Kiss (band) - Musical Style

Musical Style

They have been classed under the genre of "hard rock". Most of their '70s records, specifically from '74 to '77, is a blend of hard rock, rock n' roll, and the catchy melodies that characterized power pop. They also experimented in the disco (Dynasty), pop rock (Unmasked), symphonic rock/progressive rock (Music from "The Elder") styles. In the '80s, with the unmasking, they came as a glam metal act. Later, in the early '90s, their sound grew heavier, culminating with the grunge record (Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions). Their last 3 albums, Psycho Circus, Sonic Boom, and Monster showed the band returning to their 70's hard rock roots with hints of modern sound and production.

Their music is described by Allmusic as "a commercially potent mix of anthemic, fist-pounding hard rock, driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars, cloying melodies, and sweeping strings. It was a sound that laid the groundwork for both arena rock and the pop-metal that dominated rock in the late '80s." Its first critical review described Kiss as "an American Black Sabbath" in Rolling Stone. "With twin guitars hammering out catchy mondo-distorto riffs and bass and drums amiably bringing up the rear," said RS of Hotter Than Hell, "Kiss spews forth a deceptively controlled type of thunderous hysteria, closely akin to the sound once popularized by the German Panzer tank division." At the same time, Bennington Banner from Rock Music magazine said, "with its members bizarre, Kabuki-like makeup, studded black leather costumes and arsenal of on-stage firepower – both musical and literal – Kiss represents the most extreme form of hard rock in 1974."