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Rating: Revenge is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful albums by Kiss. It was released in 1992. The title spoke for itself. This album was about Kiss's revenge. Just as with Creatures Of The Night, tragedies—this time the death of drummer Eric Carr—pushed Kiss to give their best and produce an exceptional work. Eric Carr was replaced by Eric Singer who, together with Paul, Gene, and Bruce, locked themselves in the recording studios from the end of '91 until the summer of '92. Aided by the pressure of Bob Ezrin (the fifth Kiss), who rejected all the work created a year earlier and forced the four to do better. Having not performed live for a long time, they decided to present the new work for a month in some relatively small venues.
The album represented a real return to the past, as if from Creatures Of The Night the Kiss had produced nothing more. Enough with the earrings and lace. Enough of all that glam that made them look like gays. Return to the black darkness!!! The album opens with “Unholy” and “Take It Off”. The first song is a terrifying low blow, almost doom metal, for many, it represents the “‘God Of Thunder’” of the '90s. The second, very intriguing and catchy.
Then there's “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” an emotional symphonic adaptation of a piece by Argent (a group to which Kiss opened in the beginning), in which Eric Carr also participated in the choirs, in the last days of his life. The track, for the record, was included as the soundtrack for the movie "Bill & Ted Bogus Journey" with a young Keanu Reeves.
Then there's “Every Time I Look At You”, in my opinion the best ballad among the numerous Kiss ones. Unfortunately, this track was not well exploited. It was released as the third single after “Domino” and did not enter the charts. “Domino”, indeed, was an exceptional track, very similar to past ones, from the first albums.
“I Just Wanna”, featuring former guitarist Vinnie Vincent, is also a valid track (the confusion in the chorus between ‘I want to forget you’ and ‘I want to fuck you’ is great). There are also “Tough Love”, “Spit”, “Heart of Chrome”, “Thou Shalt Not”, and “Paralyzed...” but the peak of sentimentalism is in the last track: “Carr Jam 1981”, an unfinished demo written by Eric Carr and Ace Frehley that should have been in Music From The Elder ten years before.
In summary, Revenge is a magnificent album, so much so that that year was one of the best for Kiss (alongside 77 and 83). After many years of ups and downs both aesthetically and musically, Kiss had come home.
“It was hard, but for all the devils, it was worth it. It made us realize how many mistakes we've made in the last ten years... I promise I will suspend all my activities unrelated to Kiss” (Gene Simmons).
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Unholy (03:42)
I was there through the ages
Chained slaves to their cages
I have seen you eat your own
I'm the cycle of pain
Of a thousand year old reign
I'm suicide and salvation
The omen to nations
That you worship on all fours
I'm the infection and famine
That's knocking at your door
That's why you're feeling so
Unholy
Oh, I was created by man, you know I'm....
Unholy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I am the incubus
I lay the egg in you
The worm that burrows
Through your braainn
But you are the beast
That calls me by my name
You send your children to war
To serve bastards and whores
So now you know
You created me
On the day that you were born
Unholy
I was created by man, yeah I'm the Lord of the flies, you know I'm
Unholy
From the left hand of power comes the father of lies
Unholy - Unholy!
I lay you down to sleep
Your soul to keep
Better cross your heart before you die
And now you know
Know that you are mine
That's why you're feeling so
Unholy, Unholy, Unholy - Unholy!!
02 Take It Off (04:51)
Well my mind is gettin' dirty yeah around eleven thirty, uh huh
I wanna watch some asses shakin' to the noise the boys are makin', uh huh
Ooh, so I hop into my car, hit the local titty bar, uh huh
'Cause that's my kind of situation when I need some perspiration, uh huh
I do my one-step shoppin' for the girl of my dreams
'Cause I can always be sure that she's as good as she seems
Take it off, give it to me
Take it off, like you'd do me
I wanna see what's inside, 'cause you got nothin' to hide
Take it off, pretty baby
Take it off, drive me crazy
You know you make me so hot, I wanna see what you got
Take it off, yeah!
Wave your panties in the air, lick your lips and shake your hair, uh huh
Ooh, when you spread a little oil, yeah, my blood begins to boil, uh huh
Yeah, it's so hard to choose, when you all look so fine
But I got nothin' to lose but my money and my mind
Take it off, give it to me
Take it off, like you'd do me
I wanna see what's inside, 'cause you got nothin' to hide
Take it off, pretty baby
Take it off, drive me crazy
Ooh, take it off, drive me crazy
You know you make me so hot, I wanna see what you got
Take it off, yeah! Take it off!
(Instrumental break)
Ooh, move your sweet body closer (I want to be alone with you)
Yeah, come on and be my fantasy (there's so much you and I could do)
Oh, you're so near I can taste you (you're teasin' me, yeah you're pleasin' me)
(Ahh) I know you're dancin' just for me, just for me, just for me
Take it off, pretty baby
Take it off, drive me crazy
You know you make me so hot, I wanna see what you got
Take it off, pretty baby
Take it off, give it to me
Take it off, like you'd do me
Girl, you got nothin' to hide, now lemme see what's inside
Take it off! Take it, take it, take it off! Yeah!
04 Spit (03:33)
I got no manners and I'm not too clean
But I know what I like, if you know what I mean
What'll people say? Well mister cantcha see
It don't mean spit to me
Hot damn, Lord above, I want a lotta woman with a lotta love
Well, thin is in, but it's plain to see, it don't mean spit to me
I need: big hips, sweet lips, make a man outta me
The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin' - most definitely
(I need a whole lotta woman) To keep me satisfied
(I need a whole lotta woman) Baby, for ride after ride after ride
(I need a whole lotta woman) Yeah, 'cause what you are is what you eat
And I need something sweet
Lock the windows, close the doors, then she get down on all fours
Let the neighbors talk, but can't you see, it don't mean spit to me
No! Oh yeah!
(I need a whole lotta woman) Yes I do, to keep me satisfied
(I need a whole lotta woman)
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, for ride after ride after ride
(I need a whole lotta woman)
I'm tellin' you, 'cause what you are is what you eat
And I need something sweet (I want somethin')
never did, never will
(I need a whole lotta woman) Yeah, 'cause meatless girls don't satisfy me
(I need a whole lotta woman) Mama mama, for ride after ride after ride
(I need a whole lotta woman) Yeah, that's right, what you are is who you eat
And I need something
(I need a whole lotta woman) Oh, I need a whole lotta woman
(I need a whole lotta woman) Hey, Bruce
(I need a whole lotta woman) Yeah yeah, oh oh oh
06 Domino (04:01)
"Now lemme tell ya my story, I got a man-sized predicament
And it's a big one, goes like this, yeah"
My my, ow, yeah!
Never had confession, never had a home
Never had no worry, until I met Domino
Ain't the virgin Mary, love her I confess
Got my hesitations, 'cause she kisses like the kiss of death
Loves lots of money, back's against the wall
Calls me "Sugar Daddy", she knows she's got me by the balls
They call her Domino - "so fine"
Got a reputation, haven't got a hope
It's a sticky situation, if she ain't old enough to vote
Loves to play with fire, loves to hurt so good
Loves to keep me burnin', 'cause she's a bad habit, bad habit
Bad habit that's good, good, good
They call her Domino, Domino, Domino
"Every damn time I walk through that door, it's the same damn thing
That bitch bends over, and I forget my name - ow!"
Loves lots of money, back's against the wall
Calls me "Sugar Daddy", she knows she's got me by the balls - ow!
Loves to play with fire, love her I confess
Got no hesitations, cause she's a bad habit, bad habit, she's a bad habit!
"Yeah"
08 Thou Shalt Not (03:59)
I lived most of my life in New York City
Born and raised in the promised land
One day this man in black said, "Listen Jack"
Told me I was chosen to kiss the ring on his hand
He said "Kindly reconsider the sins of your past"
And I said "Mister you can kindly kiss my ass"
"Thou shalt not" - but I know what I want - "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - but I know what I need - "Thou shalt not"
Well, the son of a bitch must be crazy
Tellin' me I'm gonna go down
I said, "this ain't the inquisition, you ain't the son of God
And I sure as hell don't give a damn"
He said, "You're long gone, can't you tell?"
And I said "Mister, if I'm goin', I'll see you in hell! Yeah!"
"Thou shalt not" - but I know what I want - "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - but I know what I need - "Thou shalt not" - yeah
"Thou shalt not" - gotta live my life - "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - any way I please - "Thou shalt not"
Don't even try, you know I'd die to be free, oh yeah
And you wonder why, you can't bring this guy to his knees
'Cause I know what I want, yes, I know what I need
Well, I know what I want, I know what I need
Gotta live my life just the way I please, ooh yeah
'Cause I know what I want, yeaaahhhhh!
"Thou shalt not", "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not", "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - but I know what I want - "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - oh, yes I do - "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - I'm gonna live my life - "Thou shalt not"
"Thou shalt not" - any way I choose - "Thou shalt not"
You got that right.
10 Paralyzed (04:15)
Who cares, I'm in a trance, I got no hope, I don't stand a chance
But it's all right, yes it's all right
Who knows, well I don't care, 'cause I don't fit in anywhere
But it's all right, yes it is all right
Well, I'm numb but that's my style, I've been numb for a little while
And it's all right, yes it's all right
I checked out yesterday, well there's nothing left to say
But it's all right, yes it's all right
Don't see nothin' in my eyes, 'cause man I've been lobotomized
Cold inside, anesthetized, 'cause life has got me paralyzed
Who says I have to pay, I didn't want this anyway
But it's all right, yes it's all right
Who says life is good? Love thyself, well I never could
But it's all right, yes it is all right
I'm here dressed in black, waiting for a heart attack
But it's all right, yes it's all right
I try to talk, I just can't speak, the urge is strong, but my brain is weak
And it's all right, yes it's all right
Don't see nothin' in my eyes, 'cause man I've been lobotomized
Cold inside, anesthetized, 'cause life has got me paralyzed
And who says life is good? Love thyself, well I never could
But it's all right, yes it's all right
I checked out yesterday, well there's nothing left to say
But it's all right, yes it's all right
Don't see nothin' in my eyes, 'cause man I've been lobotomized, I'm paralyzed
Cold inside, anesthetized, yeah, I'm feelin' otherwise, I'm paralyzed
Don't see nothin' in my eyes, 'cause man I've been lobotomized, I'm paralyzed
Cold inside, anesthetized, yeah, I'm feelin' otherwise, I'm paralyzed
11 I Just Wanna (04:08)
I got a body built for sin and an appetite for passion
Yeah I can see the road to ruin and I'm lookin' for some action
I got my finger on the trigger and a match to the fuse
I'll make someone an offer that's too big to refuse
Tired of tryin' to be what I'll never be, baby, you could never see that
Chorus:
I don't want a romance, I don't wanna dance, I just wanna forget you
Time to take my chances, find somebody new
I just wanna fuh, I just wanna fuh, I just wanna forget you
I'm gonna set the night on fire, shootin' like a Roman Candle
Ooh yeah, I'm burnin' with desire and I'm much too hot to handle
I'm like a runaway, crazy train, I'm out of control
If you try to put the brakes on, I'm still gonna roll
Tired of tryin' to do what you want me to, baby, I'm just tired of you, yeah
I don't want a romance, I don't wanna dance, I just wanna forget you
Time to take my chances, find somebody new
I just wanna fuh, I just wanna fuh, I just wanna fuh
I just wanna forget you
Wake up, baby, don't you sleep, I can't take this one more week
If I can't go out to play, I can't make it one more day
I wanna play with dynamite, time is right for heavy breathing
Gettin' stone cold crazy till the dawn without a reason
I wanna take me a vacation down a long stretch of track
I'll find a new sensation and I ain't comin' back
Tired of tryin' to be what I'll never be, baby, you could never see that
I don't want a romance, I don't wanna dance
I don't want a romance, or a second chance
I don't want a romance, I don't wanna dance
I just wanna fuh, I just wanna forget
I don't want a romance, I don't wanna dance, I just wanna forget you
Time to take my chances, find somebody new
I just wanna fuh, I just wanna fuh, I just wanna forget you
I don't want a romance, I don't wanna dance, I just wanna forget you
Time to take my chances, find somebody new
I just wanna for, I just wanna for, I just wanna forget you
I just wanna forget you, yeah!
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Other reviews
By Lesto BANG
This phantom group of colorful pretend-masked entertainers have truly dug their own grave with this album.
Revenge is a musical toy full of gadgets and muscles devoid of social or existential connotations.
By kissarmy
Kiss seem rejuvenated by twenty years, the powerful riffs attack the first track of the album 'Unholy'.
'God gave rock 'n' roll to you II' is a song that excites everyone and especially moves whoever hears it because such songs are written only once.
