AtomicCrimsonRush “Animalize” followed the abysmal “Lick it up” and it is marginally better due to some strong tracks that have always remained favourites for me. I speak of the brilliant heavy riffing ‘Murder in High Heels’ with a wonderful guitar lick from Mark St John new guitarist to replace the troubled Vincent. I love the lyrics “with a slight of hand, and a word of mouth, she’s a complicated girl and now she’s breaking it out... she’s a vision in leather like salt from a wound, just a turn of the knife and she’s real high schooled...’ (at least that’s what I used to sing).

'Under the Gun’ is a very heavy driving track with some good vocals from Paul and a blistering lead break that has some fret melting licks. Another highlight is ‘Heaven’s On Fire’ that charted well as the only single from the album. It buries ‘Lick It Up’ that is for certain, and was played live in many shows.

Kiss were beginning to sound and look like the wave of soft metal bands appearing in the 80s such as Bon Jovi and Def Leppard. They were losing their hard edge, turning to a commercial pop rock sound. Some of the tracks on this album are best forgotten and I have, as a strategic move. Mark St John was the antithesis of Ace as he was extremely technical on the guitar, but not as good the fire was gone.

Gene is not interested on this album, I think his sights were set on his acting career. Eric Carr’s drumming is proficient on most of the heavier tracks but the music is loud and uninteresting a lot of the time.

All in all this is a mediocre album with about four decent tracks. Not a great way to start getting into Kiss.