Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997) Kiss Album Review

I review the 1997 Kiss album, Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions. Part 22 of my Kiss Retrospective.
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#kiss #genesimmons #paulstanley

[@whataboutrob442]

One of the best albums of the 90s, by any band. Fantastic album!

[@gr8handsftl]

This is an incredible album. Also in my top 5 KISS studio albums

[@CrazyLG72]

Yep its high on my list too..I love it because it doesn't sound like old Kiss .. I loved the 70s Kiss more when I was a kid as I thrive on the 80s and 90s albums now.. Its 90s hard metal meets old Black Sabbath and its awesome..This should of been called Monster because most of the album is a heavy,dark and mean.. Bruce and Eric shine on it and Paul and Gene's vocals are incredible

[@elvisparker4691]

It's Good to See a Young Person so into KISS. There's a Lifetime of Happiness listening to their Music. Just like The Stones or The Beatles 👍

[@MrCruz-qn4dt]

The most underrated KISS Album of all time. They always did better when they went heavy. Bruce's contributions are noticeable and make it better than Psyco Circus or Monster. The reunion was great, but I think they left something on the table when they walked away from this album. It was the right business move, but I think they would have had better albums using Revenge and COS as a foundation of a heavier direction. Great video. Thx for making it.

[@billycain9890]

This is not a grunge album it's just a heavy Kiss album which in my opinion is a top-10 kiss album

[@SeanBlumenshine]

Yeah, hardly any of it actually sounds like grunge. It's weird how it got the reputation as their grunge album.

[@CrazyLG72]

@@SeanBlumenshine its because it was that era of music out at the time but it was too heavy of an album to be considered Grunge.Listening to the first couple songs for the first time I thought it was more a hard metal/ Black Sabbath album and just kicks ass ..I never thought it was Grunge ,if it is,its the best grunge album I ever heard lol

[@ferox965]

It's much closer to doom. There are doom riffs all over it. But KISS has always had doom riffs peppered here and there since the beginning. Think Trouble, Saint Vitus, Pentagram. I love this record. There's no way KISS could have continued in this way, but it's an awesome temporary detour.

[@sbi168]

It's a grunge inspired album for sure, stripped back, heavier, simpler, down tuned. I like some of it but it felt too forced to me. It's very rarely my go too album.

[@philipholmes5884]

"Rain" reminds me of "Rain when i die" ...by AIC plus "Rain" in the title...but that really dosen't matter...but the melody does..

[@jamescook5585]

Always liked this album, never realised it didn't do so well. Bruce Kulick does a great set on the KISS cruise with it.

[@CrazyLG72]

I wished after the reunion tour this lineup would of gotten back together.. Kiss has lived in the past since then and really lost interest with the band but I still purchased Sonic Boom and Monster because atleast it was new music but I feel Carnival of Souls was their last best album and this lineup was tight as hell..Rain,Jungle,and In the mirror are some of my favorite Kiss songs..Awesome review man!

[@chrisoakley5830]

@@CrazyLG72 I agree. It's really ironic but when the original band got back together in 96 it effectively signaled the end of Kiss as a current band. For the most part they have been a greatest hits band since then.

[@CrazyLG72]

@@chrisoakley5830 that's true. I enjoy listening to them yet but lost interest in the band after the Monster album. Its cool that they are still rockin though

[@chrisoakley5830]

@@CrazyLG72 Yeah, it's cool I guess, they can do whatever they want. My opinion is not needed but for what little it's worth I think they have stayed around way too long. They should have ended with the first farewell tour in 2001. Like yourself I've lost interest in the last several years.

[@freshsouphotgoopbandoffici9380]

Great review Sean. And yes, I Love this album too! 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

[@CincinnatusPublish]

I'm on the side of thinking this is an amazing album. The mix is perfect... Everything is perfect. MASTER AND SLAVE, CHILDHOOD'S END, and JUNGLE are all killer! Most people don't realize the acoustic part of MASTER AND SLAVE is the same chord structure as the rest of the song, and I love the fact that Gene takes over the chorus at the end because it's so unexpected. When we all heard the leaked demo, we thought it was called, TELL ME. Regarding "side 2," IT NEVER GOES AWAY is the stand out track.

[@Slaughterhouse209]

this is my favorite KiSS album after Hotter Than Hell.

[@CincinnatusPublish]

To me, it always felt like the sister album to Hotter Than Hell.

[@mikeglazier5993]

@@CincinnatusPublish same here. Maybe it's the production

[@mtaffer]

Enjoying these reviews!

[@uuu098]

Kiss chasing musical trends was always difficult to watch but this album didn't turn out as bad as it could have. It's actually pretty good. Pauls songs are the best. Jungle is one of my favorite Kiss songs. Rain is interesting. I think the biggest surprise isn't necessarily the sound they went for but that the songs aren't about sex.

[@mztbass]

Bruce plays bass on Jungle

[@chrisretro81]

"I Confess" co-writer, Ken Tamplin is a terrific vocal coach and has a great KZbin channel. He's also Sammy Hagars cousin. \m/

[@michaeldalton8374]

Did Bruce get paid twice as much for playing bass on nearly every track?

[@davidbakerscuba]

Lol, I doubt it but all of the co-writing credits, he’s still getting paid every time it sells or streams.

[@CrazyLG72]

Nah, just like he played Bass on half of Revenge and Psycho Circus but I'm glad he did! I love 90s Kiss 3 totally different albums plus an incredible Unplugged album and then Alive 3 .

[@johnsweeney8243]

Love all your kiss album reviews, Carnival Of Souls and Hot In The Shade have always been my least favourite Kiss albums, but you’ve persuaded me to give this one another go, but H.I.T.S I’ll never really get into.

[@animalize7885]

I walk alone is one of my favorite songs

[@CrazyLG72]

I love Carnival of Souls..Rain, In the Mirror, Seduction of the Innocent, Jungle and Master and Slaves are incredible songs and other than Revenge, this is my favorite 90s album out of all the bands in that era . Funny how Paul hates this album but in my opinion, some of my favorite Paul songs are on this album out of their whole catalogue..

[@Jason_Maier]

1. I'm just discovering this KISS album review series you've been doing! 2. I like the thumbnail for the "Music From The Elder" review! 3. As for this album, it's too bad none of it has ever been played live. It's an atypical KISS sound, but it works. Plus you have Bruce Kulick finally taking lead vocals.

[@RobsRogues]

I love COS, in my Top 5. Rain is still my favorite KISS song. So many great songs, Master & Slave, Childhoods End, I Walk Alone, and of course Jungle! Man, i just love this album. Would have love seen the original cover to the album.

[@bigdeal7043]

Thanks for another great review Sean! I’m subscribing.

[@maristhegreat353]

I love you and your reviews. You're so articulate and you're always on point. In this case, I agree with you completely. I love this album and do not understand the shade it receives from fans.

[@adamdavidson9467]

Sean, I love your KISS reviews! Hope you do Sonic Boom & Monster! Your reviews are great and I love how you get to the point on each track and album!

[@josephcarter2990]

When UNION played at the club I worked at in MD They played Jungle and John Corbi rocked it out and Bruce Kulick was extremely nice during the meet and greet

[@shawnbrown2726]

one of my favorite albums from Kiss , wished they could ve put out another album in this style, you got a subscription bro!

[@jonstreng7850]

Master and Slave is my favorite from this release. Vocal performance by Paul is stellar and, his scream before the final chorus, took me by surprise. Great stuff. The Bruce track, I walk Alone, is terrific 👍.

[@kingsporttoolreview8703]

As you go further into the catalog, I hope you review Paul's 2006 "Live to Win" solo album because it was the true spiritual successor to "Psycho Circus"

[@punkalex14]

Great review thanks! Your reviews are well done. I learned a lot from this review.

[@romandacilv9260]

I love Bruce's song "I Walk Alone"

[@erikmaldonadorodriguez2500]

really cool album maybe not for Kiss classic era fans but for more rough fans it's just a fantastic album. Thanks Bruce for rescue this gem

[@mr.timebombman2230]

Great stuff on there. I remember when my friend first played the demo's for me a few months before the release. I couldn't believe how heavy it sounded. I was like. "holy shit, that's Kiss?" I don't care about them trying to do some current stuff at the time. That's the reason I like it really, cause it is so different for them. You have to listen to the bootlegs or the demo of the album. Sounds MUCH better imo.

[@p.g.7974]

Hate, Rain, Master & Slave, Jungle, In The Mirror are the best! Total rocking tracks. Paul is the man. I Will Be There is the other track I sometimes play.

[@mztbass]

Great Review. One of my fav. albums of their entire catalog (which I refer to as Bruce Unleashed) . Bruce is at his best.

[@uuu098]

Great album! Funny, I did not know that Paul wasn't real fond of the idea of this album. I feel Paul's songs are the best.

[@goldenlarry]

I like Gene's half hearted kicks at 7:38 haha

[@craigmcclendon5820]

Very strong album and great song writing

[@markbunton9919]

I am a big fan of this album and bought a bootleg long before it was released. Master & Slave is one of my favorite KISS songs. Wish this lineup would have gotten back together after the reunion and continued. For those who like this album you need to check out Bruce's post KISS band Union.

[@vincentcarotta3355]

I love the nod to God of Thunder in the closing chorus of Childhood's End.

[@robertshaw4397]

I did like the album when it came out. It kicks ass!

[@SHOUTband]

there is one good song on it "Childhood's end" and it's the only song that does not feel forced or trying too hard to sound or be like the grungy rock/metal of the 90's. (and great video! will you do all of the rest albums too?)

[@SeanBlumenshine]

Yeah, I've done all the others up to this album and I will do Psycho Circus, Sonic Boom and Monster over the next few weeks.

[@SHOUTband]

@@SeanBlumenshine Awesome!

[@alexjames7670]

I've never had hate for this one. Carnival has been in my top five for Kiss albums since I got the bootleg of it (which did not include "I Confess" and "In the Mirror"). A great dark rock album and great songs with lyrics not solely based on females. Just wish the "flaming head" cover had been used instead!

[@haywoodyoudome]

The boot leg cassette I got from a coworker sounded better than the actual album. Something about being copied so many times really gives tracks like "It Never Goes Away" the dark feel they were going for.

[@collinmadden]

Its true many deride this album as a stab at mid nineties relevance, and if I'm being honest its not my favorite. But you hit the nail on the head- The thing about a band like Kiss is that they've had a career that spans multiple generations. You discovered "Carnival of Souls" at 10, I'm in my 40s and discovered "Asylum" at roughly the same age- my older cousins were all about "Destroyer" ect.. Their longevity and ability to impact such a big swath of folks speaks volumes despite their sometimes admittedly ham fisted attempts at being "hip".

[@kingsporttoolreview8703]

the song "The Jungle" was never meant to be on this album. It was recoded separately for the motion picture soundtrack for "Escape from L.A." But the Movie producers didn't like the song and didn't use it, so it ended up on Carnival of Souls. It's also the only fully finished song on the entire album.

[@SeanBlumenshine]

Someone else in the comments mentioned that Hate was done and rejected for Twister. Weird.

[@CrazyLG72]

Unfinished? Every song sounds finished to me..If the songs are missing verses than every song would be 6 minutes long then people would complain about that then

[@CrazyLG72]

I was kind of excited that original Kiss got back together but was hoping it wouldn't last long and get back to the Revenge lineup and continue making new music but Kiss went backwards and have lived in the past the last 20 years and I have lost interest with this makeup lineup but I still listen to atleast 10 albums in their catalogue yet ..Well explained Sean,I love this album no question..I even like it more because many fans dislike it and I laugh because most fans like the heavy/hair metal era but dismiss this album when its heavier than almost anything they did but it's considered grunge when most of the album isn't

[@sethbashan9295]

My favorite kiss album

[@hinduismwithpremananddasbhagat]

Its funny to think MTV didn't see Kiss as a big enough draw at the time, but really that's totally true. I'm a child of the grunge era. I graduated high school in '96 and Kiss was NOT on my radar. They were a classic rock band who had a few power ballads on MTV (i.e. God Made...), used to wear make-up, were kinda ugly, were big in the '80's, and were a super huge merchandising thing that eclipsed the music that ranged from caskets to comics. As for the music, their albums just weren't there for my generation. Though, when they did Unplugged I tuned in and LOVED IT.

[@Kissfan96dr]

shortly after this album came out, Bruce joined the band Union and went on tour. Their concerts featured The Jungle and I Walk Alone. Both songs can be heard on Union's Live in the Galaxy album. They don't disappoint. It's like what Alive! did for the original album tracks.

[@SeanBlumenshine]

I love the Union albums

[@Kissfan96dr]

​@@SeanBlumenshine I saw their tour in 1998. Incredible night. Four musicians in top form. The outro solo on the Jungle was a real shredder. Bruce did the whole thing so effortlessly and with a smile. He was in the zone. I walk Alone was the main sing-a-long for the finale chorus. The whole band sang it as well as the audience. Bruce played Star Spangled Banner for the intro to Tangerine. the volume on his guitar was so high, half the audience covered their ears. He had a little smirk on his face too. He knew what he was doing to us. Last song was "Let it Flow". Big jam session ending. I'll never forget that night.

[@elvisparker4691]

Wow, Union is that good, eh ? What about ESP ?

[@elvisparker4691]

@@SeanBlumenshine - I wrote that entry here, for you, it's great to see a guy your age, into KISS. I've been listening to them a lot longer than you and I NEVER get tired of them.

[@SeanBlumenshine]

@@elvisparker4691 It is such a shame that the two Union records never took off; it's incredible stuff. ESP is quite good as well; I'm just not as enthusiastic about cover songs as opposed to their original material.

[@GretschenMunch]

The original bootleg was created from a leak when Kiss were in talks to provide Hate for the movie soundtrack for Twister. Apparently a cassette tape was inadvertently left in the boardroom sound system at the conclusion of the meeting.

[@SeanBlumenshine]

I have never heard that story and I love everything about it.

[@gus68vette]

One of my favorites ! next to the Elder !

[@ruthlane4595]

It’s in my top five favorite albums by kiss

[@Prof_Tickles92]

2:17 “What did they have to complain about?” Just read Paul’s book… 😆

[@muddfoot69]

I love this Revenge led to COS and I was a big fan of both

[@squarejawpublishing]

If you were 40 years younger I reckon you could have been one of the two guys on the back of Alive!

[@haywoodyoudome]

40 years -younger- _older_ How does time work?

[@rodrigogomez-wc4of]

Este álbum es absolutamente diferente como.lo fue THE ELDER. Ambos buenos muy buenos álbumes. Kiss tiene diferentes etapas y sonidos .desde KISS hasta LOVE GUN es una etapa, DYNASTY y UNMASKED son otra, THE ELDER es una.pieza maestra en si misma, CREATURES y LICK IT UP es heavy metal; de ANIMALIZE hasta esa mala idea que es SHADES; REVENENGE está al lado de creatures y CARNIVAL va en su propio orden. Eso es lo bueno de kiss, diversidad. Y exploración en el sonido..claro que sin importar la época a veces se les sale el mismo Riff en una que otra cancion..pero que diferencia en ese sonido repetitivo que tienen ACDC o IRON MAIDEN donde uno no ve diferencia entre el book of souls y Piece of Minds......CARNIVAL ....enjoy it

[@Bobaganoosh68]

I agree !! 😎. ;):

[@coastalpaladin5024]

I know it is not a very popular album, but I think it has some good tunes on it. Bruce played amazing on this album.

[@MenaFamily]

Best Kiss album period.

[@michaelmacleod6517]

This lineup should have stayed together. Kiss was an actual BAND with Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr/Eric Singer.

[@dannymiller7880]

One of the best albums

[@twikirobot6897]

For me, it was obvious next step from Revenge. 8/10 The Paul songs are all good. "In the Mirror" - one of his best ! Other than "Hate" and "In My Head", the Gene songs are kind of dull and drawn out. I tend to skip those. The opening of "Master & Slave" is obviously their take on "Sex Type Thing".

[@davidbellamy2612]

I would describe the album as intriguing and moody rather than entertaining but it is the bravest music Kiss have ever released.

[@keremtimuraykal4521]

A very good album.It wiil be more understood in time specially when they quit it all.

[@Hibari9420]

I remember a guy on a forum wrote that this was "... your weird old uncle Jerry when he found your Nirvana records and decided it was a good idea to replicate them"

[@theartistknownaszack9234]

Carnival of souls is a very underrated album for sure

[@royrice6656]

KISS: Karnival of Krazy Kartoon Demonic Klowns rips off a 1962 horror movie.

[@romandacilv9260]

Have you listened to Wicked Lester "Laughing Dogs" or Gene's 1st band Bhull Frog Bheer?

[@SeanBlumenshine]

I have not

[@romandacilv9260]

@@SeanBlumenshine I have downloaded "bootleg" copies of those. Both contain early renditions of KISS songs from the 1st 2 albums. Despite the name Wicket Lester was defiinitly not hard or heavy music and it interesting to see the change that Gene & Paul made to their musical direction. I liked both albums.

[@chrisoakley5830]

This album is different for Kiss but I've always kinda liked it. The songs by Gene are really good, they seem to fit his persona well. A little awkward for Paul but overall still a good record.

[@ALTDOK667]

This vid should've been titled, "Carnival of Souls; and Bruce played bass!". 😀

[@mikepratt6481]

The only KISS album I've barely listened to.

[@Andrew-yd8zp]

My least favourite Kiss album, I like Childhoods End and I will Be There, also I like that they finally gave Bruce a lead vocal . Nothing else positive to say.

[@edwinpaasse3640]

Bruce played bas on almost every song on the album.

[@scottanderson4175]

Carnival is way better than Circus 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@crissdrums3975]

Disagree

[@scottanderson4175]

@@crissdrums3975 we can agree to disagree 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@kade3802]

Yeah Circus has too many anthems the only song I kinda like is Into the Void

[@arthurhall8238]

@@kade3802 - Ace bot

[@michaelracicot233]

I totally agree. Psycho has some amazing songs. But also a few turds. It's an uneven album to me. And features. IMO, the worst song in the entire KISS catalogue ( I finally found my way) I've always liked KISS heavier side. And like that the songs are more intricately arranged, and not one song about their dicks.

[@stevencanfield5590]

You missed the whole boat this a great album to book end revenge. Rain, It never goes away shows off Paul's voice , jungle shows off Eric Singer. Only song to leave off is Bruce kulicks lead vocal,. The seduction of innocence is a nod to sgt peppers. 8 great songs and kulicks song is a dud.. leave it off and great album.. Revenge, Carnival of Souls, Destroyer, hotter than hell ,dressed to kill, rock n roll over are the real deal. This is what ace was trying to tell them, stay heavy, keep it black leather and no Las Vegas costumes

[@heftosprod]

Wait a minute... Aren't you the yacht rock guy?

[@Playitstraight44]

As previously stated, KISS saved themselves from a massive collapse by going out on the reunion tour. This record has the same "fish-out-of-water" performance the Elder has. I know fans can cherry pick the eclectic vibes and sonic exploration here with that 'best of intentions' goodwill they like to give every band misstep. But as a KISS record, Stanley and Simmons could not have made a worse decision. Again it was a record that was not about them, but rather about their never ending need to imitate the marketplace. A lesson they never could figure out.

[@xtinaandrich]

Grunge tunes by KISS. Not a bad album. But not overly memorable. I believe these are left-over tracks.

[@zachjohnson637]

They're not left-overs. With the exception of a couple of tracks, they were all written specifically for the album. 'Within' on Psycho Circus is actually a left-over from Carnival.

[@PozerAdultRacingTeam]

Hmm, there were some good songs,but a little too Seattle.

[@GilJamesJim]

I hated this album. It was just as bad or worst than the elder.. It was not a fun kiss album that is enjoyable to listen to. I listened to it a few times to make sense of til I finally ejected the disc and threw it out my car window..

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

These days all becomes mix masters and producers ..." low deums ,high bass , dry production ..." its thing only people in studio knows - not reviewers .

[@josephcarter2990]

John Corabi tore Jungle up with Union.

[@Kopperafiel]

This is a great record. Unfortunately no promotion and condemned in the same vein as (Music From) The Elder. It seems whenever our music heroes step outside the box they get condemned but get slammed for every album sounding the same.

[@sbi168]

It's OK. But despite protestations, it's a very grunge inspired album. Down tuned, paired back production and simpler structures/riffs. I dip in and out but its never a favourite. Felt very forced and unnatural. I felt they could have gone darker without feeling like it's chasing trends like Alice coopers last temptation.

[@MetalMike38]

I think “Rain” is ok, but this album doesn’t work as a Kiss album. Kiss was way out if it’s depth trying to blend Nirvana and Metallica’s sound.

[@andreasdeutinger7319]

i really like your videos. i always thought that kiss were notorious blockers, but obviously they let this stuff stay up. good oportunity to listen to all my kiss records again. my conclusion: after lick it up, for me, they lost it a little. made a few good songs but never a really good album from start to finish. maybe because they stopped being a functioning band in 1977.

[@Autopsy6]

Gene doesn't seem to play that much on this album!

[@JoeBunting01]

My least favorite KISS album (besides Peter Criss's solo album).

[@jeffyoung8726]

Overall, I HATE this record!!!! I don't like the way the drums sound! Or the guitars! To me, it sounds like they're trying to sound like what was going on at the time? In some ways I don't blame them? But again, it was almost like when Dynasty first came out in '79... Eek again? Was this gonna be some kinda crap to get people? I mean, they're Kiss. You didn't hear AC/DC trying to do that shit? Some of the songs we're kinda cool & I liked them.... Sorta? I just didn't dig when a band totally jumps ship! To me that's selling out? And if you're Kiss you don't have to do that? But I DO own it on CD, as I do all of their albums. I've been a Kiss fan for years. Not really crazy about them in the past decade? Hate the fact that they won't leave the fucking party, and just GO AWAY! They just keep coming back, like a bad case of The Clap! And people are STUPID enough to keep buying those "OVER-priced" tickets..... Liked this video Sean, ROCK ON!

[@jimilove7773]

Never a fan....

[@siegfriedwormer3916]

Every Kiss album is (very) good, this is the worst in my opinion.

[@kotabear151]

This dude needs a new job! He's boring!! 😲

[@arthurhall8238]

An absolutely awful album....had they not gone back to the makeup, the end was near!

[@footy2rock]

Boring album I agree

[@james197091]

Rubbish compared to Love Gun and Destroyer.....too grungy and grunge was a shit genre

[@javimarulu4247]

Hated so much, worst material by far. Grunge stuff that sound terrible.

[@josephnickell6652]

God, this album is TRASH!

[@jessemendez7715]

This album is crap.

[@crissdrums3975]

Horrible album...period

[@elvisparker4691]

So anything without Peter Criss is "horrible" ??

[@crissdrums3975]

@@elvisparker4691 anything w E Singer is horrible

[@Noclaf555]

Fantastic album!

[@KisspsychoKisspsycho]

Its definitely in my top 5! I hate the fact that people say this album seems forced and disingenuous. Having money doesn't keep you from experiencing hard times, depression, anger, or seeing the evil in the world. If you look at the bit of downhill spiral they were on at that point, (not musically) the songs make sense. The reunion tour saved them at that point. I just love this darker style and it definitely hit a nerve at the time with my 13 year old self.

[@rfilianogmailcom]

They were copying Grunge style? really ?. A reminder for whoever fits on it. All the bands from that era down to Metallica are KISS influenced bands, that heavy sound on Metallica's bass guitar sound is inspired by Destroyer sound specifically 'God of Thunder'. So who made who, right? This is a fantastic KISS album, if Dynasty and Unmasked are different in a BAD way, well COS is different in a VERY GOOD way. I insist, Singer & Kulick line up should've done better if Simmons and Stanley hadn't decided to keep running a Hard Rock Band instead of a Hard Rock Brand.