Psycho Circus

Psycho Circus gathers thick guitar riffs, hand-clapping beats and choruses anyone can hum on KISS’s eighteenth album. The songs carry a classic KISS directness while meeting the big, thick sound of the day — a celebratory record released around the reunion of the original members. From the bright hook of the title track “Psycho Circus” and the weight of “Within” to the drive of “Into the Void” and the sing-along of “You Wanted the Best,” the album offers the fun of arena rock straight up. Each member’s vocal personality colors the songs and moves the whole along in a lively way. Rather than chasing excessive experiment, its aim is to reignite the celebratory appeal of the KISS brand on a large scale, and polished production and thick choruses create a stage-ready lift. Presenting the classic image in a modern sound, it is a fulfilling record that symbolizes the reunion period.