If you are a regular reader of metalreviews.com, you remember our 2002 April's fool joke : Alive IV. Even though we added a lot of fantasy in this review, Alive IV was supposed to be release in summer 2002 and at that time, there was no plan for an orchestra. Almost 12 months later, this long awaited live album finally hit the streets this July 2003. Kiss - who just signed a deal with Sanctuary records - decided last year to change the "look" of its fourth live album because they felt the time has come to offer something new and different to their fans. In fact, almost all Kiss' classics are already available in the three Alive albums. Alive IV - the fourth chapter - was dead before born. From a typical live album, Paul & Gene decided to record a symphonic live show at Melbourne. Like Deep Purple, Metallica and many other metal bands. The posterity album ? Who knows ... During the past three decades, Kiss sold more than 80 million records worldwide and were awarded 28 gold and 31 platinum albums. To celebrate the band's 30th Anniversary, Paul, Gene, Peter and Tommy teamed up with the 60 musicians from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to record an exceptional live album. The line-up is unfortunately not the original one. Peter Criss is back and survive last year's crisis, but on the other hand Ace left the band or has been asked to live the band (I let you choose). Tommy Thayer - a very good friend of Gene Simmons - replaces Ace Frehley. What a shame ! No New-York Groove, no Gold Gin :( Kiss Symphony, Alive IV comes as a double CD including three parts : DISC One :
The emotional moments turn up on Act. II. Beth, Forever, Goin' Blind, Sure Know Something and Shandi reveal a new facet with the Melbourne Orchestra. My favorite tracks for this second act are Forever - reminding me Eric Carr - and the wonderful Shandi. Act III starts with Detroit Rock City and this time the orchestra "takes" place inside Kiss music world. On Act II, the "merging" wasn't complete. On the famous Detroit Rock City's solo, the violins enhance the emotions of Kiss' most notorious classic. A great moment of music. Like it was the case on Alive II, King of The Night Time World follows the opener : here again the merger with the Melbourne Orchestra is a complete success. Do You Love Me smells like Wagner. "Is it a successful experiment" asks Paul ? Well, crowd's answer is loud and crystal clear. Shout It Loud is also a nice surprise, even though the orchestra is "covered" by the wonderful vocal performance of Paul & Gene. God Of Thunder pursues. Is it possible for the Melbourne Orchestra to go beyond the original feeling of this cult track? Yes and no. God Of Thunder looses its "dark side" but becomes on the other hand more theatrical. Not bad at all. The end of this special anniversary show sees Love Gun, Black Diamond, I Was Made For Lovin' You and Rock And Roll All Nite scorching the sky of Melbourne. Love Gun and I Was Made For Lovin' You being terrifically bombastic ;) Great Expectations sounds like an alien ... but I suppose that Gene appreciate the way this track sounds ... with the orchestra. 30 years of music, 30 years touring, 30 years with and without the make-up. How many black-metal bands have been influenced by Kiss make-up? How many famous bands opened the show for Kiss? The list is soooooo long. How many bands disappeared after three records, after five years or just after a new "metal-wave" fashion. Kiss is here since 1973 and this Alive IV is a reminder to all these journalists who said "this noisy New-York band will die as fast as they saw the light". Yeah sure, after 30 years, they are still the hottest band in the world ;) I can't wait to see the DVD now. After having learned by heart this
Alive IV, I would like to see the whole show with my eyes. We
will have to wait until September or October of this year. Let's pray
they will not postpone the DVD version
for another year. |
||||||||||||||||
Killing Songs : Shandi, I Was Made For Lovin' You, Forever, Detroit Rock City |
Danny quoted no quote | |||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
|
There are no replies yet to this review
Be the first one to post a reply!