2009 will be remembered by me as an unreal great year for Metal Music. I actually have not been this excited about Heavy Metal and all of it’s sub genres since probably the infamous 1980’s. Really, I have felt this way all year. This best of list encompasses all Heavy Metal genres, making for an all inclusive Metal bounty of greatness! These are the albums that stood out for me in 2009. It is never an easy task in compiling a list like this, I had to keep an open mind and many times… follow my Metal instincts. Certainly there are many Heavy Metal albums that are being passed over for this list, my intent is to list the best of what I listened to this past year, plus time and money was/is a factor. I hope you enjoy this list of Metal Odyssey’s 25 Best Heavy Metal Albums of 2009, these bands truly deserve a loud Metal applause for creating these albums… in my Metal opinion.
Be true to Metal and Metal will be true to you… Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Metal Odyssey!
#25 – IT’S A TIE!
SKELETONWITCH – BREATHING THE FIRE
Extreme Metal is the best way to describe Skeletonwitch. Yes, the Thrash Metal assault is constant throughout Breathing The Fire, only at the upmost maximum level. Chance Garnette on lead vocals provides both Death and Black Metal pipes, while further solidifying the Metal extremity of this band. I cannot resist songs such as Crushed Beyond Dust, Blinding Black Rage and Repulsive Salvation, these are songs that makes this album blister and burst with all things shockingly dark and… extreme again. My extreme praise for this album was posted on October 14, 2009, it’s all yours to read by clicking the header below:
JOB FOR A COWBOY – RUINATION
Another young and Metal eager band that brings it in the same extreme vain as Skeletonwitch is… Job For A Cowboy. Fitting that both bands released a hellishly great album in 2009. The parallels don’t just stop there… the key focus of both bands is playing very Extreme Metal. Jonny Davy of Job For A Cowboy has the vocals that were born for Extreme Metal. This Job For A Cowboy band tackles whatever issue is on their minds and don’t give a crap about commercial appeal. Thus, the tie for #25, too many similarities and extremities to have one band and their album leap frog the other, in my Metal opinion. Job For A Cowboy and Skeletonwitch… both Extreme Metal Bands that are forging their Metal legacy NOW. My July 9, 2009 post details my Metal reasons and applause on behalf of Job For A Cowboy and their album Ruination:
#24 – BARONESS – BLUE RECORD
I really enjoy this Baroness band, they are different… really a cool detour in the Metal road for me. Baroness entwines Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal and Psychedelic Hard Rock into a ball of unique Metal Music, that entertains me as equally as it engages my senses. A tip of the Metal hat to Baroness for being so eclectic with their styles. My favorite song is the instrumental that ends Blue Record… Bullhead’s Lament, it has a soothing affect on me. (Yes, I used the word soothing on Metal Odyssey). For some reason or another, I am gravitating to this band all the more with each listen and I am not fighting it.
#23 – NILE – THOSE WHOM THE GODS DETEST
Any Death Metal Band that scares the Metal crap out of me, while simultaneously schooling me on vocabulary and stories of Egypt… is a winner with me. All Metal kidding aside, (well, I was not really kidding there), Nile kicks it into Death Metal – extreme, on Those Whom The Gods Detest. I wouldn’t have expected anything less extreme from Nile in 2009. With some Middle Eastern crooning and musical stylings in the mix, how on Metal earth can your serious Metahead resist this band and album? I can’t… and couldn’t with this new album. Karl Sanders, (guitar and vocals) is as serious as they come in making exceptional Death Metal… as well as Dallas Toler Wade, (guitar, vocals, bass) and George Kollias, (drums and percussion).
#22 – IT’S A TIE!!
RAVAGE – THE END OF TOMORROW
Old School Heavy Metal from a band that could very well be playing the flavor of the month stuff. Ravage not only gives a nod to the sound and fury of Old School Heavy Metal, they play it with the upmost legitimacy. I seriously recommend this album to anyone who wants to hear what Metal Hammer magazine, (October 2009 issue), considers old ass… instead, Metal Odyssey feels Ravage and The End Of Tomorrow – kicks ass. On October 22, 2009, I blabbed in praise about this album… click below to see!
3 INCHES OF BLOOD – HERE WAITS THY DOOM
3 inches of blood is doing the Old School Heavy Metal gig too… and I’m jumping for Metal joy over it. Despite a change in the bands lineup, 3 inches of blood delivered an excellent album that resonates the glory days of uncommercial Metal. 3 inches of blood led a Metal charge of heavy and memorable songs on Here Waits Thy Doom. Cam Pipes on vocals is searingly unreal. Preacher’s Daughter is my standout song on this album, it gives me a Metal grin that stays on my face for hours.
* A METAL ODYSSEY NOTE… THERE ARE NO MORE TIES IN MY TOP 25 LIST!
#21 – HAMMERFALL – NO SACRIFICE, NO VICTORY
There is no doubt in my mind that Hammerfall respects the true spirit of Heavy Metal… I hear it on No Sacrifice, No Victory. This album exhibits why Power Metal is a musical force to reckon with. The cover of The Knack’s My Sharona, is an unreal listen in cover song excellence. A very good album of songs, one I won’t put aside anytime soon. On June 20, 2009, I told the planet just how much I like this Hammerfall album. You are one click away below, to reading all about it:
#20 – EDGUY – TINNITUS SANCTUS
I wrote on this very blog that this album to me, would be the very best Power Metal album of 2009. Well, I really have not strayed from that Metal thought. Tobias Sammet and his band get all the Metal accolades from me for Tinnitus Sanctus. Edguy in my Metal opinion, has to be the most underrated Heavy Metal band in the United States, releasing the most underrated Heavy Metal album of 2009. If you feel like it, you can read a more detailed review I wrote by clicking: EDGUY – TINNITUS SANCTUS
#19 – QUEENSRYCHE – AMERICAN SOLDIER
Alert! A Heavy Metal band created a patriotic album! Run to the politically correct hills! I love this album from Queensryche, it is rich with patriotism and (gasp), songs with deep meaning. American Soldier hit home with me upon my very first listen… it will always be a favorite of mine. You are not getting Jet City Woman on American Soldier, instead you are getting a (gasp), tribute to the men and women who protect the United States of America and practically the rest of the whole world too. I give a huge Metal salute to Queensryche for creating this fabulous album. On April 3, 2009, I posted a more meaty review of this album… click below to check it out, (only if you want to):
#18 – HEAVEN & HELL – THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
From everything I have read this past year, you either love this Heaven & Hell album or you hate it. I love it. Without these guys what would Heavy Metal be like today? I am not giving out free passes based on Metal sentiment… The Devil You Know really is a heavy hitter – for my Metal senses. On April 30, 2009, I boasted very loudly about how much I love this Heaven & Hell album. It is a click away below:
#17 – IMMORTAL – ALL SHALL FALL
In a year of Metal comebacks, Immortal is standout. The legend of Immortal continues through 2009 and beyond with the release – All Shall Fall. All seven songs are of equal importance, a total Black Metal achievement. The Rise Of Darkness and Norden On Fire may be my favorite songs, in reality however… every song is a Black scorcher. Be it speed, hard, heavy or the combintion of the three, add darkness to the mix and it is all relative. A Black Metal album to seek out if you haven’t already.
#16 – KISS – SONIC BOOM
That’s right… KISS. They made a monstrous comeback, in my Metal opinion, with Sonic Boom. I had quite the experience in getting my hands on Sonic Boom on it’s release date, yet that is another story I blogged about a couple of times already. Never Enough is my favorite song and every song is memorable. The companion CD – KISS Klassics is an unreal listen in Kisstory. I feel it was a justifiable move to reinvent these great KISS songs from years ago. This is KISS 2009 and Sonic Boom is a reflection of KISS’s glory days. I predict I will never tire of this album… never.
#15 – STRYPER – MURDER BY PRIDE
Stryper set the standard for Christian Heavy Metal decades ago. Stryper has set the bar even higher with Murder By Pride. Just a fantastic, melodic, Heavy Metal album of quality songs. My two top favorite songs are Run In You and the cover song of the Classic Rock gem from Boston… Piece of Mind, (which also features Boston legend Tom Scholz). I am pleased to have gotten my ears into this Stryper album, fellow Metalheads… this one is a keeper.
#14 – CANNIBAL CORPSE – EVISCERATION PLAGUE
Now, this is my cup o’ Metal tea. Cannibal Corpse. Heavy duty – Death Metal. This album does not find Cannibal Corpse straying off the extreme path of deathly, brutal Metal they are so famous for. Nope. Cannibal Corpse made sure that their fans brains get the maximum shock and awe that we so crave from this legendary Death Metal band. A sheer Death Metal delight all the way through. Metal Odyssey hereby dedicates this album to the PMRC. For a more defined review I wrote on Evisceration Plague, click here: CANNIBAL CORPSE – EVISCERATION PLAGUE
#13 – SACRED OATH – SACRED OATH
Sacred Oath is not a stranger to the world of Heavy Metal. This Old School Heavy Metal Band has proven that great Metal things come to those who persevere and… wait. I like this album so much, I found myself pumping my fists into the air and jumping up and down upon my first listen… (now I am embarrassed). Nonetheless, just being able to bang my head to this amazing album of Traditional Heavy Metal and slap it into my top 25 list is – enough to make me grin fiendishly. From beginning to end, Rob Thorne on vocals and the rest of this ultra talented group makes me think… why couldn’t you have made an album every year for the last 20 years? Hey, I’ll accept whatever Sacred Oath has accomplished and be thankful for it. Very expensive Connecticut should consider erecting a Sacred Oath visitors bureau… and realize what real talent does exist in their state.
#12 – MARILYN MANSON – HIGH END OF LOW
Marilyn Manson. Just as Alice Cooper and Blackie Lawless before him have done, it’s all about theatre and Metal. I don’t give a rats butt about gossip or what celebrities do on the side. All I give a crap about is the music… the Metal. Marilyn Manson is Metal, a very unique brand too. In his very own splendid way, Marilyn Manson is a Metal genius. (I just used the word splendid on Metal Odyssey). To use the language that is most cliche and street… this album F’n Rocks. Why the heck should I beat around the Metal bush? Arma-godd**n-motherf**kin-geddon is my Metal song of 2009. Metal hands down, the best damn Metal song of the year. I’m not kidding around… High End Of Low is fabulous. This album is the beginning of my must own list.
#11 – OBITUARY – DARKEST DAY
Oh, how I love quality Death Metal. Especially when the quality is derived from a group, that is instrumental in putting Death Metal on the damn map to begin with. I felt just a couple of months ago, that Darkest Day from Obituary would be my #1 album of the year… it is that Death Groove laden great. Man, I can listen to Darkest Day repeatedly and still want more. Metal truth be told, this is a Death Metal album that without doubt in my mind, should convert non Death Metal fans into this realm. If you have the Metal time, take a gander at my detailed review I posted about Darkest Day, from September 9, 2009:
#10 – ACE FREHLEY – ANOMALY
How can I not embrace the comeback of Ace Frehley? A Rock legend this phenomenal couldn’t stay away forever. Especially when his comeback is an album so incredibly great as Anomaly. The cover song of Fox On The Run, made infamous by Sweet, just resonates with Old School… as does this entire album. I cannot find a song on Anomaly that I don’t like. Today’s younger bands should listen to Anomaly and learn about the roots of Heavy Metal. Space Ace definitely made a return to form in 2009. On September 24, 2009, I blogged loud and proud about this Ace Frehley comeback album, click the link below to read on if you like:
#9 – KREATOR – HORDES OF CHAOS
I have said it numerous times that 2009 was an amazing year for Metal Music, with so many of my favorite core bands not just releasing albums… releasing GREAT albums. Kreator was no exception, with Hordes Of Chaos. Thrash Metal that is raw, Old School and straight up. There were no fancy recording tricks done on Hordes Of Chaos… instead this album was created with the purpose of it being performed live. Very Hard, fast, lean and mean is Hordes Of Chaos. I can go on for hours about how enormously great this album is… instead I will stop myself here by adding… GET THIS ALBUM! Yes, you can certainly read my more detailed review I did back on March 14, 2009 – just click below please.
#8 – SHADOWS FALL – RETRIBUTION
I have one word to start off with, whoa. Shadows Fall has already made a dent in the world of Metal Music, now they are into bigger dents. Retribution is an all-out Thrash Metal attack. I did not anticipate such a powerful and full-on Thrash assault, such as this, from Retribution. Just when I thought Kreator was going to be hard to top in the Thrash Metal category, Shadows Fall decided to embark on a new album of their own in 2009… and it is worth every stinking, germ laced, copper penny I paid for it. You betcha I blabbed Metal praise for Retribution, did so on September 16, 2009:
#7 – MASTODON – CRACK THE SKYE
What Mastodon has accomplished with Crack The Skye is achieving harmony with Metal, progressiveness and psychedelia. These three ingredients are what makes Crack The Skye so damn Metal satisfying. Honestly, as with any progressive band in Metal, it will take me numerous more listens to hear every minute, musical detail that is happening. Oh drat, that means I will have to keep on listening to this unreal great album again and again. On May 6, 2009, I told the universe about what a cool Metal journey it was for me, listening to Crack The Skye:
#6 – DREAM THEATER – BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS
I marvel at the musicianship of Dream Theater. This is a Progressive Metal Band that just seems to hit the right spots within my Metal soul. Black Clouds & Silver Linings is so unbelievably layered musically, with lyrical content that is emotional hardness, touching on the human spirit and overcoming pain. Yes, a deep album, only it is a gem of a Progressive Metal album. My standout song for 2009 is Wither, the rest of the songs on this album are worth their weight in platinum. I did let the Metal community know my feelings on this album, on July 16, 2009:
#5 – LAMB OF GOD – WRATH
From the opening instrumental of The Passing to the last song, Reclamation, this is as complete a Thrash Metal album as you will hear. It’s always about the songs… great ones to be heard on Wrath. Lamb of God’s strengths is in carving out their own identifiable sound, (musically and vocally) and their astounding musicianship. Wrath is an album that signifies just how great Lamb of God has become as a unified band. Once again, there are no scraps or shavings in the mix on Wrath… just damn excellent Thrash Metal songs. July 30, 2009, was the day I posted my detailed review for Wrath:
#4 – ALICE IN CHAINS – BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE
I won’t argue with anyone who puts Black Gives Way To Blue at #1 for their year end list. When an album rivets me and takes me over the way this album does, a permanent bond takes place between myself and the songs. Alice In Chains have shown an amazing testament of pride, talent and the will to carry on that has driven this band to create such a brilliant album of songs. Vocalist/rhythm guitarist William DuVall has his presence heard on this album, with the seamless transition into a new era of Alice In Chains… a Metal bravo. Jerry Cantrell, (guitarist), can take a bow and lament in any and all the glory that this band derives from this albums success. Rightfully as well should Sean Kinney, (drums) and Mike Inez, (bass guitarist). What? A favorite song from this album? Forget it… it’s all eleven of them. THIS IS AN ALBUM.
#3 – MEGADETH – ENDGAME
Yes, Endgame is a great Thrash Metal album… from a great Thrash Metal Band. Legend status does not seem to corner Dave Mustaine as of late, as the songs on Endgame are as fiery and heavy as any past and great album from Megadeth. To understand the longevity of Megadeth is to listen to Endgame… there is a vast supply of original Metal ideas in the mind of Dave Mustaine. Thrash Metal is thriving today, due in part to the contributions that Dave Mustaine and Megadeth have given to this genre over the decades. This is not a Thrash Metal album being touted by a Thrash Metal fanatic… Endgame is as legit as it gets when it comes to Metal – period. September 20, 2009, was the day I raved about Endgame:
#2 – SLAYER – WORLD PAINTED BLOOD
In my original review I posted on Metal Odyssey, regarding Slayer – World Painted Blood, (on December 7, 2009), I basically stated there really isn’t anything to breakdown here. I am sticking to that Metal sentiment. Why should I get all fussy and serious about a Slayer album? Slayer epitomizes what METAL is supposed to be about… brutal, raw, hard, heavy, fast, extreme and at times very pissed off. That is World Painted Blood in a Metal nutshell. O.k., throw in that Slayer really did go back to basics with the Old School sound and production… and that only made this Slayer album that much more METAL LETHAL. If you don’t own this Slayer album by now, you must make a new years commitment to go out and get it… and listen to it over and over again. F’n Slayer Rules. To read my initial review, (if that’s what you call it), on World Painted Blood, click below at your own Metal convenience:
#1 – W.A.S.P. – BABYLON
THIS IS MY #1 HEAVY METAL ALBUM OF 2009! So let it be Metal written, so let it be Metal known. The songs, man it’s the songs on Babylon. From Crazy to Promised Land and every song in between… this album scorches with all the fantastic elements of Old School Heavy Metal – wrought with the fire of today’s Heavy Metal sound. Blackie Lawless has never sounded more focused and determined vocally. Babylon could be interpreted as a partial concept album… I will take the high Metal road and steer away from the concept mentality. The cover songs of Burn and Promised Land are like two sticks of Heavy Metal dynamite. Since my very first listen to Babylon, I knew… this is THE ONE for 2009. The total Metal impact this Babylon album has had on me is beyond incredible. Babylon is an all encompassing, psyche-out the senses party – of a Heavy Metal experience. Thank you, Blackie Lawless for making this Babylon album. I also thank my best Metal buddy Scott for steering me in the right W.A.S.P. direction, more times than I can remember. I posted my Metal jubilation for this W.A.S.P. album on November 10, 11, 14 of 2009. Below is from November 10th:
Thank you for visiting Metal Odyssey and my Top 25 Heavy Metal Albums Of 2009 List! Yes, the list can be considered a tad detailed… I love Heavy Metal, I cannot help myself. Do yourself a Metal favor and check out the other great Hard Rock/Heavy Metal blogs below for their Best Of 2009 lists as well… you should find it interesting to see what other Music Bloggers consider great albums, plus it’s good fun.
Heavy Metal Addiction – http://heavymetaladdiction.com/
All Metal Resource – http://allmetalresource.com/
Bring Back Glam – http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/
Hair Metal Mansion – http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/
Hard Rock Hideout – http://hardrockhideout.com/
Heavy Metal Time Machine – http://metalmark.blogspot.com/
Imagine Echoes – http://www.imagineechoes.com/
Layla’s Classic Rock – http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/
Metal Excess – http://metalexcess.com/
The Metal Minute – http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/
Rock Of Ages – http://rockofages.wordpress.com/
The Ripple Effect – http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/
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I am a KISS fan, ever since I first heard Strutter, back when I was in sixth grade, (around 1978). With that in mind, here is my KISS collectible story: Sometime back in the late ’80’s, I paid a visit to a store called Coins and Collectibles. This is the store where I made one of the best trades in my entire Metal life… the trade was for an unopened box of KISS wax packs, (dated 1978). This cool and very untidy store was full of treasures, ranging from sports cards to coins and just about anything else in-between. The proprietor of Coins and Collectibles was a swell guy named Jeff, he was very friendly and had a remarkable gift to gab… about anything. (I gravitate towards anyone who wants to gab about anything it seems… except for gossip, I can’t stomach gossip). Oh yeah… back to the real story. Used records were always around his store too… so Jeff and I would have many conversations about Classic Rock Bands… Grand Funk Railroad, The Doors, Uriah Heep, Nazareth and yes… KISS. When I first caught a glimpse of this unopened box of KISS wax packs in Jeff’s store, man, I was shaking. These were the KISS cards that I could never get my hands on when I was a kid back in ’78… they were either not in stock at the corner market or my parents were too broke to buy them for me.
Jeff accepted this unopened wax box of baseball cards with glee in his eyes. I accepted the KISS wax box with Metal glee in my eyes. Done deal. Jeff later sold this wax box of baseball cards for profit in his store and I never parted with this box of KISS wax packs to this very day. I made out on this deal too… I have seen this box of KISS wax packs selling for twice as much as the initial $75 asking price over the years. Honestly, value aside, I’m just happy to still have this piece of KISSTORY in my collection. My wife took a picture of what this box of KISS trading cards/wax packs looks like with her iphone… she has easily become the Metal Odyssey staff photographer, (as well as graphic design consultant too). I truly appreciate any and all of the consultation she provides with my blog. Uh, yes, she is into Metal too… thank goodness. Here is the KISS wax box, note that I have kept it in a thick, plastic, see through bag over the years for its own protection.
Ace Frehley has waited a long time to create and produce a new album, Anomaly is so incredibly worth the wait. I finally bought Anomaly today, (September 23, ’09, yeah, I am a week late from it’s release date), what an album of 12 songs. An unreal good album, a can’t miss for any fan of any Rock genre. I cannot stop listening to this new Ace Frehley album, oh darn. Anomaly for me, is one of those albums that I get contagious about and addicted to… oh darn. Before buying this album, I had not a clue as to what any of the songs sounded like. Man, what an incredible surprise to hear these songs for the first time… this album leans more towards Ace Frehley’s 1978 KISS solo album – not towards the sound of his Frehley’s Comet band from the late 1980’s. The Metal kicker is this… Anomaly rocks harder and heavier than the Ace Frehley 1978 KISS solo album, my ears cannot tell a lie. Where Anomaly gives a nod to 1978 is this: Old School Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. With that being said, Anomaly definitely embodies the grooves and heaviness of today’s Heavy Metal sound, while veering away from any resemblance of late 1980’s commercial heavy sound that was so popular in it’s day.
As I listen to Ace Frehley play guitar throughout Anomaly, all I can say to those who want to listen is this – Ace Frehley is back!! Ace Frehley shall remind the Rock and Roll world with all of it’s genres that yes, he can play guitar very well… and sing too. Ace Frehley’s vocals do not sound like a man who has been out of the recording studio for so many years, instead, it is my Metal opinion that Ace Frehley’s vocals are damn good and cool. Just listening to Anomaly takes me back to the days when quality songs were an important staple to Hard Rock and Heavy Metal bands. A sense of urgency to be real, is what I hear through the entirety of Anomaly, Ace Frehley has fused his very own Hard Rock and Heavy Metal sound with a nod to yesteryear, making Anomaly an album that far extends any relevance factor. From the song writing to the band backing up Ace Frehley here, this is a total album package. Ace Frehley has plenty of cool and damn good solo’s throughout this entire album, one of the many quality points of Anomaly.
KISS. I have the fever… it is the addiction to this enormous American Heavy Metal juggernaut that hooked me back in grammar school… the (gulp), 1970’s that is. Over this past Summer of 2009, (actually it goes back to last Winter too), I have ultra consistently listened to the KISS album “Unmasked”… after each listen I am a better Metalhead for it. Unmasked was released back on May 20, 1980, right before I embarked on my High School years. By now, for anyone who reads my stuff regularly, may be tired of my mentioning that I owned 8 track tapes… still, I need to tell the world that I owned Unmasked on 8 track, thank you all for understanding. The memories that get stirred up inside my Metal mind, each time I listen to Unmasked are good ones… the Summer of 1980… going to the UCONN Basketball Camp, collecting odd and evil looking spiders in my backyard and having no worries in the world other than entering a new teenage chapter in my life.
Ace Frehley will always be my choice pick for the guitarist of Kiss. Ace Frehley was the original guitarist and in my Metal opinion, the best at lead guitar for Kiss. I few posts ago, I stated that my favorite Kiss solo album of all time is Paul Stanley. I cannot backtrack that sentiment, the Paul Stanley album is for me, #1. With that said, out of the four Kiss solo albums, Ace Frehley is clearly my #2 choice. My fellow peer in Metal blogs over at The Metal Files, (a cool Metal Music blog that is worth the visits), commented his favorite Kiss solo album is Ace Frehley… this spurred me into delving into the Ace Frehley solo album once again. I do own the Ace Frehley solo album, (released on September 18, 1978), a record that has been with me for decades. I actually bought this Ace Frehley vinyl from a cut-out bin, from a small department store named Woolworths, back in the very early 1980’s. My Ace Frehley album has the top right corner actually cut off, therefore, that is probably why it was in a cut-out bin! Despite the cosmetic damage that this album cover suffered, the album itself and the large fold-out poster of Ace Frehley that was included with the album, never sustained damage from the cut-out process. (Each Kiss solo album had a large fold-out poster of the respective Kiss musician inside the album sleeve, with each of the four posters interlocking together, through die cuts, to form one giant Kiss collage, if you will).
I am a lifelong Kiss fan, guilty of admiring a Heavy Metal band that has influenced the genre of Metal both musically, theatrically and of course… commercially. Out of the entire Kiss catalog of Heavy Metal, there has to be my favorite album of all time… my choice of favorite Kiss album seems to change yearly. (Oh well, that is my Metal dilemma I have to live with). As of today, Sunday, July 26, 2009, my favorite Kiss album of all time is “Creatures Of The Night”, (released in 1982). This Kiss album came out after “The Elder” album, making for quite the triumphant, Heavy Metal return. When I first heard the song “I Love It Loud”, man, was I ever psyched out of my Metal mind! I was serving time in High School when this album released, having this Kiss song to play loud back then was true innocent rebellion. Playing this song and the entire “Creatures Of The Night” album loud today, well, is just because I want to and can. (No more rebellion is left in my system… I think). 
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
Why I feel KISS gave Rock n’ Roll back to America and other KISS points too
Posted in 1970's classic rock albums, 1970's classic rock bands, 1970's classic rock songs, 1970's hard rock bands, 1970's hard rock, 1970's heavy metal, 1970's heavy metal albums, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's Rock, 1970's rock music, 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's classic rock, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, classic hard rock, classic hard rock bands, classic hard rock music, classic heavy metal albums, classic rock, classic rock albums, classic rock bands, classic rock music, classic rock songs, current heavy metal music, essential classic rock albums, essential heavy metal albums, Gene Simmons, glam metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands this decade, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal this decade, Metal, metal music, metal music today, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, Rock, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock and roll hall of fame complaints, rock music, rock music commentary, vintage hard rock albums, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage heavy metal bands with tags 1970's classic rock music, 1970's hard rock music, 1970's heavy metal music, 1970's rock music, 1980's heavy metal bands, ace frehley guitarist, american rock and roll bands, bruce kulick guitarist, classic heavy metal music, classic rock, classic rock music, eric carr drummer, eric singer drummer, gene simmons bass guitarist, Heavy Metal, heavy metal music, history of rock and roll, kiss albums, kiss army, kiss hard rock band, kiss heavy metal band, kiss rock band, mark st. john guitarist, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, paul stanley guitarist, peter criss drummer, rock and roll hall of fame, rock and roll history, rock and roll music roots, rock music, rock n' roll music, roots of rock and roll, the british invasion of rock and roll, tommy thayer guitarist, vinnie vincent guitarist on August 28, 2009 by Metal OdysseyKiss being introduced to the world in 1974 may have had more of an impact than some Rock historians think… The Grateful Dead, with their extremely loyal and abundant following with unmatched touring was American – I will never disagree with this bands unique impact on Rock Music history. However, Kiss was not about peace and love… this was the loudest band in the land Dressed To kill, singing about girls that are Hotter Than Hell, partying, Makin’ Love, God of Thunder, a Love Gun and all things against the norm in ways that were not quite presented before in Rock Music history. What Rock Band from the 1960’s used Pyrotechnics like Kiss? How many Rock musicians could spit up blood and still play the bass and sing? Who used such an elaborate and eye defying stage show before Kiss? Kiss not only made Rock n’ Roll powerful, they (gasp) made it fun and entertaining too. The marketing blitz of items that portrayed the Kiss logo and band were everywhere during the 1970’s… if you look around today, these same items plus new products bearing Kiss are around us. Any Kiss tour during the 1970’s was nothing to ignore, the Kiss Army was never just a fictitious entity… it was and still is real.
After Kiss broke all the Rock n’ Roll rules, more Rock bands than I could ever mention here took their lead and emulated Kiss either musically, with make-up, through stage shows and/or marketing. When I stop to think about it, what other Rock or Heavy Metal Band garnered more media attention during the 1970’s than Kiss? With their all around power of Rock, Kiss let it be known, through their albums, that they were not fooling themselves or the fans all along. Kiss is setting the stage again, ready to unleash their brand new album Sonic Boom onto the masses… October of 2009 should be quite the month in the life of this middle aged Metalhead, for Kiss shall return… giving back their brand of Rock n’ Roll to us all again. That is why, in my Metal opinion, Kiss gave back Rock n’ Roll to America back in 1974, they are now only going to remind us as to why their music lives on.
It is high time for the so called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, to stop playing nonsensical games and induct an American Rock Band that redefined American Rock n’ Roll history through their music and pop culture impact, Kiss over the decades has become an American institution. Since I am on the topic, I could care less about the voting process or who votes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, all I know is that the ignorance is growing by leaps and bounds over there in each passing year of it’s existence. I do have one word of advice for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (if you can consider this an actual word), DUH? I would guarantee this… more fans will go to this Hall of Fame to see Kiss than than anyone could ever imagine. Once again, this is my Metal opinion and I am steadfast about it.
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