and he's not going to change his outfit and you know what you're going to get: gifts. Consistency of message."[23]

The band also decided to use old analog equipment instead of more popular digital recording gear. In justifying Kiss' choice, Simmons commented: "Technology is a seductive bitch, she will seduce you. You press this button, you don't have to do anything. But analog is the love of your life. You can push real hard and it always gives back. For the new album, the actual recording process was 24-track tape and an old Trident board. And as many tubes as possible. You need tubes, electricity and thick wood to make that thick sound."[24]

On March 22, 2012, Stanley said in an interview with VH1 Radio Network's Dave Basner, "Monster is really the culmination of everything this band has been in the past and where we're going. When we did Sonic Boom, it was a big task for us because we were saying, 'How do we define who we are today without losing who we've been?' So, that was a tall order for us, but once we got that under our belts, we wanted to go back in and Monster is far, far beyond anything we've done in terms of Sonic Boom and yet it's right up there with some of the best stuff we've done. It's KISS."[25]

Monster debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200, making it the band's third consecutive album to reach the top three in the US, and cracked the Top 10 charts in Canada, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Japan, and Danish charts and cracked the Top 20 in Spain, Hungary and the Dutch charts.

The album sold approximately 60,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States[26] and 120,000 copies outside of the domestic US in its first week.[citation needed]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Lead Vocals| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Hell or Hallelujah"| Paul Stanley| Stanley| 4:07
2.| "Wall of Sound"| Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer| Simmons| 2:55
3.| "Freak"| Stanley, Thayer| Stanley| 3:35
4.| "Back to the Stone Age"| Simmons, Thayer, Stanley, Eric Singer| Simmons| 3:01
5.| "Shout Mercy"| Stanley, Thayer| Stanley| 4:04
6.| "Long Way Down"| Stanley, Thayer| Stanley| 3:51
7.| "Eat Your Heart Out"| Simmons| Simmons| 4:06
8.| "The Devil Is Me"| Simmons, Stanley, Thayer| Simmons| 3:40
9.| "Outta This World"| Thayer| Thayer| 4:29
10.| "All for the Love of Rock & Roll"| Stanley| Singer| 3:21
11.| "Take Me Down Below"| Simmons, Stanley, Thayer| Simmons, Stanley| 3:24
12.| "Last Chance"| Stanley, Simmons, Thayer| Stanley| 3:05
Total length:| 43:39

iTunes / Tour Edition Bonus TrackNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Lead Vocals| Length

|
|
|
|

13.| "Right Here Right Now"| Stanley, Thayer| Stanley| 3:58

Japanese Bonus TrackNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Lead Vocals| Length

|
|
|
|

13.| "King of the Night Time World" (Live)| Stanley, Kim Fowley, Mark Anthony, Bob Ezrin| Stanley| 3:59

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits for Monster adapted from liner notes.[27]

Kiss

* Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar
* Gene Simmons – vocals, bass
* Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals
* Eric Singer – drums, vocals

Additional personnel

* Brian Whelan – piano on "Freak"
* Tom Jermann – art direction, design
* Greg Collins – recording, mixing
* Eric Weaver – assistant engineering
* Martin Cooke – assistant engineering
* Matt Wiggers – assistant engineering
* Seth Waldmann – assistant engineering
* Russell Lee – photography
* Brian Lowe – photography
* Rob Jacobs – product manager
* Ute Friesleben – production manager
* Doc McGhee – management

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2012)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[28] | 7
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[29] | 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[30] | 37
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] | 36
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[32] | 3
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[33] | 10
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[34] | 7
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[35] | 8
French Albums (SNEP)[36] | 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[37] | 6
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[38] | 12
Irish Albums (IRMA)[39] | 87
Italian Albums (FIMI)[40] | 9
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[41] | 9
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[42] | 26
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[43] | 2
Scottish Albums (OCC)[44] | 15
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[45] | 11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[46] | 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] | 8
UK Albums (OCC)[48] | 21
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[49] | 3
US Billboard 200[50] | 3
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[51] | 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[52] | 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[53] | 2
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[54] | 4

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Monster by Kiss reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
2. ^ "Monster by Kiss". Metacritic. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
3. ^ Thomas, Fred. Monster at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-10-06.
4. ^ bravewords.com. "> News > KISS – Monster Reviewed". Bravewords.com. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
5. ^ Thomson, Jamie (October 18, 2012). "Kiss: Monster – review". Guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
6. ^ Caffrey, Dan (October 16, 2012). "Album Review: KISS - Monster". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
7. ^ Roberts, Randall (October 8, 2012). "Review: KISS unleashes ferociously fun 'Monster'". Los Angeles Times.
8. ^ markjlepage (October 8, 2012). "New Album Review: Kiss, Monster (Universal) | Montreal Gazette". Blogs.montrealgazette.com. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
9. ^ Dolan, John (October 19, 2012). "Monster: Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
10. ^ Viney, Joseph (October 24, 2012). "Album Review – KISS: Monster". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
11. ^ Heller, Jason (October 16, 2012). "Kiss: Monster". The A.V. Club. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
12. ^ Leahy, Andrew (October 8, 2012). "MUSIC REVIEWS: Ellie Goulding's 'Halcyon,' Kiss' 'Monster,' The Script's '#3'". Washington Times. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
13. ^ KISS TO MAKE SONIC BOOM FOLLOW-UP on YouTube. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
14. ^ Gene Simmons on original KISS reunion: 'There Will Be One More Time When We Play Together' Archived August 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Blabbermouth. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
15. ^ Elliot In The Morning: Gene Simmons on YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
16. ^ Gene Simmons Red Carpet Interview AMA 2011 on YouTube. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
17. ^ KISS' new album is a "Monster!" Archived November 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Kissonline.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
18. ^ "KISS' New Album Is 'About Two Days' Away From Being Completed". Blabbermouth.net. January 4, 2012. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
19. ^ New album update from Paul Stanley Archived January 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Kissonline.com. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
20. ^ Billy Dukes (October 5, 2012). "KISS, "Long Way Down" – Song Review". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
21. ^ Tommy Thayer's Express-Times Interview Archived January 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Tommythayer.com. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
22. ^ Classic Rock Magazine. "It's Sonic Boom on steroids". Page 17. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
23. ^ KISS' New Album Will Be 'Meat and Potatoes' Archived August 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. UGO. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
24. ^ Kiss Going Retro for 'Monster' Recording Sessions. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
25. ^ KISS' Paul Stanley, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx Talk The Tour; New Music. bravewords.com. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
26. ^ "KISS: 'Monster' Cracks U.S. Top 3". Blabbermouth. October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
27. ^ (2012). "Monster liner notes". In Monster [CD booklet]. UMe.
28. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
29. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kiss – Monster" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kiss – Monster" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
31. ^ "Ultratop.be – Kiss – Monster" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
32. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
33. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
34. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kiss – Monster" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
35. ^ "Kiss: Monster" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
36. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
37. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kiss – Monster" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
38. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2012. 42. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
39. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Kiss". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
40. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
41. ^ "モンスター～地獄の獣神". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
42. ^ "Mexicancharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
43. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
44. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
45. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
46. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
47. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Kiss – Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
48. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
49. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
50. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
51. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link] Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
52. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
53. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
54. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Monster at Discogs (list of releases)
* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Kiss

* Paul Stanley
* Gene Simmons
* Peter Criss
* Ace Frehley
* Eric Carr
* Vinnie Vincent
* Mark St. John
* Bruce Kulick
* Eric Singer
* Tommy Thayer

Studio albums|

* Kiss
* Hotter than Hell
* Dressed to Kill
* Destroyer
* Rock and Roll Over
* Love Gun
* Dynasty
* Unmasked
* Music from "The Elder"
* Creatures of the Night
* Lick It Up
* Animalize
* Asylum
* Crazy Nights
* Hot in the Shade
* Revenge
* Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
* Psycho Circus
* Sonic Boom
* Monster

1978 solo albums|

* Ace Frehley
* Gene Simmons
* Paul Stanley
* Peter Criss

Live albums|

* Alive!
* Alive II
* Alive III
* Kiss Unplugged
* You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!!
* Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
* Alive! The Millennium Concert
* Kiss Alive 35
* Kiss Sonic Boom Over Europe
* Kiss Rocks Vegas

Compilations|

* Double Platinum
* Killers
* Chikara
* Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
* Greatest Kiss
* The Very Best of Kiss
* The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss
* The Best of Kiss, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection
* The Best of Kiss, Volume 3: The Millennium Collection
* Jigoku-Retsuden
* Kiss 40

Box sets|

* The Originals
* The Box Set
* Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
* Kiss Alive! 1975–2000
* Ikons

Video albums|

* Animalize Live Uncensored
* Exposed
* Crazy Nights
* X-treme Close-Up
* Kiss Konfidential
* Kiss My Ass: The Video
* Kiss Unplugged
* Psycho Circus 3-D Video
* The Second Coming
* Kiss Symphony: The DVD
* Rock the Nation Live!
* Kissology Volume One: 1974–1977
* Kissology Volume Two: 1978–1991
* Kissology Volume Three: 1992–2000
* Kiss Rocks Vegas

Tribute albums|

* Hard to Believe: A Kiss Covers Compilation
* Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
* A Tribute to the Creatures of the Night
* Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to Kiss
* Spin the Bottle: An All-Star Tribute to Kiss
* Gods of Thunder: A Norwegian Tribute to Kiss
* Lick It Up – A Millennium Tribute to Kiss
* Kiss My Ankh

Concert tours|

* Club Tour
* Kiss Tour
* Hotter than Hell Tour
* Dressed to Kill Tour
* Alive! Tour
* Destroyer Tour
* Rock & Roll Over Tour
* Love Gun Tour
* Alive II Tour
* Dynasty Tour
* Unmasked Tour
* Creatures of the Night Tour
* Lick It Up World Tour
* Animalize World Tour
* Asylum Tour
* Crazy Nights World Tour
* Hot in the Shade Tour
* Revenge Tour
* Kiss My Ass Tour
* Alive/Worldwide Tour
* Psycho Circus World Tour
* The Farewell Tour
* Alive 35 World Tour
* Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
* The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
* The Tour
* Monster World Tour
* Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour
* Freedom to Rock Tour
* Kissworld Tour
* End of the Road World Tour

Films|

* Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
* Detroit Rock City
* Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery

Merchandising|

* Action figures
* Comics
* Kiss: Psycho Circus
* Pinball
* Pinball video game
* Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
* Kiss Kasket
* Kiss by Monster Mini-Golf
* Los Angeles Kiss
* Bibliography

Related|

| Articles|

* Discography
* Band members
* Songs
* Awards
* Kiss Army
* Operation Payback
* "Road to Europe"
* Rock School
* Gene Simmons Family Jewels
* The Elder

|

Bands|

* Black 'n Blue
* Chelsea
* Eric Singer Project
* Frehley's Comet
* Mini Kiss
* Union
* Vinnie Vincent Invasion
* White Tiger
* Wicked Lester

Albums|

* Anomaly
* Asshole
* Cat #1
* Gene Simmons Vault
* Let Me Rock You
* Live to Win
* One for All
* Out of Control
* The Original Wicked Lester Sessions
* Origins Vol. 1
* Origins Vol. 2
* Rockology
* Space Invader
* Spaceman
* Trouble Walkin'
* Unfinished Business

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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