Hot in the Shade

Hot in the Shade widens the range of melody and song styles while keeping straight-ahead hard rock as its base, on KISS’s fifteenth album. Crisp riffs, light beats and the contrasting voices of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons give the record rich dynamics — a work in which varied songwriting stands out. Centered on the soaring melody of the hit ballad “Forever,” the faces of the songs are very wide-ranging, from the drive of “Rise to It” and the drama of “Hide Your Heart” to the playfulness of “Little Caesar.” With raw rockers set beside lyrical ballads, the band’s broad appeal and sense of fun come through. The large number of tracks can feel a little diffuse, but in exchange you can taste the band’s many facets at once, while cuts like “Silver Spoon” and “King of Hearts” add color. It is a transitional yet fulfilling record on which late-1980s KISS looked toward the next era while keeping stage-ready hooks.