Turns out photographer Ross Halfin was telling the truth last month when he revealed that Kiss will soon begin work on a news “’70s Kiss-style record”. According to Billboard, the legendary rock outfit will indeed “hit the studio next year” to record the long-awaited followup to 1998’s Pyscho Circus.

While details remain sketchy, the currently untitled recrod will feature the likes of original members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons along with guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. Stanley will also lend his talents in the production area as well.

In a recent interview with Classic Rock Magazine, the guitarist offered some insight behind the decision to record a new album:

I have been ambivalent to the idea in the past but I’m much more open to it now…I thought that I’d be content for KISS to remain a heritage act, just playing our greatest hits — ‘Detroit Rock City’ and all that. But the new KISS lineup with Tommy Thayer (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums) is proving to be so good, so strong in spirit, it would interesting to see how we perform in the studio.

The release will reportedly be accompanied by an extensive world tour, set to begin next summer in Europe in celebration of the band’s 35th anniversary. A North American trek is expected to follow. As for what we should expect on the live front? “You’ll be getting more of what you saw at the Download festival this past summer — the ‘KISS Alive!’ vibe amped up to the max,” Stanley went on to declare.

TAGGED AS: Kiss