This new album by Kissin’Dynamite is a special release in many ways. It marks the end of an era and, at the same time, the beginning of a new one for the band. After this release and a few farewell ‘stadium’ shows, singer Hannes Braun will step down as the band’s lead singer. However, he will remain closely involved with the band, though no longer performing live. But he will continue to be the songwriter, producer, and, if you will, remain the captain of the ship.
Another new development is that the band is releasing this album independently. They’ve simply taken the step of starting their own label and handling that aspect themselves. And, of course, it’s a mystery to the band’s fans who will take the mic when the curtain finally falls for Hannes. Time will tell.
simply incredibly
For now, there’s one last release featuring Hannes on lead vocals. ‘Kissin’ Dynamite’ includes a mix of new and re-recorded songs, mainly from the band’s first album released in 2008, ‘Steel Of Swabia.’ These songs have been updated for 2026, particularly in terms of production. In terms of song structure, little has changed, except that Hannes has now gone through puberty. It all sounds a bit more mature. In addition, a few artists have contributed guest vocals to these songs, which adds a refreshing touch. There are collaborations with Amaranthe, Anna Brunner, Ralf Scheepers, and Eklipse, to name just a few. Combined with the new production, these collaborations definitely add something to the original recordings.
“Heartattack,” “Night Is Calling,” and “Out In The Rain” have gotten a nice 2026 update. The new songs, however, sound just as awesome as they did on their previous album, ‘Back With A Bang!’. The band’s songwriting skills in 2026 are simply a cut above what they were in their early days, and that’s a compliment. The album opener “Glory Days” is simply an incredibly cool, melodic, earworm of a song. If this song doesn’t put you in a good mood, nothing will. What a killer song!
melancholy
“I’ll Be” is a top-tier midtempo banger, featuring yet another delightful chorus. Just like “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart,” where Hannes proves he also has a voice with great projection in the lower register. So is Kissin’Dynamite nothing more than Hannes Braun? Definitely not, because thanks to the musicality of guitarists Ande Braun and Jim Müller, bassist Stefan Haile, and drummer Sebastian Berg, the songs reach the high standard we’ve come to expect.
The closing track, “Good In Goodbye,” is the perfect song to bring this chapter in the band’s history to a close. It’s a beautiful ballad that perfectly captures the mixed feelings surrounding this release in 3 minutes and 52 seconds.
It’s with a sense of melancholy, then, that I listen to this album, because the band—in the form and lineup they’ve had, certainly in recent years—is simply one of the leading bands in the melodic hard rock genre. It just goes to show that a band can rise to the top of its genre over the years.
I’m therefore incredibly curious to see what the future holds and who the guys will bring in to replace a singer who’s in a league of his own behind the microphone. I’m glad I’m not in his shoes.
In any case, this album is a gift from the band to their fans, and they’ve poured their heart and soul into it. An absolute banger of a album!!!
Report by Raymond Helebrand
