KISS, 'Hell Or Hallelujah' -- Lyric Video

Happy Independence Day, Americans. Enjoy your middle-of-the-week vacation day.

The lyric video for the new KISS song "Hell Or Hallelujah" is here! I think it sounds very old school KISS. This isn't the best KISS song of all time, but it's definitely promising. KISS will release Monster on October 16. "Hell Or Hallelujah" is the first single from that record.

Comments

[Jimbo]

I like it "Pay Now" Gene musta wrote that and I think that may be a intentional dig at Ace and Peter during the solo album scenes,,'No lies no Fakin' over Aces face 'Goodbye.Feels like it should' over Peter's??.? Hmmmmm

[Derrick]

Good tune. It feels a bit rushed, like those live versions of tunes in the 80s. But the chorus is catchy, and I like the guitar solo.

Good work from the guys. Hopefully the album is a keeper. I didn't hear Sonic Boom, so I don't know how they sound right now.

[Metalboy!]

Best thing they've ever done since "Revenge".

And though it's just a "Lyric Vedeo", it's visually a hip-retro take on the genre -- with a Hi-Lo, trashy but slick yet low-budget feel. Kinda harkens back to primitive early 70's promos.

And it shows again how the whole make-up thing is pure genius. As brutal as it is, Simmons owns the rights to all of those images like the airbrushed solo album art so why not capitalize on it to get across the notion that the new album ROCKS as good s the old stuff.

I actually think the song is intentionally rawer, raunchier and not as overproduced as most of their stuff with a sound that's closer to "Cold Gin" era KISS. And that's visually reinforced by the style of the video.

Musically, let's face it -- Tommy Thayer is no slouch and deserves credit even if $immons didn't even contemplate having new airbrushed solo album style artwork done in his likeness or Singer's for that matter. And why bother when the make-up branding gimmick allows KISS the best of both worlds -- continuing on $immons terms while at the same time capitalizing on the brand equity of authenticity.

Overall net effect: KISS IS BACK! And also BACK in the sense that they're on a new mission to Bring Back Glam! the way it used to be in '75, not '85. Genius!

[Gary]

2 thumbs up here. I really like it. Cool, heavy riff that grabs ya right out of the box and then doesn't let go.

[Metalboy!]

Gary, you're exactly right!

HUGE riff!

Like when you had to have a huge riff to steel the thunder from everyone else's huge riffs in order to keep the radiokidz on your song and not go changing the station.

It's like an ode to 70's Great American Hard Rock FM Radio. That's been missing from their music since "Dynasty". Leave it to KISS to cut a song to fill the void we kept asking Aerosmith to do all this time.

This song is THE genuine article...

REAL Rock and Roll!

p.s. On this 4th of July, let us humbly celebrate AMERICAN METAL!

[Ace Steele]

Good enough song. Catchy, Simple, I heard it twice & remember it on a third day. That's a good sign. Thayer's doing his job,and doing it well... kudos to him. Eric Singer is a solid backbone. Just what a drummer should be! Hope they get the #1 album they've always been robbed of. No Jay-Z or Michael Buble releases the same week, this time!

[Barry]

Great song with awesome riff, sounds like KISS to me. The new album should be a MONSTER!!!!

[Metalboy!]

Listened to it AND watched it again like 5 more times! If this is any sign of what this next album is gonna be, ya just gotta hand it to these guys for makin' a real record!

I wonder if Thayer was an influence on Gene and Paul to go back to a rawer more 70's sound, structure and lyrical vibe. It's kinda like after he left his poppy Glam Metal outfit, Black n' Blue and formed the purer Rock'n'Roll outfit, Shake The Faith. Listen to their cover of The Kinks' "Destroyer" and you'll see what I mean.

"Hell or Hallelujah" just oozes early vintage New York City KISS!

I ain't even gonna censor what I'm about to say...

This song and video are just plain BADASS!!!

[Brian L]

Love this new song. Cannot wait or album. Kiss is back

[Ace Steele]

Just for reference, there's live video of KISS doing this song in London yesterday. Sounds pretty good live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jkbJR6RrHdU

[scott whitt]

I liked it but the riff REALLY reminded me of I Stole Your Love.

[Velonese]

I like the song. I was planning on picking this up already. Although Paul's voice is really starting to sound haggard. It will be interesting to see how his voice holds up for the tour. I get the feeling they have to use some studio tricks to make him sound better...ala David Lee Roth,Ozzy Osbourne & Vince Neil.

[Metalboy!]

Figured it out... The kicka*s official lyric video is reminiscent of the railer for Quentin Tarrantino's "Grindhouse", which, in turn, is, of course, a homage to the Grindhouse trailers of the 70's. And, having just listened to the song yet again, it is hands down, THE MOST BADA*SS SONG of 2012 to come out so far! If this is any indication of the rest of the album, it's headed straight to the top of my list for BEST Of 2012! HUGE!!!