Kiss

KISS'S TALENT, perhaps their only one, is salesmanship. Like many Americans with more mouth than brains, the act of selling becomes a raison d'etre. A skill to be proud of and exhibited as brashly as possible. 'Asylum' continues to display Kiss's ability to flog hapless consumers a product they don't need and which has no intrinsic value whatsoever. This is marketing at its best.

And music at its worst. It begins with that reassuring (sic) burst of power chords across an overwrought barrage of drums. A succession of guitar solos comprise a frenzy of finger vibrato culminating in the customary high-pitched ping! And all is topped by lyrics to excite nascent axe murderers and sex attackers everywhere.

Kiss score again. Like the record, the profits will be gross.