KISS News report that Sonic Boom album cover designer Michael Doret talks about the development of the cover on his blog. The following is an excerpt:

"When PAUL STANLEY came by my studio to discuss how to proceed on the art for the cover of their upcoming CD/DVD package Sonic Boom, I had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t met with him since working on Rock And Roll Over, and had very little memory of what that had been like. Any anxiety I had melted away when we started talking.

Paul is a “gentlemen’s gentleman” and I immediately felt at ease talking with him - as if all those years had not intervened since the last time we had spoken. After some small talk he explained what he was after with the new cover art. His vision for this album was to make it as vital and raw as it had been when they did RaRO. He felt that that had been some of the best work that they had ever done, and wanted the new album to recreate that energy both musically and visually.

While he didn’t want me to reprise what I had done with my art for the earlier cover, he did want me to try to capture some of the same spirit, attitude, energy, and look that I had instilled in that piece.

Also one of his stipulations was that unlike RaRO (where I had created abstract, graphic versions of the KISS personas) this time he wanted photographic representations of the four group members in full makeup.

Read more at this location.

The Associated Press has issued the following report from Nekesa Mumbi Moody:

Wal-Mart is being embraced with a KISS.

The veteran heavy metal group, KISS, is joining a growing list of classic acts putting out new music through the world's largest retailer.

Sonic Boom is due to be released only at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores on October 6th. The three-disc package will include a CD of the band's first new music in 11 years, re-recorded versions of famous KISS hits and a live DVD.

Paul Stanley - one of the quartet's two original members, along with GENE SIMMONS - said the band chose to release the album at Wal-Mart because the store allowed them to make it memorable.

"They offered us an opportunity to do something that's very much in line with what we used to do with our classic albums, and that's to give people more than just an album of music," Stanley said in an interview last week. "We've always believed in trying to make an album a special event."

Large store chains have become a favorite venue for classic acts to reintroduce themselves with new material. Wal-Mart has sold millions with releases by THE EAGLES, AC/DC and other key acts. It also has a FOREIGNER three-disc package due out in September. Target released a three-disc set from PRINCE earlier this year. Best Buy had the exclusive release of GUNS N' ROSES first album in years.

Wal-Mart executives said KISS, like other music acts they've worked with, has a special appeal to their customers.

"We see KISS as an iconic band... that resonates with the Wal-Mart customer not just with their music but in a lot of different areas," said Tom Welch, Wal-Mart's music buyer.

Sonic Boom, which also features KISS members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, was produced entirely by Stanley. The guitarist said he made that a condition before he would agree to do the album.

"The recent past, or the last decade or two, has not produced the kind of albums that I would have hoped, and that's due to a lot of factors - lack of input or lack of focus by all the band members," he said. "(There's been a) lack of a lineup where people were working toward the goal of making a great Kiss album as opposed to trying to showcase themselves."

But he called the new album "bar none our best album in 30 years, if not our best album period."

Read more at this location.

In other news, KISS will celebrate the release of Sonic Bloom, with a special gig, September 25th at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI. Check out a commercial for the show, below.

As previously reported, BraveWords.com has received the following press release:

KISS and Walmart announced today that Sonic Boom-the band's highly anticipated CD, and its first new material in 11 years-will be sold in the U.S. and Canada exclusively at Walmart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations beginning October 6. Sonic Boom, produced by the band's Paul Stanley in Los Angeles, is the centerpiece of a three-disc set that also features a completely re-recorded greatest hits CD as well as a live DVD shot in Argentina during the band's recent, record-breaking KISS Alive 35 South American tour. The CD set will retail for $12, with pre-orders starting in September on Walmart.com.

KISS' Gene Simmons says, "Sonic Boom may be the best new record we've done since Destroyer! It is Rock And Roll Over meets Love Gun. The world's biggest retailer had better get ready for the hottest band in the world and hire more cashiers before October 6th!"

Stanley continues, "Through all of the albums that are considered our classics, we tried to always find ways to give our fans extras that went beyond just the music. Besides our making the best KISS album in decades, Walmart has made it possible for us to include a bonus CD with 15 of our most famous songs and an additional live DVD, shot during our recent concert in Buenos Aires. So in every sense, SONIC BOOM is the ultimate return to classic KISS form. You wanted the best, you got the best!"

Walmart, one of America's largest music retailers, is finalizing its exciting plans now for its in-store and online destinations for KISS fans surrounding the launch of the new album and tour, and will host various KISS products in addition to their music in its stores this fall. More details on Walmart KISS activity, announcements regarding album pre-sales, sweepstakes and KISS appearances will be shared shortly.

Sonic Boom CD Tracklisting:

'Modern Day Delilah' (audio sample below)

'Russian Roulette'

'Never Enough'

'Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)'

'Stand'

'Hot And Cold'

'All For The Glory'

'Danger Us'

'I'm An Animal'

'When Lightning Strikes'

'Say Yeah'

The US and Canadian release of Sonic Boom is a three-disc set that also features KISS Klassics, a 15-track completely re-recorded greatest hits CD, as well as a live DVD shot in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the band's 2009 South American tour. The discs are packaged in a DigiPak along with a 20-page booklet.

Sonic Boom will be available exclusively at Walmart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club retail locations beginning October 6.

KISS Klassics CD Track Listing:

'Deuce'

'Detroit Rock City'

'Shout It Out Loud'

'Hotter Than Hell'

'Calling Dr. Love'

'Love Gun'

'I Was Made For Lovin' You'

'Heaven's On Fire'

'Lick It Up'

'I Love It Loud'

'Forever'

'Christine Sixteen'

'Do You Love Me'

'Black Diamond'

'Rock And Roll All Nite'

KISS Bonus Live DVD Track Listing:

'Deuce'

'Hotter Than Hell'

'C'mon And Love Me'

'Watchin' You'

'100,000 Years'

'Rock & Roll All Nite'