With personnel changes and neglect from a key member of the band, it's amazing ANIMALIZE turned out as well as it did. This record shows Kiss was able to rise above all the groups who copied a style of music that Kiss originated.
After LICK IT UP, "creative differences" pushed lead guitarist Vinnie Vincent out and speed demon Mark St. John in. Without missing a lick, St. John was able to fill Vincent's shoes admirably. Also around this time, Gene Simmons decides to try his hand at acting, starring in such films as "Runaway" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive". Thus, he is listed as Associate Producer but in reality had minimal input. Producer Paul Stanley did a fine job putting his own personal technical stamp on the album. Stanley sings on "I've Had Enough (Into The Fire)," a fast and furious track with motivational lyrics. He also fills in on bass for Simmons on both singles, "Heaven's On Fire" and "Thrills In The Night." Lyrically, Simmon's songs reflect where he was in the 80's with titles like "Burn Bitch Burn" and "Murder In High Heels".
Serenity in Murder is a Japan-based band who play the genre of melodic death metal and do it with ease without fucking it up in anyway possible. The 9 songs on the album are all above average and on par with the feeling you would want to get out of a great melodic death metal release. Epic blackened shreaks from Hell! Give their debut album a shot. It's worth it.