Psycho Circus
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:22:25 PM Wikipedia source
Psycho Circus is the eighteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss and the first and only album to involve all four original members since 1979's Dynasty. While touted as a band effort, the album was recorded using largely session players and Kiss associates. Peter Criss only played drums on the Ace Frehley-penned track, "Into the Void", and guitarist Frehley only played on two regular album tracks, the one he wrote plus "You Wanted the Best". He also played on a bonus track called "In Your Face", penned by Simmons. All four band members, however, sang lead vocals on the album.
Infobox
Released
September 22, 1998 (1998-09-22)
Recorded
January–April 1998
Studio
One on One (Los Angeles) A&M (Hollywood, California)
Genre
Hard rock heavy metal
Length
44:24
Label
Mercury
Producer
Bruce Fairbairn
Tables
Professional ratings · Reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
4/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Review scores
Entertainment Weekly
Review scores
A−
Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Review scores
Kerrang!
Review scores
Metal Rules
Metal Rules
Review scores
Metal Rules
Review scores
4 /5
Rock Hard
Rock Hard
Review scores
Rock Hard
Review scores
8 /10
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Review scores
Rolling Stone
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 4/10 |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Entertainment Weekly | A− |
| Kerrang! | |
| Metal Rules | 4 /5 |
| Rock Hard | 8 /10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
· Charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (1998)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peak
position
1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (1998)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peak
position
25
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1998)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peak
position
3
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1998)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peak
position
51
European Albums Charts
European Albums Charts
Chart (1998)
European Albums Charts
Peak
position
13
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1998)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peak
position
5
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (1998)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peak
position
71
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1998)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peak
position
5
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1998)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peak
position
20
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1998)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peak
position
4
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (1998)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
61
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1998)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peak
position
1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1998)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peak
position
30
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1998)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
47
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Chart (1998)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
2
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1998)
US Billboard 200
Peak
position
3
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 1 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 25 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 3 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 51 |
| European Albums Charts | 13 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 5 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 71 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 5 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 20 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 4 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 61 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 1 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 30 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 47 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 | 3 |
· Certifications
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
Sweden (GLF)
Sweden (GLF)
Region
Sweden (GLF)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
40,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 40,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss
- No regrets : a rock 'n' roll memoirhttps://search.worldcat.org/oclc/978509794
- "Karl Cochran Biography"https://www.karlcochran.com/about.htm
- Bravewordshttps://bravewords.com/news/ace-frehley-looks-back-on-kiss-psycho-circus-album-it-was-a-disappointment-for-me-the-only-song-i-performed-on-was-the-one-i-wrote
- "Into The Void"https://www.kissconcerthistory.com/song_stories/song_stories_psycho_04.php
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=KwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65-IA3
- "Kiss "Born Again" With Walmart's "Sonic Boom": Band Talks New LP"https://web.archive.org/web/20130202164358/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kiss-born-again-with-walmarts-sonic-boom-band-talks-new-lp-20090817
- Kiss - Behind The Mask - The Official Authorized Biography
- "Paul Stanley: 'The 'Farewell' Tour Was Us Wanting To Put KISS Out Of Its Misery'"https://blabbermouth.net/news/paul-stanley-the-farewell-tour-was-us-wanting-to-put-kiss-out-of-its-misery
- Wizard
- AllMusichttps://www.allmusic.com/album/psycho-circus-mw0000043652
- The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties
- Encyclopedia of Popular Music
- "Psycho Circus Review"https://web.archive.org/web/20090425222301/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,284987,00.html
- Kerrang!
- "Kiss – Psycho Circus"https://www.metal-rules.com/1998/12/01/kiss-psycho-circus/
- Rock Hardhttps://rockhard.de/reviews/kiss-psycho-circus_207223.html
- Rolling Stonehttps://web.archive.org/web/20181021024635/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/psycho-circus-100609/
- The New Rolling Stone Album Guidehttps://web.archive.org/web/20110627000037/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/kiss/albumguide
- "Kiss, Buble Battle For No. 1 On Billboard 200"https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kiss-buble-battle-for-no-1-on-billboard-200-1264452/