KISS — Dynasty (review)

KISS — Dynasty album cover Album · 1979 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
2.5/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
The solo albums were over and Kiss could get back to reality and into the studios as a band again to record a new album, the eagerly awaited “Dynasty”. Disco fever had swept the nation with “Saturday Night Fever” and the Bee Gees and guess who followed in their footsteps; the hottest band in the world. The hit single for the band that many non fans still recognise as a chartbuster, was ‘I Was Made For Loving You’. It features a driving bass line and is unmistakeably disco-fied. Eve the drumming is a disco beat. On that note we can’t blame Peter Criss for this as he was not even on the album. Producer Poncia extradited Criss from the majority of the recording as his substance abuse was effecting his ability to drum. Criss sung one song, ‘Dirty Livin', but all the other tracks featured Anton Fig on drums.

Ace had a huge success with his solo album even charting a single so he was able to sing on threeof the songs on “Dynasty”. His best is ‘2000 Man’ a Rolling Stones cover, and better at that. He has a go with ‘Hard Times’ a real filler, and also ‘Save Your Love’ another dismal album closer for the group.

There were some excellent songs on this album that make up for some of this mediocrity. Simmons is terrific on ‘Charisma’ a definitive highlight with fun lyrics, “Is it my fortune or my fame, do I drive you insane...” Another great track is ‘Sure Know Something’ with a tender vocal from Paul and raucous chorus, a texture of light and dark rather than a straight rocker. The single did well on the charts making 5 in Australia. ‘I Was Made For Loving You’ hit number 1 in Australia so the album sales went through the roof in Australia sparking an Australian tour a few years later, where I had the privilege of seeing them live with new drummer Eric Carr.

The album is rather patchy but the singles gave it infamy. The band were certainly struggling to find a new sound and were losing their hard rock roots, they were getting softer and very commercial, everyone was beginning to like them, even teeny bopper girls. It was the beginning of the end. “Dynasty” is important as a transition point for the band but is a very flawed album due to the in-house problems of the band members.
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