KISS — Asylum (review)

KISS — Asylum album cover Album · 1985 · Glam Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
1/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
“Asylum” should be sent to the nearest asylum to cure insomniacs, it is so boring sounding like cheap copies of Bon Jovi. Kiss were a pale imitation of their glory years. It all went downhill from “Lick It Up” when the make up was removed, and the band sounded like they and no idea what they were doing, uninspired tepid releases like this almost killed them off indefinitely. This makes their debut sound like a masterpiece because at least that had attitude and showed some heart but the band did not seem to have their heart in it.

Simmons was too busy with his failed career and his worst contribution to a Kiss album is found on “Asylum”. ‘Secretly Cruel’ is appalling song writing, I had expected so much more from the demon. The highlight of the album is Bruce Kulick’s performance as he really lights up the tracks with scorching lead solos.

The sound is so predictable, just like all 80s soft metal bands of the time. There is more filler material here than ever before, ‘Love's a Deadly Weapon’, ‘I'm Alive’, and ‘Trial by Fire’ are the worst offenders. ‘Uh! All Night’ is an absolutely embarrassing tragedy, the worst of the 80s sound with the dumbest juvenile lyrics you will hear.

The one shining light is the single ‘Tears Are Falling’ which had a video that featured girls, feathers and spandex. Not a good look for a heavy rock band. Kiss had plunged headlong into glam all the way unashamedly, even Simmons looked like a powder puff. Paul wore ribbons and feathers and a dumb bandanana. What were they thinking?

The members of Kiss have ridden "Asylum" off as a catastrophe and rarely play any of it live for good reason. Any Way You Slice It this is an unmitigated disaster to throw into bargain bins for the unwary consumer.
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