Kiss Announce New Album Title

Kiss have revealed that the title of their upcoming album will be 'Monster.' It will be the band's 20th studio album and is expected in stores sometime early in 2012.

Speaking with Classic Rock magazine, bassist Gene Simmons declared the record to be heavier than their previous album, 2009's 'Sonic Boom,' adding: "It feels like [it's] a connection between 'Destroyer' and 'Revenge.'

If true, that would put 'Monster' in some pretty fine company, as 1976's 'Destroyer' and 1992's 'Revenge,' both produced by legendary producer Bob Ezrin, are considered among the finest early and late-era Kiss albums, respectively.  Oddly, no comparison was drawn between the new record and the third project the band made with Ezrin, 1981's unloved concept album 'Music From the Elder.'

Kiss had previously revealed the titles of several songs slated to be on the new record, including proposed album-opener 'Hell or Hallelujah.' 'Monster' will be the second platter to feature the current lineup of original members Simmons and Paul Stanley alongside long-time drummer Eric Singer and more recent guitar recruit Tommy Thayer.