Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (also known as simply Carnival of Souls) is the seventeenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released in 1997. It is the band's final album with lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, as well as their last album with drummer Eric Singer until 2009's Sonic Boom. The album is a departure from the band's classic hard rock style, in favor of a dark and dense grunge-oriented sound.[1] It is also the band's last album of their unmasked era.
The album was recorded between late 1995 and early 1996, but Kiss cancelled its release after committing to a reunion tour with the band's original lineup. Bootleg copies were circulated by fans, prompting the band to officially release the material in 1997 under the title Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions. According to guitarist Bruce Kulick, the bootleg versions in distribution lacked songs that are part of the official release. There was no accompanying tour to support the album, and none of the songs on Carnival of Souls have ever been performed live by Kiss.
Two former members of the band Black 'N Blue co-wrote songs on Carnival of Souls; vocalist Jaime St. James co-wrote "In My Head", and guitarist Tommy Thayer collaborated on "Childhood's End". Thayer would join Kiss as the band's permanent lead guitarist in 2002. The album's closing track, "I Walk Alone", features lead vocals from the band's then-lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, his only lead vocal performance with the band. Carnival of Souls is the band's longest album, clocking in at 60 minutes and 11 seconds.
Track List
Side 1
- Hate
- Rain
- Master & Slave
- Childhood's End
- I Will Be There
- Jungle
Side 2
- In My Head
- It Never Goes Away
- Seduction of The Innocent
- I Confess
- In The Mirror
- I Walk Alone