Since the coming back of Glam Metal and AOR in Europe, many acts became the central forces into the genres, being the ones that are in evidence. One of them is the German quintet KISSIN’ DYNAMITE, because they had an amazing growth with the sequence of full-lengths of “Megalomania” (2014), “Generation Goodbye” (2016) and “Ecstasy” (2018) , the Covid-19 made everyone stop for some time, and “Not the End of the Road” (2022) took four years to be released. But now they’re back with “Back With a Bang”, an amazing album that will take them to a higher level.

Again, the vocalist Hannes worked as producer, and did the recordings and mixing as well, leaving the mastering for Robin Schmidt (known for his works on mastering songs of acts as VICTORY, CREMATORY, CARACH ANGREN, FALKENBACH and others). This time, the balance between clarity and distortion is on a very good level, polished as it must, but always allowing the band to have musical weight. And by the way, if one doesn’t understand the band’s music, this person must go to the otolaryngologist. There’s no need to endless words to describe what the quintet is up to: a form of music that is 60% Glam Metal, 20% Hard Rock and 20% Heavy Metal. It means that it’s accessible, full of excellent catching melodies and choruses, but with a good dose of weight in many moments. But this time, the band sounds a bit more accessible than before, with a careful insight on the instrumental arrangements and on the melodies to be able to catch the listeners at the first hearing, but without losing the musical spontaneity (that’s a personal trait of their music) and the energy. In other words, it’s an amazing release!

The great secret of their music is simple: they’re not trying to be a 80s Glam Metal act, but just play the genre today with a modern energy. And it can be felt on hits as “Back With a Bang” (a frantic song that impossible to resist due its catching rhythms, with a thunderous work on bass guitar and drums, showing how the veteran Steffen and the new drummer Sebastian are getting along perfectly), “My Monster” (a massive Hard/Gam Metal song full of contrasts between tender parts with distorted moments, with excellent guitar riffs and arrangements, and what a great chorus, and Ande and Jim are really working in great shape on the entire album), “Raise Your Glass” (this one is extremely accessible, with an updated 80s feeling, with a massive chorus, and Hannes is singing better than before), “Queen of the Night” (a heavier song due the crushing weight of the guitars, but with outstanding melodies and another chorus hard to resist to), “The Devil is a Woman” (this mammoth bears that filthy hooks inherited from the influences of Southern Rock that are into Glam Metal’s core, but it’s amazing how the band knows how to create excellent melodies), “The Best is Yet to Come” (with you guys, this title is a truth, and this one has tender accessible melodies and layers of feelings expressed by the vocals), “I Do It My Way” (mezzo ballad, mezzo Hard/Glam, it bears amazing arrangements and rhythmic contrasts), “More is More” (another one filled contrasts between tender and introspective parts with a chorus filled with restless energy, with guitars sitting fiery hooking riffs and leads), and… Hey, people, don’t be lazy and taste to “Iconic” (lovely catchy melodies, indeed), “Learn to Fly”, “When the Lights Go Out” and “Not a Wise Man”, because the songs are working as a solid wall, what leaves no space for negative words.

Welcome back for action, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE, and I hope “Back With a Bang” will be a massive success. You deserve it!