By: Anders

Posted: Dec 6, 2005

I don't think it is a big secret that the fan base for Kiss is quite big in Norway, they have their Kiss Army fanclub, which is raising a lot of Kiss carnage, and the latest effort to hail the legends is this compilation, featuring 20 more and less known Norwegian bands and artists paying tribute to Kiss.

A good blend of known hits and some of the more obscure Kiss tracks are on this album, though the known tracks are in the lead, naturally. Of performances can be mentioned the TNT legends Ronnie Le Tekro and Tony Harnell doing 'Detroit Rock City', WigWam known from the Eurovision song contest, featuring ex-Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick, delivering 'I Was Made For Loving You', Espen Lind who delivers a very soft and heartfelt, though interesting version of 'Crazy Crazy Nights'. Stage Dolls do a good version of 'Beth', that one has become one of my favourites, the quite hot girls in The Kissettes rocks 'I Just Wanna'. Ulver has fired up the guitars again, even though they are quite subtle in their good take on 'Strange Ways'. Span does 'Parasite' good as well. 'The Magic Kiss Medley' is okay as well, though I could have used more of 'Cold Gin', either the whole song or more of the chorus, instead of just the start.

This album is more or less directed towards Norway, strangely enough. Many of the bands are not known outside the country and that does it in some way make it quite hard to relate to them. Though most knows the great songs displayed on the album, and most Kiss fans should find this release interesting, and fun to hear the different renditions of the tracks, by the known and less known bands. A good idea and feature the Kiss Army in Norway has come up with! It is pretty sweet that the maker of the cover artwork for "Destroyer" and "Love Gun" Ken Kelly has made the great and atmospheric artwork for this release, displaying the 4 warriors as Vikings on a longship.

Rating: 7/10

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