Kiss / Carnival of Souls: The Complete Sessions

The definitive collection fully covering the sessions for *Carnival of Souls*—the controversial album that marked the end of the band’s “no-makeup” era! Sourced through our exclusive channels, this release presents a stunning collection of studio recordings that capture the entire production process of *Carnival of Souls*. Preserved here are 18 tracks—totaling approximately 65 minutes—of studio material related to the album. We have previously offered session albums that complement past releases like *Asylum*, *Hot in the Shade*, and *Revenge* using exclusive master recordings obtained through industry connections; this release serves as the *Carnival of Souls* edition in that series. *Carnival of Souls* stands apart from other albums, however; it did not follow the band’s standard release cycle, and its musical style was unique. Let us begin by looking back at the band’s activities at the time and revisiting the era that gave birth to this controversial record. 1995 “KISS MY ASS Tour” – Jan 24–Feb 13: Japan #1 / Oceania #1 (17 shows); June 16–Aug 9: North America #1 (26 shows) ← *Official KISS *Unplugged* / Nov: Production of *Carnival of Souls* begins; Dec 15: Hollywood show. 1996 (*Jan: *Carnival of Souls* completed*) “Alive/Worldwide Tour” – June 15–Nov 10: North America #2 (89 shows + 1 MOR show); Nov 20–Dec 21: Europe #1 (19 shows); Dec 28–31: North America #3 (4 shows). 1997 – Jan 18–Feb 15: Japan #2 / Oceania #2 (15 shows); Mar 7–May 6: Central & South America / North America #3 (40 shows); May 16–July 5: Europe #2 (23 shows) (*Oct 28: *Carnival of Souls* released*). This covers the 1995–1997 era of KISS. The *Carnival of Souls* sessions began in November 1995 and were completed in late January 1996. However, this was a truly peculiar period for the band; while they were striving to create a powerful follow-up to *Revenge*, they already had one foot in the door of the impending reunion, and consequently, this became the final album featuring the Bruce Kulick/Eric Singer lineup. It was also the heaviest record in the KISS catalog, and this release compiles the studio recordings from those sessions in top-tier quality. It is the definitive collection, featuring alternate takes of album tracks and numerous unreleased songs. While this release presents the tracks in their original source order, here we will categorize and introduce them by session and intended album for clarity. Early Sessions Retaining the *Revenge* Vibe (2 songs, 3 takes) – Tracks 1-2: “I Wanna Rule The World” (2 takes). The first three takes on this disc come from the earliest phase of the sessions that ultimately did not make the *Carnival of Souls* album. “I Wanna Rule The World” is a song that would resurface during the 1998 *Psycho Circus* sessions. While “I Wanna Rule The World #2” already embodies the *Carnival of Souls* style, “Take #1” feels more like a continuation of the atmosphere found in the previous *Revenge* or *Hot in the Shade* sessions. Track 3: “Juliet.” “Juliet” is another song that feels like an extension of the *Revenge* era; it was never re-recorded after this point. Main Sessions: *Psycho Circus*-Related Songs (3 songs, 4 takes) – Track 4: “Carnival Intro.” Tracks 4 onwards belong to the main *Carnival of Souls* sessions (November 1995 – January 1996). The opening “Carnival Intro” was originally intended as the album intro for *Carnival of Souls* and was later reused for *Psycho Circus*. Tracks 12/14: “Rain” (2 takes). Although “Rain” was included on *Carnival of Souls*, it was originally a remake of an unfinished song titled “Rain Keeps Falling” from the *Hot in the Shade* sessions. During these sessions, it was reworked into a heavier track titled “Rain” and included on the album, but it later followed a curious path, reverting to its original version and lyrics during the *Psycho Circus* sessions. Track 13: “Within.” “Within” is another song that crossed over into the *Psycho Circus* era. Although completed during the *Carnival of Souls* sessions, the material ultimately found its home on the *Psycho Circus* album three years later. Main Sessions: Alternate versions of *Carnival of Souls* tracks (6 songs). Track 8: “I Walk Alone” – A standout track known as Bruce Kulick’s vocal debut; this release features the original version with Gene Simmons on lead vocals. Tracks 9–11: “Seduction of the Innocent” / “Childhood’s End” / “Hate”; Tracks 16/17: “I Confess” / “In My Head” – These are raw rough takes and alternate versions of songs included on the album. “Childhood’s End,” in particular, is a rare version featuring completely different lyrics from the original. Main Sessions: Unreleased tracks (4 songs, 5 takes). Track 5: “I Wanna Live” – Co-written by Gene Simmons and Vinnie Vincent; a song originating from the pre-*Revenge* era that resurfaced during the *Carnival of Souls* sessions. Tracks 6/7: “Carnival of Souls” (2 takes) – The album’s title track, which was inexplicably left off the final release; here, you can enjoy two different takes. Track 15: “Hey You” – An unreleased song by Gene Simmons. Track 18: “Outromental” – An instrumental number composed by Bruce Kulick that was originally intended to close the album; it was ultimately shelved and replaced by “I Walk Alone” (featuring Bruce on vocals). *Carnival of Souls* stands as one of KISS’s most unique albums—a bold shift toward the grunge era that occurred amidst the frenzy of the band’s reunion. This definitive release allows you to fully experience the entire production process through high-quality audio sourced via exclusive channels. Packed with fascinating rarities—such as the elusive title track and original versions of songs that would later evolve into *PSYCHO CIRCUS* material—this release is a compelling listen that offers even more depth the further you explore it. It is the ultimate record for fully experiencing a unique and profound turning point in KISS’s history. This definitive collection comprehensively covers the sessions for *CARNIVAL OF SOULS*, the controversial final album of the band’s non-makeup era. Sourced via exclusive insider channels, these 18 tracks feature stunning studio recordings presented in top-tier audio quality. From the unreleased title track “Carnival of Souls” and Gene’s vocal on “I Walk Alone” to tracks that laid the groundwork for *PSYCHO CIRCUS*, the album is a treasure trove of material that rewards deep listening. It allows you to fully immerse yourself in a singular, fascinating chapter of the KISS saga. (64:50) Pre-Album Sessions 1994 1. I Wanna Rule The World #1 2. I Wanna Rule The World #2 3. Juliet Carnival of Souls Sessions November 1995 – January 1996 4. Carnival Intro 5. I Wanna Live 6. Carnival of Souls #1 7. Carnival of Souls #2 8. I Walk Alone 9. Seduction of the Innocent 10. Childhoods End 11. Hate 12. Rain #1 13. Within 14. Rain #2 15. Hey You 16. I Confess 17. In My Head 18. Outromental