Kissin’ Dynamite – ‘Kissin’ Dynamite’

(Kissin’ Dynamite Records)

There are some albums that arrive with the sole intention of kicking down the door, cranking the amps to eleven and demanding your attention. Then there are albums that carry something a little more significant with them. Kissin’ Dynamite, the self-titled release from German melodic hard rockers Kissin’ Dynamite, falls firmly into the latter category. Yes, this is an album packed with big guitars, huge choruses and the kind of arena-ready swagger that has become synonymous with the band, but there is also a sense of reflection running through the record that gives it considerably more emotional weight.

Most importantly, this album serves as a farewell to vocalist Hannes Braun, bringing a significant chapter of Kissin’ Dynamite’s story to a close. Rather than simply functioning as a greatest-hits exercise or a nostalgic look backwards, however, the band have chosen to make this a celebration of where they have been while simultaneously offering something fresh. The result is a collection that combines new material with re-recorded and reimagined versions of songs from the band's earlier years. It is an approach that could easily have gone horribly wrong, but Kissin’ Dynamite understand their own identity well enough to make the concept work.

At its heart, this is melodic hard rock with attitude. The guitars have plenty of muscle, the production gives everything a suitably polished modern punch, and the songwriting is built around one of the band's greatest strengths: the ability to write a chorus that refuses to leave your head. These are songs designed to be sung back from the crowd, fists held high, beers raised and thousands of voices joining together. The word “anthemic” gets thrown around far too often in rock reviews, but here it genuinely applies.

What impresses me most is how naturally the heavier elements sit alongside the melodic side of the band's sound. Kissin’ Dynamite have never been interested in choosing between crunching hard rock riffs and accessible songwriting, and that balance is once again central to the album. The guitars have enough bite to satisfy anyone looking for some serious rock muscle, while the melodies ensure that the songs remain immediately accessible.

And then there is Hannes Braun. His departure inevitably casts a shadow over the album, because his voice has been such an important part of the Kissin’ Dynamite sound. His performances here carry a mixture of confidence, power and emotion that makes the farewell aspect impossible to ignore. There is a sense that he knows exactly what this record represents, and that awareness comes through in the delivery. Rather than simply going through the motions, Braun sounds completely invested in the material. That makes the album feel less like a final curtain and more like a celebration.

The decision to revisit material from the band's earlier career is particularly interesting. Rather than simply reproducing the original recordings, Kissin’ Dynamite have given these songs fresh arrangements and modern production, allowing them to sit comfortably alongside the newer material. There is a sense of looking back without becoming trapped in the past. Familiar ideas are given new life, and the contrast between the band's youthful beginnings and their more mature present creates an interesting arc across the album.

For longtime fans, there is plenty here to enjoy. For newcomers, meanwhile, the album serves as a surprisingly effective introduction to what makes Kissin’ Dynamite tick. The combination of melodic hooks, muscular riffs and larger-than-life choruses provides an excellent snapshot of a band that has spent years refining its craft.

There is also an emotional thread running through the record that becomes increasingly apparent as it unfolds. Farewell records can sometimes become overly sentimental, but Kissin’ Dynamite avoid that trap by allowing the music to do most of the talking. Even when the subject matter becomes reflective, the band keep the guitars loud and the melodies big. This is rock music, after all, and the best way to say goodbye is apparently with your foot firmly on the distortion pedal.

The production deserves considerable praise too. Everything sounds crisp, powerful and built for maximum impact. The guitars have real weight, the rhythm section drives the material forward with plenty of punch, and the vocals sit prominently where they should. Most importantly, the polished production never strips away the band's hard rock character. There is still plenty of grit beneath the surface.

What ultimately makes Kissin’ Dynamite work is that it doesn't feel like a band simply closing the book. It feels like a band celebrating the entire journey. The new material demonstrates that there is still creative fire in the tank, while the reimagined older songs underline just how far Kissin’ Dynamite have travelled since their beginnings.

And, of course, there is that bittersweet knowledge that this is Hannes Braun's farewell. That gives the album an emotional resonance that it might otherwise lack. Every soaring vocal, every massive chorus and every fist-pumping guitar passage feels like part of a final statement from a singer who has helped define the band's sound. There is sadness in that, certainly, but there is considerably more celebration than mourning.

Kissin’ Dynamite is therefore much more than a self-titled album. It is a look back, a look forward, a celebration of the band's history and a fitting farewell to one of its defining voices. Most importantly, it is bloody good fun. Big riffs, bigger choruses, memorable melodies and enough hard rock swagger to fill an arena. If this really is the end of the Hannes Braun era, then Kissin’ Dynamite have chosen one hell of a way to say goodbye.

A suitably celebratory way to kick things off, ‘Glory Days’ immediately establishes the album's mix of melodic hard rock muscle and anthemic songwriting. Big guitars, a confident vocal performance and an instantly accessible chorus make this a strong opening statement.

‘I Salute You’, there is plenty of swagger here, with Kissin’ Dynamite delivering another slice of fist-pumping hard rock. The melodies are infectious, while the arrangement gives the song the kind of arena-sized quality the band does so well.

Punchy and energetic, ‘Heartattack’ comes charging out of the speakers with plenty of attitude. The guitars provide the muscle, but once again it is the chorus that does the real damage, lodging itself firmly in the memory.

‘Night Is Calling’, a darker, more atmospheric feel gives this one a slightly different character. There is still plenty of melodic hard rock power, but the mood adds some welcome variation and allows Braun to showcase another side of his vocal abilities.

Melodic and emotive without losing the band's trademark rock edge, ‘Out In The Rain’ demonstrates just how comfortably Kissin’ Dynamite can balance vulnerability with power. The guitars and vocals work particularly well together.

‘Love Me Hate Me’, this is classic Kissin’ Dynamite territory: energetic, hook-laden and built around a chorus that practically demands a crowd singalong. There is a real sense of fun running through the performance, making it an easy album highlight.

A slightly more dramatic number, ‘Lie For Me’ builds its impact through strong melodies and an expressive vocal. It has enough hard rock bite to keep things moving while retaining the accessibility that defines the album.

Now we're talking! ‘I’ll Be hits’ all the right notes for me and has an absolute killer chorus. This was the one I found myself smashing the repeat button on. The melody is ridiculously memorable, Braun delivers a superb vocal and the whole thing has that emotional, uplifting quality that makes melodic rock so addictive. One of the album's standouts.

‘Steel Of Swabia’, a proud, powerful slice of hard rock that wears its identity firmly on its sleeve. The guitars have plenty of crunch and the chorus is suitably enormous. This is Kissin’ Dynamite playing to their strengths and doing it very well.

Another anthem in waiting, ‘Against The World’ has that classic underdog spirit running through it. The combination of driving guitars and a huge melodic refrain makes this one feel tailor-made for the live stage.

‘Nothing Breaks Like A Heart’, emotion comes to the forefront here, with a more reflective feel complementing the heavier moments elsewhere. The vocal performance is particularly effective, giving the song plenty of heart without becoming overly sentimental.

‘Only The Good Die Young’, a lively and spirited rocker that keeps the momentum high. There is plenty of energy packed into the performance, while the infectious melodies ensure it remains firmly within the album's melodic hard rock comfort zone.

What a way to close the album. ‘Good In Goodbye’ is an emotive ballad that provides a fitting emotional finish to Hannes Braun's time with Kissin’ Dynamite. Rather than going for an overblown farewell, the song lets the emotion speak naturally, making Braun's final appearance on the album feel genuinely poignant. It is a beautiful goodbye and a fitting closing chapter.

Kissin’ Dynamite is one hell of a way to bring the Hannes Braun era to a close. Packed with muscular guitars, powerful vocals, huge melodies and those indelible, anthemic choruses that Kissin’ Dynamite do so well, this is a farewell that feels much more like a celebration than a goodbye. The combination of fresh material and reimagined older songs works brilliantly, giving the album both a sense of history and plenty of forward momentum. The songwriting consistently hits the sweet spot between hard rock power and melodic accessibility, while Braun delivers a superb vocal performance throughout. There is genuine emotion running beneath the swagger, making the album's farewell aspect all the more poignant. Braun leaves on a high, and if this really is the end of an era, Kissin’ Dynamite have given him a fitting send-off.

8/10

Essential Track – ‘I’ll Be’

Review by Woody