Sonic Boom is the first KISS studio album in 11 years.  The last studio album, Psycho Circus, featured the original KISS lineup of Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, and Paul Stanley.  Criss and Frehley are gone again.  Wearing the Catman makeup is Eric Singer, who was acive with KISS in the Mid nineties.  Donning the Spaceman garb is Tommy Thayer.  Criss left due to declining health and Frehley got pissed about opening for Aerosmith saying that KISS should never open for anyone.

Thayer replaced Frehley in 2003 and has received mixed reviews on imitating Ace.  Some fans are whining that Thayer is nothing more than a Frehley clone as he is copying solos note-for-note.  But let’s face it, if Thayer was doing original solos, there would be a much larger outcry for his lack of respect. 

The Tommy Thayer imitating continues on Sonic Boom.  Thayer’s solos are definitely Frehley inspired and unoriginal.  Again, what KISS is shooting for with Sonic Boom is a return to their trademark sound, so is Thayer and the band doing the wrong thing?  I feel it HAS TO be this way.  Poor Vinnie Vincent can tell you all about being original on a KISS studio album as he was run out of town for his efforts on Lick It Up.

On “Russian Roulette”, Thayer’s solo sounds nearly identical to Frehley’s in “Rock & Roll All Nite”.

Paul Stanley produced Sonic Boom and proves he still has the pipes on “Modern Day Delilah”.  Gene Simmons does his usual egotistical sex-driven tune on this album as well with “Nobody’s Perfect” with a lyric after the refrain of ‘but baby, I’m close’.

The Sonic Boom package, exclusive to Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, also includes a bonus disc of older KISS classics re-recorded by the current lineup.  “Heaven’s On Fire” never sounded better than it does on the extra disc.  The package also includes a bonus DVD of concert footage from an appearance in Argentina in 2009.

Overall, the Sonic Boom package offers great value.  You get a new KISS studio album, a partial greatest hits remake by the current lineup, and a short DVD.  The band is supporting the package with their Alive 35 tour coming soon to a city near you.

I give the effort an A- rating.

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