Unveiling the Concept: KISS's "Animalize" and "Asylum" as Parts One and Two of a Rock Odyssey

[Roland Rockover]

Unveiling the Concept: KISS's "Animalize" and "Asylum" as Parts One and Two of a Rock Odyssey

Introduction:

In the realm of rock music, the concept album has long been a cherished and ambitious endeavor, creating a cohesive narrative or thematic thread that ties together a collection of songs. While KISS may not be immediately associated with concept albums, a deeper exploration suggests an intriguing possibility. This essay posits that KISS's "Animalize" and "Asylum" albums, released in the mid-1980s, can be viewed as interconnected, forming an unofficial two-part concept album.

Part One: Animalize - Unleashing the Beasts

"Animalize," released in 1984, marked a significant moment in KISS's discography. The album, featuring tracks like "Heaven's on Fire" and "Thrills in the Night," showcased a revitalized band shedding its earlier personas and embracing a more modern, glam-influenced sound. In the context of our proposed concept, "Animalize" serves as the initiation phase, introducing listeners to a world where primal instincts and untamed desires reign supreme.

The album cover, featuring animal prints, hints at the untamed and wild themes within. Songs like "Burn Bitch Burn" and "Under the Gun" echo this primal energy, portraying a narrative of uninhibited passion and the pursuit of pleasure. The album art and lyrics work in tandem, inviting listeners to explore a landscape dominated by raw, instinctual forces.

Part Two: Asylum - The Surreal Journey Continues

As "Animalize" opens the gateway to a world dominated by animalistic impulses, "Asylum" (1985) takes the listener deeper into a realm of surreal experiences and fantastical narratives. The cover art, adorned with vibrant colors and eccentric imagery, signals a departure from the raw, primal themes of "Animalize." Instead, "Asylum" introduces an environment where reality blurs, and the boundaries between the ordinary and the extraordinary become increasingly ambiguous.

Songs like "Tears Are Falling" and "Uh! All Night" convey a sense of emotional intensity and unpredictability, mirroring the unpredictability of a surreal dreamscape. The album's lyrical content, coupled with its eclectic musical arrangements, propels the listener into a world where the bizarre and the fantastical coexist. Together, "Animalize" and "Asylum" weave a narrative that transcends the conventional rock album structure, creating a continuous storyline.

Connecting the Threads:

While KISS has not officially acknowledged "Animalize" and "Asylum" as a conceptual pair, examining the albums in tandem reveals an intriguing narrative arc. From the untamed, instinct-driven realm of "Animalize" to the surreal, dreamlike landscape of "Asylum," KISS takes its audience on a sonic journey that transcends traditional rock storytelling.

Conclusion:

In the vast tapestry of rock music, KISS has often been celebrated for their ability to evolve and reinvent themselves. By exploring the thematic threads connecting "Animalize" and "Asylum," one can appreciate the depth and complexity that KISS brought to their music during the mid-1980s. Whether intentional or serendipitous, these albums together form a captivating two-part concept album, inviting listeners to delve into a world where primal instincts and surreal dreams collide.

My KISS Odyssey : A Tale of Italian Fandom
Coming 2024

https://forums.metalsludge.tv/forums/vi ... 1&t=384192

[DangerZone]

nah

A for effort

[Bono Nettencourt]

This guy didn't get laid for NYE.

[Tenacious_Dio]

It's a shame that this guy managed to get banned from the only forum that might give a shit about anything he posts.

[GoodJudge]

Songs like "Tears Are Falling" and "Uh! All Night" convey a sense of emotional intensity and unpredictability, mirroring the unpredictability of a surreal dreamscape.

Thanks for my first LOL of 2024. Keep 'em coming.

[maninblack]

Songs like "Tears Are Falling" and "Uh! All Night" convey a sense of emotional intensity and unpredictability, mirroring the unpredictability of a surreal dreamscape.

Thanks for my first LOL of 2024. Keep 'em coming.

[Zinny]

The only concept these albums have in common is that the songs are about putting logs in different fireplaces.

[maninblack]

The only concept these albums have in common is that the songs are about putting logs in different fireplaces.

[RaceFan3]

It's a bit of a stretch, though I can see where the theory comes from. It might be more accurate, however, to say that Animalize and Asylum are basically Paul Stanley solo albums because Gene didn't give a fuck about making music at the time.

That being said, the best tracks from each record would make a strong mid-80's KISS record.

[TooOldToCare]

Andy Kauffman IS still alive.

[Love_Industry]

Animalize and Asylum are basically Paul Stanley solo albums because Gene didn't give a fuck about making music at the time.

Trivia for Kisstards: everyone knows Gene used a Paul title for Love's a Deadly Weapon, but the music is more or less ripped from Plasmatics's song Party. Rod Swenson and Wes Beech got credited for that.

[DangerZone]

It's a bit of a stretch, though I can see where the theory comes from. It might be more accurate, however, to say that Animalize and Asylum are basically Paul Stanley solo albums because Gene didn't give a fuck about making music at the time.

That being said, the best tracks from each record would make a strong mid-80's KISS record.

1) I’ve Had Enough
2) Who Wants to be lonely
3) tears are falling
4) Uh! All night

[RaceFan3]

It's a bit of a stretch, though I can see where the theory comes from. It might be more accurate, however, to say that Animalize and Asylum are basically Paul Stanley solo albums because Gene didn't give a fuck about making music at the time.

That being said, the best tracks from each record would make a strong mid-80's KISS record.

1) I’ve Had Enough
2) Who Wants to be lonely
3) tears are falling
4) Uh! All night

5) Thrills in the Night
6) King of the Mountain
7) I'm Alive

Okay so more like an EP

You could MAYBE include Burn Bitch Burn (fireplace logs included) and Trial by Fire for a full album.

[Turner Coates]

While KISS has not officially acknowledged "Animalize" and "Asylum" as a conceptual pair, examining the albums in tandem reveals an intriguing narrative arc. From the untamed, instinct-driven realm of "Animalize" to the surreal, dreamlike landscape of "Asylum," KISS takes its audience on a sonic journey that transcends traditional rock storytelling.

[maninblack]

While KISS has not officially acknowledged "Animalize" and "Asylum" as a conceptual pair, examining the albums in tandem reveals an intriguing narrative arc. From the untamed, instinct-driven realm of "Animalize" to the surreal, dreamlike landscape of "Asylum," KISS takes its audience on a sonic journey that transcends traditional rock storytelling.

[Spongie]

[Roland Rockover]

That being said, the best tracks from each record would make a strong mid-80's KISS record.

Well said! Combining the best tracks from "Animalize" and "Asylum" would create a potent mid-80s KISS record that encapsulates the band's musical prowess during this period. The synthesis of the heavier, glam-infused elements from "Animalize" with the refined and accessible tunes from "Asylum" would strike a balance, representing the diverse sonic landscape KISS navigated in the mid-1980s.

[GoodJudge]

That being said, the best tracks from each record would make a strong mid-80's KISS record.

Well said! Combining the best tracks from "Animalize" and "Asylum" would create a potent mid-80s KISS record that encapsulates the band's musical prowess during this period. The synthesis of the heavier, glam-infused elements from "Animalize" with the refined and accessible tunes from "Asylum" would strike a balance, representing the diverse sonic landscape KISS navigated in the mid-1980s.

This has got to be one of the regular posters using ChatGPT. My son in law has just used it to design a restaurant menu and the writing style is not far off the above.

[Roland Rockover]

Hey, I assure you I'm as real as the crunchy guitar riffs in a hair metal anthem. Let's keep the conversation rockin' – feel free to ask me anything about hair metal or beyond!

[Tenacious_Dio]

feel free to ask me anything

[Love_Industry]

Okay so more like an EP

You could MAYBE include Burn Bitch Burn (fireplace logs included) and Trial by Fire for a full album.

Add Kiss versions of a couple of the songs Vinnie Vincent wrote and demoed for Animalize with Hirsh Gardner and you have a better album.
Most of them ended up on VVI, but the OTT guitar w*nking wasn't part of the demos.

[BernieTaupson]

Is this material part of your book or are these bonus chapters?

[Dyslexicheart]

Two gawd-awful albums. The End.