Unmasked (Kiss album)

Unmasked is the eighth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on May 20, 1980, by Casablanca Records. The album continues the band's transition to a more pop-friendly sound, but with less disco influence. Only guitarist Ace Frehley's three songs ("Talk to Me", "Two Sides of the Coin" and "Torpedo") retain the band's hard rock style. Drummer and founding member Peter Criss (largely absent from the preceding Dynasty, only performing on the song "Dirty Livin'") is not present on any tracks. Despite having no involvement in its production, Criss features in the album's artwork, the video for "Shandi" and receives credit.

Unmasked was a commercial disappointment, and has the dubious distinction of being the first non-platinum Kiss album since Dressed to Kill (1975), only reaching No. 35 on the Billboard 200, the worst position for the band since Hotter Than Hell (1974), and none of the singles charting in the U.S. outside of "Shandi". Still, it was certified gold by the RIAA on July 30, 1980, reached the top five in several countries, and was one of the band's most successful albums in Oceania.

Critical reception of Unmasked was equally poor, with even Gene Simmons expressing his dislike of it, and Paul Stanley opining "Tomorrow" is the album's only good song. While labeled an "an underrated gem of power pop," by Ultimate Classic Rock and garnering some positive reappraisal in recent years, many Kiss fans hold the album responsible for the band's early 80s slump.