KISS - KISS (1974)

In my opinion one of the most overrated bands in the history of heavy rock, they gain inclusion here, in several instances for their effect they had on young metal fans in the '70s despite the fact their music lacking the quality of other bands such as Zeppelin, Sabbath before them as well as AC/DC and the likes around the same time.
Kiss remain an image, their musical prowess something of an non-entity since the early days, here is a band who, without the make-up, seem stripped of their integrity, because in reality they are nothing more than a stage show, which is all well and good in the metal world, but when the tunes lack that necessary bite, for me, Kiss are hollow.
'Cold Gin' stands out on this debut opus, but when you've had T-Rex, Slade, Sweet and Bowie before it, here is a band that despite the image, are nothing more than frail party rock with no depth. 'Strutter' lumbers by, 'Deuce', a Kiss classic for some devotee's swaggers without effect and the album is over, leaving the listener possibly enveloped by the sleeve appeal of four guys smothered in glam rock attire, but bereft of any real satisfaction. This album gains entry for nostalgia purposes only, which can be said for a majority of the bands releases. And things didn't get much better from here on, except the record sales!
5.5/10