Review KISSIN’ DYNAMITE “Kissin’ Dynamite”

Back in 2007, a young band from Swabia decided that simply listening to rock and metal wasn’t quite enough. Five guys got together, plugged in, and Kissin’ Dynamite was born. At the time, nobody could have predicted just how far that decision would take them. What was already clear, though, was that these youngsters had something going for them. Tracks such as “Steel Of Swabia” and “Love Me Hate Me” showed a band with plenty of ambition and a good sense of where they wanted to go. Even veteran metal pioneer Udo Dirkschneider recognized that potential early on.

Two decades later, Kissin’ Dynamite had established themselves as a fixture in the melodic metal scene, with eight studio albums under their belt. Then, in 2025, the band faced a major challenge. Hannes Braun, one of its most recognizable guy of the band, announced that he would step away from live performances, while remaining closely involved with the band behind the scenes.

It was a moment that called for a reset, and fans naturally hoped for one more album with Braun behind the microphone. Kissin’ Dynamite decided to make that wish happen. Their new self-titled album feels like a musical snapshot of where the band has been and where it is heading, combining fresh material with reworked versions of songs from their early years. In other words, it’s a little trip down memory lane — just with louder guitars and considerably less walking.

“Glory Days” opens the album and is the first of the new tracks. Rather than leaning heavily into metal, it settles more comfortably on the rock side of the spectrum. Still, its graceful melodic lines give the song an easy appeal and make it a natural entry point into the record.

“I Salute You” doesn’t stray far from that approach. It’s a driving track built around hooks that get their point across quickly, although the overall pace feels somewhat laid-back. After a few songs, you may start to wonder if the new material is following a familiar formula and playing things a little too safely. “Night Is Calling” doesn’t exactly challenge that impression, with its well-worn “oh-oh-oh” passages and a sound rooted firmly in the rock vocabulary of the ’80s.

“I’ll Be” takes things up another notch in terms of energy, while “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” returns to more familiar Kissin’ Dynamite territory. The album closes with “The Good In Goodbye,” a ballad that hardly seems to have landed at the end by accident. It certainly carries the feeling of a farewell, but there is also a sense that something new may be waiting on the other side of it.

Compared to the new song it’s the earlier tracks that show the metal heart of the guys. Most of the re-recorded tracks come from the debut album Steel Of Swabia, and the updated production gives them a heavier, tighter feel. But the real difference is in the vocals. A lot has happened between then and now — most notably, Hannes Braun’s voice has gone through the small matter of puberty. The new versions of classics such as “Heart Attack” and “Steel Of Swabia” therefore sound more mature and seasoned, with “Steel Of Swabia” getting an extra boost from guest appearances by Ralf Scheepers and Sam Totman.

“Love Me Hate Me,” taken from the aforementioned second album Addicted To Metal, adds another piece to the puzzle and completes this trip back to the band’s early days.

Overall, Kissin’ Dynamite brings the band’s past and future together in a way that feels deliberate rather than nostalgic. Giving the album the band’s own name also points toward a new chapter. The interesting part will be seeing where Kissin’ Dynamite goes from here – and, of course, who will eventually step up to the microphone and take over the vacant spot.

Tracklist:

Glory Days
I Salute You – feat. Saltatio Mortis
Heart Attack
Night Is Calling
Out In The Rain – feat. Amaranthe
Love Me Hate Me
Lie For Me – feat. Anna Brunner (League of Distortion/Exit Eden)
I’ll Be
Steel Of Swabia – feat. Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) und Sam Totman (Dragonforce)
Against The World – feat Eklipse
Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
Only The Good Die Young
Good In Goodbye