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'Animalize' was released hot on the heels of the successful 'Creatures of the Night' and 'Lick it up', and although not quite up to the standards of these, does feature some tasty offerings, although there isn't quite enough to make the album memorable. Guitaring is courtesy of 'Mark St. John', after the less than amicable departure of 'Vinnie Vincent'. 'Animalize' develops the pop-metal sound, glimpsed at from 'Lick it Up', but unlike counterparts 'Ratt', 'Motley Crue' and 'Dokken', 'Kiss' lack a certain crunch and seem always to retreat back to a simplistically written commercial soft Metal / Rock, ala 'Def Leppard' / 'Bon Jovi'.

For me the best track is the opener 'I've had Enough (into the Fire)', which is reminiscent of the 'Vinnie Vincent Invasion', with its superb guitar fuelled intro which leads into a solid rhythm propelled number, 'Mark St, John' really owns this song his soloing and interspersed fret work are superb, and its a shame other tracks don't follow this format. The mid tempo 'Heaven's on Fire', is too predictable, lyrically lacklustre and with the exception of some controlled vocals is fairly disappointing. Marginally better is 'Burn Bitch Burn', what it lacks in penmanship it makes up for with its catchy almost comical chorus and guitar solo. 'Get all you can Take' lays down a strong rhythm but the dull chorus and lifeless approach make for an unremarkable track. Old school 'Kiss' is heard in 'Lonely is the Hunter', unfortunately this sounds to repetitive and is only saved by some mean fret work. The second half, kicks off with the impressive 'Under the Gun', one of the swiftest numbers, again highlighting 'Mark St, John's' technical ability, this is combined with an engaging rhythm, some of 'Gene Simmon's' best vocals and of course some sweet instrumental breaks. The album trails off after this regrettably, 'Thrills of the Night' is dull and murkily performed, 'While the City Sleeps' has potential but never fulfils, lyrically unimaginative and features a "done to death" Kiss melody, while 'Murder in High-Heels' is slightly better, is ultimately disappointing omitting some sweet shredding.

There's bits and pieces here to please most fans of 80's Hard Rock / Metal, but just not enough to carry this release.

Kiss:- Animalize Release:- 1984 Band Members:- Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Mark St. John, Eric Carr Krillion's Rating:- 76%
'Animalize' was released hot on the heels of the successful 'Creatures of the Night' and 'Lick it up', and although not quite up to the standards of these, does feature some tasty offerings, although there isn't quite enough to make the album memorable. Guitaring is courtesy of 'Mark St. John', after the less than amicable departure of 'Vinnie Vincent'. 'Animalize' develops the pop-metal sound, glimpsed at from 'Lick it Up', but unlike counterparts 'Ratt', 'Motley Crue' and 'Dokken', 'Kiss' lack a certain crunch and seem always to retreat back to a simplistically written commercial soft Metal / Rock, ala 'Def Leppard' / 'Bon Jovi'. For me the best track is the opener 'I've had Enough (into the Fire)', which is reminiscent of the 'Vinnie Vincent Invasion', with its superb guitar fuelled intro which leads into a solid rhythm propelled number, 'Mark St, John' really owns this song his soloing and interspersed fret work are superb, and its a shame other tracks don't follow this format. The mid tempo 'Heaven's on Fire', is too predictable, lyrically lacklustre and with the exception of some controlled vocals is fairly disappointing. Marginally better is 'Burn Bitch Burn', what it lacks in penmanship it makes up for with its catchy almost comical chorus and guitar solo. 'Get all you can Take' lays down a strong rhythm but the dull chorus and lifeless approach make for an unremarkable track. Old school 'Kiss' is heard in 'Lonely is the Hunter', unfortunately this sounds to repetitive and is only saved by some mean fret work. The second half, kicks off with the impressive 'Under the Gun', one of the swiftest numbers, again highlighting 'Mark St, John's' technical ability, this is combined with an engaging rhythm, some of 'Gene Simmon's' best vocals and of course some sweet instrumental breaks. The album trails off after this regrettably, 'Thrills of the Night' is dull and murkily performed, 'While the City Sleeps' has potential but never fulfils, lyrically unimaginative and features a "done to death" Kiss melody, while 'Murder in High-Heels' is slightly better, is ultimately disappointing omitting some sweet shredding. There's bits and pieces here to please most fans of 80's Hard Rock / Metal, but just not enough to carry this release.
Track Listing:- I've had Enough (into the Fire), Heaven's on Fire, Burn Bitch Burn, Get all you can Take, Lonely is the Hunter, Under the Gun, Thrills of the Night, While the City Sleeps, Murder in High-Heels,