Kiss (1974) Black Diamond

 Kiss 1974 debut album was one of the most underrated of hard rock, the makeup novelty of the band distracted from an album of material that pretty much became half the band's setlist. It's actually far more subtle; full of chunky riffs colliding into slashing power chords with the odd Allmans Brothers esque guitar interplay. A late comer to Glam Rock, the animated vocals of Gene Simmons gave the band's look some sense, this band was full on and theatrical in the music; they didn't just look like comic book characters their songs were delivered in your face. While Love Theme from Kiss sums up the band's often fluid, instrumental style, tracks like Deuce, Strutter showed off lead guitarist Ace Frehley's inventive guitar licks, while Firehouse and Cold Gin show off my favourite side; the strutting power chord driven arena rock.

 The album didn't quite carry the electricity or atmosphere of their live shows, it's recorded compact and very clean for powerful thunder rock, one track carries the awesome anthemic style that would soon become their speciality.
 Black Diamond is the closing track and still the best, at some points its (believe it or not) on par with Zeppelin as it has more contrasts than any of their future albums or solo albums. It starts with a hauntingly discorded and demented acoustic lick, doubled eerily as Paul Stanley coos breathily the iconic lines;


"Out on the streets for a livin..pictures only begun..Got ya under their thumb"

Stanley then calls for Peter Criss to 'Hit it', a bold addition to a song, before the drummer takes over the lead; his raw,bluesy vocals are in direct contrast to Stanleys clean and clear tone. As the mammoth riffs rain down, the dystopian tune is lent a verity by Criss' rough pipes; an authenticity shines through as he lived a tough life running with violent gangs in Brooklyn, knowing more about life 'out on the streets' better then anyone. While a visual feast when performed live, the demonic bridge chords that play under Frehley's tortured solo is original sounding displaying the dark prog sound they occasionally possessed.  But best is last, the long coda that ends the album as power chords are struck in a masonic sequence, with every smash of the drums, the droning ending slowly draws out. It's a creepy, gothic ending to a truly incredible composition and an underrated, original hard rock album. The darkness of this album would be lost in their more dominant party rock sound later on which is a shame.