KISS have released a massive super deluxe box set of one of the most loved albums in their catalog, Creatures of the Night. Originally released in 1982, the album was a return to form for the band, after the pop leanings of both Dynasty and Unmasked, as well as the experimental (Music From) The Elder. After that trio of albums, KISS had largely fallen out of favor with a big portion of their fans. Knowing it was time to get back to their roots and make an all-out hard rock album, founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons enlisted outside writers Adam Mitchell, Jim Vallance, and Bryan Adams (yes, THAT Bryan Adams). Also collaborating was a guitarist/songwriter named Vincent Cusano. With newest band member Eric Carr on drums, the trio put down some seriously heavy tracks, some of the hardest rocking songs they had recorded at that point. Original guitarist Ace Frehley, disenchanted by the debacle that was The Elder, chose not to participate in the writing or recording of the new material. 

This 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Box Set contains 103 tracks, 75 of which have never been released, spread over 5 cd’s and 1 Blu-Ray Audio disc. Also included are an 80 page hardcover book, detailing the making of the album, and rare photos from the era. Add to this, stage drawings, posters, a replica 1982 tour program, buttons, guitar picks, and other assorted goodies, and you have a release that no self-respecting member of the KISS Army would be without. 

As for the music, disc 1 is the original album remastered, sounding better than ever. 

Discs 2 and 3 are a selection of outtakes, rarities, and demos. Some instrumentals, some alternate takes. On these discs I found a couple of gems. A Gene Simmons demo titled “Something Seems to Happen at Night” is a synthesizer ballad that, while sounding like a product of the times, is a very strong track. Also, an unfinished demo of Paul’s, “Betrayed” makes me sad that it was never finished, as this would easily have been at home on either “Asylum” or “Crazy Nights”. 

Discs 4 and 5 are live tracks recorded at various shows in late 1982/early ’83 on the Creatures of the Night/10th Anniversary Tour. While not a complete show, the tracks are sequenced to match the setlist of the tour. Of particular interest are “Keep Me Comin'” and “Rock and Roll Hell”, which were only played a few times on the tour. Also, this is finally an official release of live material from the Vinnie Vincent era lineup. The sound quality is overall solid, with one or two tracks sounding a little less than soundboard. 

I can’t review the Blu-Ray Audio disc, as I don’t have audiophile equipment, to say how amazing or average it sounds. 

Bottom line, this is a solid release. For die-hard KISS fans, this is a no-brainer. The amount of great sounding music, the gorgeous presentation, and all of the assorted goodies are well worth the cost.

I’m Music Magazine Contributing Writer Jeff Koger