Release Date: Oct 10, 1982
Genre: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Label: Casablanca
Number Of Tracks: 9
By 1982's "Creatures Of The Night", KISS had finally ditched their plans of becoming "respectable artists" and had come to the realization that they were a loud, no-holds-barred heavy metal band.
Creatures Of The Night
Reviewed by:
Firehawk2410, on december 12, 2012 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: This is probably the most underrated KISS album, and one of the most underrated rock albums overall. The reason is most likely because Ace Frehley didn't actually play on it, and because it was the third without Peter Criss. But don't leave yet, because it has something we don't usually get on a KISS album: Hard rock and metal on every track. Word of warning though, if you hate 80's hair metal to death, don't buy it, because "Creatures" is a straight-up hair metal album. But even though KISS had to rely on a handful of different session musicians, the sound is thunderous and the solos are face-melting as a good KISS has, except times ten. When you hear the first riff you'll think you got a mislabeled CD, but fear not, it is KISS, but just going farther than they've ever gone before in the heaviness department (which is probably a result of the exceptional drumming talents of Eric Carr). // 10
Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are typical of KISS album; they aren't very deep, and there are probably innuendos in there somewhere that I haven't caught yet. But they work and they're catchy as usual, especially on the track "I Love It Loud" which has become a popular KISS song over the years. Paul Stanley is as great a singer as ever, and Gene Simmons sings the lower-keyed tracks with passion. However, it seems that just when Ace Frehley got enough guts to let us hear his voice, he took his Alice Cooper-esque vocal talents away from KISS along with his even more famous guitar skills, and there is a definite hole in this album where the Spaceman's songwriting should be. // 9
Impression: This is probably one of the top 5 best KISS albums to date, and probably my personal favorite. The title track "Creatures Of The Night" is a superb full-throttle rocker. "Keep Me Coming" has a hint of KISS' pop and rock 'n roll history embedded while "Rock And Roll Hell" and "War Machine" are head-banging metal anthems. "Saint And Sinner" captures the trademark hard rock sound we've come to love from KISS. The least impressive song is the power ballad "I Still Love You" which lasts a long 6 minutes... Far more than it needs. Also, the archetypal 80's guitar sound takes a little getting used to on a KISS album. Even if you're the most hardcore Ace Frehley fan you'll find something to like here. This album shows how good KISS really are despite the setbacks of members leaving. Give this album a try, even if you haven't heard much about it before. I love it so much I listened to it three times in one day.
Creatures Of The Night
Reviewed by:
Page/Rhoads, on december 22, 2007 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: This album is a great rock classic that was lost in time. Kiss sounds great with Eric Carr on the drums and Vinnie Vincent actually does a good job on guitar. This is a very great Kiss album that displays the songwriting talents they possess. It is a straight foward rock album but also includes a ballad or two. It's also the last album they made before removing their makeup. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Gene and Paul do a great job as usual. The lyrics are based on sex, love, and rock and roll. They use the right singer in the right songs. Gene sings the lower key songs, while Paul sings the higher and more difficult stuff. The lyrics for I Still Love You are very moving. The main focus of the words for the album are all about power and rock. // 9
Impression: This is one of my favorite Kiss albums. Even though both Ace and Peter are gone, it's still great. Eric Carr (RIP) is one of the greatest drummers of all time, and Vinnie Vincent, well, he does good. The best songs are Creatures of the Night, I Still Love You, War Machine, and Rock and Roll Hell. It's a great rock album that shows why there are still so many members of the Kiss Army. If it were stolen, someone would get hurt. Bad. // 9
It's great a album. Vinnie only played on a few songs. He toured with them but all kinds of guitarists played on the album like Adam Mitchell and Bob (Bruce's brother) Kulick.
This is my favorite KISS album. Period. I know Ace and Peter were gone but who cares. Since I am a card carrying member of the KISS Army I got my rights! This is their heaviest album. I read Paul said he thought it better than Lick It Up. Every song on it blows me away still. Great review.
I don't see why comments like "if it were stolen, someone would get hurt. Bad." are necessary. You are writing a review, not a hate column.
when writing a review, it asks the question of what you would do if it was stolen. settle down.
I don't think it's necessary to answer that question, especially when you usually copy the songs to your PC. So there's really no need to buy another one, unless it's an LP. But CD... Just digital stuff. It's almost the same if you have them on your computer or on the CD. Though it's cool if you have a good collection of CDs. But still, no CD is that important to me that I would buy it again if it were lost or stolen.
Great review Firehawk. For me it is the 2nd best Kiss album (Revenge being the first one) but it is kinda weird since I love Ace and their early stuff. And also solo from Saint and Sinner, amazing work and it is done by some hired-gun.
Thanks a bunch! This only my second review, but hopefully I'll get around to most of their albums soon. And I'm in the same boat as you. I love Ace a lot (he's just amazing) but I found myself in love with this album even though Ace doesn't play on it. KISS seems to always be able to find the right people at the right time. And by the way, Vinnie Vincent actually plays on Saint and Sinner. I'm sorry I didn't go into detail with the session artists because it may have been too long.
Great album and Revenge also Carnival of Souls are underrated b/c most people believe that Kiss is or was just a live show without substance (meaning writing good to great songs). Destroyer is still my fav. but the above 3 to me are very strong.
This is NOT an 80's hair metal album....though they would migrate towards that style later in the decade. But Creatures is just a straight up metal/hard rock record. When this one was released...the styled hadn't really defined itself yet. But this is a great album anyway. I am a HUGE KISS fan and this one ranks in the top 5 for me.
I was afraid someone would say this, but it's kind of subjective when you try to define a whole album as one genre. And just because there is no name for a genre/subgenre yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It is hard rock and metal, but it's different than the hard rock from the 70's made famous by KISS and other bands like Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin, and it's not the same metal that Black Sabbath played. I think Creatures is comparable in sound to bands like Motley Crue who were also considered hair metal. That's just my opinion.
You know...I don't disagree with you completely. I can see the points that you make. I've just never considered this album to be "hair metal". But...I do see how you can compare it to music that Motley did. So....you make a good point. Maybe it's just that I bought it when it came out and the genre was several years away. So my memories of the album are rooted more so in the VERY early 80s. And I was about 12 at the time. Anyway...I understand your points.
Yeah I get where you're coming from. Most of the stuff I listen to (like this album) was made before my birth, and so everything I listen to already has set labels attached to it as to what genre(s) it represents.
