Kiss is notorious for releasing Greatest Hits compilations and it is both the band and the label responsible for that travesty. Don’t get me wrong, they have a ton of great songs so a few greatest hits compilations are probably necessary. However, this is not one of them even though this one is a little different. On either October 10, 2006 or November 21, 2006, depending on who you believe (Wikipedia shows both dates), the label allowed a third volume in the 20th Century Masters’ Millennium Collection. They released ‘The Best of Kiss: Volume 3 – The Millennium Collection’ and what makes it a little different is that it is only compilation from Kiss that focuses only on their material from the 1990’s. It gets a point for that.

But like Volumes 1 & 2, it is only 12 songs and all are previously released so nothing new here. No remixes, single edits, just album cuts which is easier and cheaper. The look is exactly like the other comps in this set so at least they are consistent. However, the 90’s weren’t the best time for Kiss, they had 3 studio albums and a couple live albums. Not much to work with I’m afraid.

The compilation kicks off with “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” which is a cover of the Argent song written by Russ Ballard with heavy lyric changes by Paul, Gene and Bob. The song is the first good rock anthem Kiss has done in years and the first in 10 years to have a co-lead vocals with both Gene and Paul. This was from the Bill & Ted Bogus Journey movie and soundtrack as well as from ‘Revenge’. You can get in a multitude of places.

Also from ‘Revenge’ is the opening track and first single “Unholy” which was written by Gene and Vinnie Vincent. It is heavy, dark and as eerie as they come. The Demon was back in full force. It was the first official single off the album and they were making a statement that this isn’t the 80’s Kiss, that Kiss is long gone. The bass groove is ominous sounding, Eric Singers’ drums are massive and Bruce Kulick lays down a nasty solo. It is all awesome!!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=kfmrX_WlM2w%3Fsi%3DBmTES9mmupdkNOv9

Next up is “Domino” and yes it is a ‘Revenge’ song too, but this time it was taken from ‘Alive III’. Gene’s delivery is pretty cool in that spoken singing tone and it works really well before singing out in the bridge and chorus. And don’t forget Bruce’s guitar work, well, because it is fantastic as as is Bruce!! The most gifted guitar player they had, technically speaking.

“Hate” follows and is from their album ‘Carnival of Souls’. The song was written by Gene, Bruce and Scott Van Zen. It is a pretty dark and heavy song and could quite possibly be the heaviest song they have ever done. It is the second time they have led with a Gene song and it works really well. I love the distorted guitar sounds, the heavy drums and the wicked bass line. This feels like a grittier “Unholy” and you know, I am okay with that. The original demo of this is on Gene Simmons ‘The Vault’ on Disk 2. That version is even more raw and rough and just as good.

“Childhood’s End” is another from ‘Carnival of Souls’ and this one was written by Gene and Bruce again , but this one was also with Tommy Thayer. Gene takes on vocals for this one and it is more of a ballad. It is clunky, Gene sounds horrible and this is a big pile of a flaming turd for me. If you want to a much more palatable version of the song, got to Disk 3 of Gene Simmons ‘The Vault’ and you will get a more raw, rocking version of the song with the 1993 demo.

Paul and Bruce bring us the next track along with Curtis Coumo.  “I Will Be There” is the third track from ‘Carnival of Souls’ which is a ballad about Paul’s son Evan. The only song Paul says he felt a connection to which makes sense as it is more personal for him. The song is acoustic and has Bruce playing bass rather than Gene. It is the least grungy song on the album and musically sounds nice and is a touching song, but it feels like it is trying to go somewhere yet never reaches that destination.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Wgq-icOc2AI%3Fsi%3DC1iBjKRLxOcObs5J

Now, we get a couple tracks from the ‘Unplugged’ album and first is the song “Comin’ Home” which kicks off that album. This one is kind of cool as it is real breezy and a nice change of pace off the studio version. A more relaxed, laid back version and really cool.

The next ‘Unplugged’ song is “Got To Choose” but you can’t get this on the original version of the album. You actually have to pick up the Japanese edition of the album or pick up the re-issue for this one as it is a bonus track and a great bonus track at that.

“Psycho Circus” is up next and it was written by Paul Stanley and Curt Cuomo. The band was missing the BIG song to open the album and Paul delivered. It worked so well it has been used as a great opening track for the live shows. It might be one of my all time favorite Paul songs he has ever done. It is hard and heavy and kicks some major ass. It has a dark quality to it that really makes it stand out. There is a break near the end where Paul speaks sing some of the lyrics in a very menacing style that sounds cool. It is a beast of a song and musically has some stellar musicians. On drums is the great Kevin Valentine, the lead guitarists is some guy named Tommy Thayer, bass is Bruce Kulick and then you have Paul. Cool that it has 2 Kiss members not in the band at that time.

From the ‘Psycho Circus’ album as well is the Ace penned and sung track “Into the Void”. I believe it was the only song at that album to actually feature all original members playing their respective parts. The song was written by Ace and Karl Cochran. It is a classic sounding Ace song, not his best, but still pretty cool to have another song in the Ace catalog.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1DlE3Aq6dLI%3Fsi%3Deq72VKrxdfNj8E3u

A third track from ‘Psycho Circus’ and not one I would’ve chose is “I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll” which was written by Paul, Curt and Holly Knight (she helped write “Hide Your Heart” for Kiss back in the 80’s). It is a typical Kiss rock anthem. It is a fun song, nothing special, but I enjoy it enough to not skip it. This one is mostly a Paul solo effort as he plays rhythm, handles the solo and the bass. Kevin Valentine handles the drumming. So nice the whole band was involved…sarcasm.

The final track on the album is not an album track, nope. This one is from a movie soundtrack. The song is “Nothing Can Keep Me From You”.  I believe the song played through the end credits and was actually written by Diane Warren and not by Kiss. Not a bad track, but it is a Diane Warren song…say no more. Kiss trying to be Aerosmith. You can also get this song in the Kiss Box Set (it is on Disc 6).

And that is all folks. I know, you are heart broken, but no more songs on this album. As far as Compilation albums go, it isn’t the worst one they’ve released. As I said at the beginning, it is the only compilation that focuses on only their 90’s output. There isn’t much there to pick from but they do an okay job. I might have picked a few different ones. I will admit, my scores on these are bad, but it isn’t the worst idea to have them focus on specific eras. The first in the series got 1 Star, and the 2nd got 2.0 Stars. That doesn’t mean this one will get a 3.0 because this is the third one though. My Overall Score on this one will be a 2.0 out of 5.0 Stars. It gets a point for the focus of the songs. Nothing better since the song choices aren’t the best. Much better songs from that time. Thanks for reading and see you next time.

The Kiss Review Series:

1. Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
2. Kiss – Kiss (1974)
3. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell (1974)
4. Kiss – Dressed to Kill (1975)
5. Kiss – Alive! (1975)
6. Kiss – Destroyer (1976)
7. Kiss – “Flaming Youth” 45 Promo Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
8. Kiss – “Beth” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1976)
9. Kiss – Special Kiss Album For Their Summer Tour (1976)
10. Kiss – The Originals (1976)
11. Kiss – Rock & Roll Over (1976)
12. Kiss – “Calling Dr. Love” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1977)
13. Kiss – Love Gun (1977)
14. Kiss – “Christine Sixteen” – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition (1977)
15. Kiss – Alive II (1977)
16. Kiss – Double Platinum (1978)
17. Kiss – Paul Stanley (1978)
18. Kiss – Gene Simmons (1978)
19. Kiss – Peter Criss (1978)
20. Kiss – Ace Frehley (1978)
21. Kiss – Best of Solo Albums (1978)
22. Kiss – Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park Movie (1978)
23. Kiss – Dynasty (1979)
24. Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (1979) – 12″ & 7″ Singles (Bonus Edition)
25. Kiss – Unmasked (1980)
26. Peter Criss – Out of Control (1980)
27. Kiss – Music From The Elder (1981)
28. Kiss – Killers (1982)
29. Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1982)
30. Kiss – Lick It Up (1983)
31. Kiss – Animalize (1984)
32. Wendy O. Williams – WOW (1984) (Bonus Edition)
33. Kiss – Animalize Live Uncensored (1985)
34. Kiss – Asylum (1985)
35. Kiss – “Tears Are Falling” 7″ Single (Bonus Edition) (1985)
36. Kiss – Creatures of the Night (1985 Re-Issue)
37. Vinnie Vincent Invasion – Vinnie Vincent Invasion (1986)
38. Black N’ Blue – Nasty Nasty (1986)
39. Ace Frehley – Frehley’s Comet (1987)
40. Kiss – Exposed VHS (1987)
41. Kiss – Crazy Nights (1987)
42. Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” – 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
43. Kiss – “Reason To Live” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
44. Kiss – Chikara (1988)
45. Kiss – Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988)
46. Kiss – Hot In The Shade (1989)
47. Kiss – “God Gave Rock And Roll To You II” (1991) – 12″ Picture Disc
48. Kiss – Revenge (1992)
49. Kiss – Alive III (1993)
50. Kiss – “I Was Made For Lovin’ You (Live)” (1993) – CD Maxi Single (Bonus Edition)
51. Kiss – Konfidential VHS (1993)
52. Kiss – Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994)
53. Kiss – MTV Unplugged (1996)
54. Kiss – You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)
55. Kiss – Greatest Kiss (1997)
56. Kiss – Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)
57. Kiss – Psycho Circus (1998)
58. Kiss – The Second Coming Documentary (1998)
59. Eric Carr – Rockology (1999)
60. Mark St. John – Mark St. John Project (1999)
61. Eric Singer Project – ESP (1999)
62. Bruce Kulick – Audiodog (2001)
63. Kiss – Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)
64. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: The Millennium Collection (1974-1982)
65. Gene Simmons – Asshole (2004)
66. Kiss – Rock the Nation 2004 World Tour: Instant Live (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC 7/28/04) (2004)
67. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: Volume 2 – The Millennium Collection (1982-1989)
68. Kiss – Rock the Nation Live! DVD (2005)
69. Kiss – The Best of Kiss: Volume 3 – The Millennium Collection (The 90’s)
70. Kiss – Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)
71. Paul Stanley – Live to Win (2006)
72. Kiss – Kissology: Volumes 1 to 3 (2006-2007)
73. Kiss – Jigoku-Retsuden (2008)
74. Kiss – Sonic Boom (2009)
75. Kiss – Monster (2012)
76. Kiss – The Casablanca Singles 1973-1982 (2012)
77. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – 2 CD Set
78. Kiss – Kiss 40 (2014) – Japanese Edition
79. Kiss – Kiss Rocks Vegas (2016)
80. Kiss – Kissworld: The Best of Kiss (2017)
81. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (2021)
82. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach July 24, 2004 (2022)
83. Kiss – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First (2021)
84. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2021)
85. Kiss – Destroyer: 45th Anniversary 2-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2021)
86. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition (2022)
87. Kiss – Creatures of the Night: 40th Anniversary 3-LP Deluxe Edition (Colored Vinyl) (2022)
88. Kiss – Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY Mid Hudson Civic Arena, November 28, 1984 (2023)
89. Kiss – Icon (2010 / 2023)
90. Kiss – Lick it Up (40th Anniversary Picture Disc) (2023)

The Bootleg Series:

1. Kiss – ‘Accept No Imitations’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ASYLUM TOUR)
2. Kiss – Look Wot You Dun to Me (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (CRAZY NIGHTS TOUR)
3. Kiss – The Summer of Satan: The Devils Ride Out! (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DESTROYER TOUR)
4. Kiss – Return to Capital Center (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DYNASTY TOUR)
5. Kiss – With Fire & Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (HOTTER THAN HELL TOUR)
6. Kiss – Northhampton PA March 19th, 1975 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DRESSED TO KILL TOUR)
7. Kiss – The Hottest Show On Earth (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE HOTTEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR 2010)
8. Kiss – All the Way to the Ball Room (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (Australian Tour 1995)
9. Kiss – Kiss of Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (The Rising Sun Tour 2006)
10. Kiss – Agora Ballroom 1974: The Cleveland Broadcast plus Bonus Cuts (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE KISS TOUR)
11. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell: Radio Broadcast 1976 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ROCK & ROLL OVER TOUR)
12. Kiss – The Tickler (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (LICK IT UP TOUR 1983)
13. Kiss – Barbarize (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – North American Tour)
14. Kiss – They Only Come Out At Night (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – EUROPEAN TOUR)
15. Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
16. Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast
17. Kiss – End of the Road: In Allentown 2020 (PPL Center, Allentown, PA, 4th February 2020) (End of the Road Tour) – Blu-Ray
18. Kiss – ‘Monster Tour: Simpsonville 2013’ (Charter Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, Simpsonville, C – 13th August 2013) – Blu-Ray
19. Wicked Lester – The Original Wicked Lester Sessions (Bootleg)
20. Kiss – The Ritz on Fire (August 12, 1988, The Ritz, New York City. A radio broadcast – Crazy Nights Tour)
21. Kiss – Kiss My Axe 1978: Live from the Los Angeles Forum in California, August 25, 1977 (Love Gun Tour)
22. Kiss – Gods of Thunder: The Legendary Concert Broadcast – Sao Paulo, August 27, 1994′
23. Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast (Alternate Cover)
24. Kiss -Alive! in Amityville: June 1973 – (2021)
25. Kiss – Set the World On Fire: Live (10 CD Box Set – Radio Broadcasts 1974-1994)
26. Kiss – Diamonds in the Dust (2022)