KISS – Revenge [Japanese SHM-CD remastered]

One of you have asked our impression about the Japanese, high-fidelity SHM-CD format remastered version of “Revenge”, the underrated and killer KISS album originally released in 1992.
Well, this remaster sounds million bucks. It’s much, much deeper at the low midrange, the overall sonic spectrum is clearer and it possesses a great dynamic range.
Also, it’s being sold pretty cheap = a no brainer purchase.

“Revenge” is one of my favorite KISS albums.
The Bob Ezrin-produced record pulled the band out of the second creative slump of their career. In addition, Simmons & Co. also hired marketing consultants to find out what fans wanted from the group.
The result was probably the most mature album KISS ever did musically. Great guitar work by Bruce Kulick, pounding drums from talented Eric Singer, very good vocal arrangements / harmonies and solid songs.

For the first time in a decade, a Gene Simmons-sung track, the sinister and grooving “Unholy,” was chosen as a Kiss album’s first single. The band also abandoned any remaining traces of their glammed-up ’80s look, shifting instead to more traditional black leather jackets.
Most importantly, they delivered their most cohesive and heavy album since 1982’s Creatures of the Night.
Tightly-focused, riff-heavy and borderline metallic songs such as “Take It Off,” “Paralyzed” and the “Star-Spangled Banner”-referencing “Spit” proved Kiss were better off being themselves than trying to fit in with the times.

“Revenge” also marked the temporary return of guitarist Vinnie Vincent, but not as you might expect. Realizing his songwriting contributions on Creatures and the 1983 album Lick It Up were among the band’s recent highlights, Simmons and Paul Stanley collaborated with him (separately) on three of the album’s best tracks: “Unholy,” “Heart of Chrome” and third single “I Just Wanna.”
But Vincent and Kiss soon wound up angry at each other again…

The album is most notable for marking one of the most difficult personnel transitions in Kiss’s history. Drummer Eric Carr, who had been with the group for a decade, died shortly before the recording of “Revenge” after a battle with cancer.
Soldiering on with new drummer Eric Singer, Kiss dedicated the album to his memory and in tribute ended it with “Carr Jam 1981,” his only known studio-recorded drum solo.

Edgy, sharp, and full of energy, “Revenge” is the most pure Hard Rock album from KISS’ career, and perharps the best produced, with a clean polished yet powerful huge sound.
This SHM-CD takes advantage of the original masters and the sonic result is stupendous.
HIGHLY Recommended in your collection.

【SHM-CD】リヴェンジ / KISS
Universal Japan ~ [UICY-25374]

01 – Unholy
02 – Take It Off
03 – Tough Love
04 – Spit
05 – God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II
06 – Domino
07 – Heart Of Chrome
08 – Thou Shalt Not
09 – Every Time I Look At You
10 – Paralyzed
11 – I Just Wanna
12 – Carr Jam 1981

Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
Gene Simmons – bass, vocals (rhythm guitar on “Domino”)
Eric Carr – backing vocals, drums on “Carr Jam 1981”
Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals
Eric Singer – drums, backing vocals
Additional personnel:
Dick Wagner – guitar solo on “Every Time I Look at You”
Kevin Valentine – drums on “Take It Off”
Tommy Thayer – backing vocals
Jesse Damon – backing vocals

BUY IT
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-25374
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