Unmasked

Unmasked keeps hard rock’s frame while stepping into light rhythms, bright choruses and a polished pop sensibility on KISS’s eighth album. The differing voices of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley give the record a varied palette. The gentle melody of “Shandi,” the guitar-pop of “Talk to Me,” the breeziness of “Tomorrow” and the drive of “Is That You?” convey an accessibility particular to this period, letting you enjoy KISS’s skill at crafting hooks from an angle different from the old rawness. Foregrounding approachable melody and compact writing, it still holds a rock core firmly through the push of the guitars and the bite of the rhythm. With the distance from intro to chorus kept short and hook after hook appearing, the heat of a solid band performance remains beneath the bright surface — a fulfilling transitional record that gives off its own distinctive shine after a big turn toward pop.