Of all the early Kiss albums, one stands out as sounding distinctively different. Upon its release on June, 22, 1974, “Hotter Than Hell” sold 500,000 copies. But the album would have a far more impactful movement in the years to come. Produced by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, who had also produced Kiss’s debut album, which spawned some Kiss classics such as “Deuce”, “Strutter” and “Cold Gin”. “Hotter Than Hell” was different right from the get-go and remains the standout album from the band’s early days.
Muddy production, dark lyrics, heavy and raw guitar tones, yet it all worked and has made it, to this day, a very interesting-sounding album. “Goin’ Blind,” “Parasite,” and “Strange Ways” moved the band away from the upbeat songs on their debut album to a much more brooding sound.
The distorted, unpolished mix of “Hotter Than Hell” led rock author Greg Prato to describe it as sounding “like it was recorded in a building on fire.” Yet that description is part of the charm of the album, which would influence the grunge music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990’s.
Alice in Chains’ guitarist, Jerry Cantrell have acknowledged the work and playing style of Ace Frehley that had a profound impact on not only on Cantrell but on other guitarists as well. Frehley who’s style was blues-rooted yet hard rock. Self-taught, Frehley had a knack for making some memorable riffs out of the blue. He never rehearsed song solos; he just made them up as songs were being recorded.
After he departed Kiss in the early 1980’s the band would chase that sound and never find it again until the reunion tour and subsequent tours with Frehley back in toe. Ace Frehley has long been the fan favorite member of Kiss.
Grunge bands such as Nirvana, The Melvins, Red House Painters, Foo Fighters, and others would cover at least one KISS song at their own concerts. The impact on a generation of musicians and the genre they were inclined to be pointed back to one band and one album that was the catalyst for grunge music, “Hotter Than Hell.”
