Ace Frehley
Anomaly

The release of "Sonic Boom" by Kiss has captured the attention of many, especially us old fans.

But simultaneously, another album was released, perhaps unnoticed by some, but not by me who has always loved this gentleman dearly:

"Anomaly" by Ace Frehley, the first and true guitarist of Kiss.

It's peculiar that the two albums came out almost simultaneously.

Well, for me, it was a double dive into the past. An indescribable emotion.

I've already said my piece on "Sonic Boom," so now I'll talk about "Anomaly."

After listening to the album just once, the first thing I thought was that this Ace would still be functional in Kiss.

His compositional abilities have always been of excellent level, and some songs he wrote in the Kiss era remain some of the group's most beautiful tracks ("Shock Me", "Save Your Love", "2000 Man" etc.)

The album opens with "Foxy And Free", a typical Ace attack, very 70s sound, typical of his Gibson, unmistakable voice as unmistakable as his way of playing, sometimes it seems like he's shooting a bunch of senseless notes, yet they always have a meaning, because that's Ace Frehley. He plays how and what he feels, nothing like the guitarists of the modern era. Very simple yet effective.

The album is like that throughout, well-made, engaging... What's surprising, just like in the case of "Sonic Boom," is the artist's excellent form.

Let me explain: Ace, like Paul and Gene, is of considerable age; then everything has been said about him, from problems with alcohol and drugs to a couple of suicide attempts... Well, another generation, these guys are made of another material, of an "unbreakable" type.

Track no. 5, "Genghis Khan" brings to mind "Fractured Mirror", a track on the self-titled album from 1978 when he was with Kiss.

"Too Many Faces", the next track, is my favorite, perhaps a bit more commercial compared to the rest of the album, but I especially love the ending. This track along with track no. 3 "Pain In The Neck", I could see them well in Sonic Boom, which would then truly be the album of the year.

I conclude by recommending the album to those who know Ace, but also to those who have never listened to him either in Kiss or solo, because it's a magnificent album, it took me back in time, when as a child I spent my days listening to "Destroyer".

It moved me.

The power of music, those who are rock, are rock forever...