The spaceman is back! Legendary former
KISS guitarist Ace Frehley returns with his eighth studio album, 10,000 Volts, delivering plenty of
catchy choruses and his signature guitar solos. Followers of the blog know my
love of all things KISS and Ace was always my favourite KISS member back in the
day. He’s certainly been the most successful of the original four when it comes
to solo careers. I’ve been eagerly waiting for 10,000 Volts to come out with much glee, but also much trepidation.
His solo records since his big comeback of 2009 have been pretty great, and
this is his first LP of original songs since 2018’s awesome Spaceman. Is it the masterpiece we’ve
been promised? Read on to find out, spaceheads!
The title track, also the first
single, is an instant classic that cracks open the record with great fanfare. It’s
vintage Ace through and through and a hell of an earworm. The second track, and
second single, “Walkin’ on the Moon”, is in my opinion the weakest song on the
album. When I first heard it, I became skeptical of what the rest of the LP
would sound like, the two first singles being so different from one another. I
must admit that I’ve warmed up to it since its release; it’s not a bad song per
se, rather just an average rock tune. Track number three is “Cosmic Heart” and
it’s a fantastic song! It may very well be my favourite song here, with its
ominous vibe, featuring Ace in rare form on the axe. Next up is the third
single, “Cherry Medicine”, and I could breathe easy once I heard it in
anticipation of the full album. It’s an infectious tune and a definite
highlight of the LP. “Back into My Arms Again” is a terrific old school rock
ballad, one of Ace’s all-time best. “Fightin’ for Life” is a street song about
the average Joe. It’s got cool licks and riffs with a catchy chorus and hooks. “Blinded”
and “Constantly Cute” are fun, head-bobbing tunes. A little cheesy in an Ace sort
of way, but it’s part of the charm of these songs. “Life of a Stranger” is a
superb ballad, very melodic and reminiscent of Ozzy’s ‘90s ballads at times. “Up
in the Sky” is a banger and deals with Ace’s fascination with outer space. The tradition
of closing his albums with an instrumental continues here with “Stratosphere”,
albeit a shorter track than usual for Ace. Nonetheless, it’s brilliant and is
the perfect way to end 10,000 Volts.
After a handful of spins, I can
say that I believe 10,000 Volts to be
Ace’s strongest outing since his phenomenal 1978 debut LP. Yep, a bold
statement, I know, but it’s that great. It’s astonishing that the man can still
create such inspired, melodic, catchy, and all-around high-quality records
after fifty years of ups and downs. If you’re a KISS fan or a fan of Ace’s, it’s
a no-brainer, this LP belongs in your collection. If you dig hard rock, metal
or simply love albums chock-full of great melodies, you’ll be pleased with the
space Ace’s latest collection of tunes. This is a record that will undeniably
have a spot in my Top Five Albums of the Year when 2024 comes to a close.
Ace Frehley on Bandcamp: https://acefrehley.bandcamp.com/album/10000-volts
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