“Sometime goodbye is a second chance” sings Brent Smith on SHINEDOWN’s 2008 megahit “Second Chance,” a song about leaving something behind and starting over. I am opening the review with this particular idea because this self-titled ninth album from the German hard rock band KISSIN’ DYNAMITE is the last one with charismatic singer Hannes Braun, who announced his retirement from touring due to health reasons in 2025, though he will still be working with the band behind the scenes as a producer. “Kissin’ Dynamite” was released on September 18th, 2026, via the band’s label, Kissin’ Dynamite Records.
Featuring reworked versions of seven KISSIN’ DYNAMITE classics, alongside a host of impressive guest musicians, and six fresh-from-the-oven bangers to complete the experience, “Kissin’ Dynamite” is quite the swan song for the band in this formula, with Hannes Braun on vocals, as it balances arena-rock energy with emotional milestones. More than anything, this album comes across as a celebration of the past, and the lead single, “Glory Days,” is a lively, heartfelt ode to the successes of yesteryear on top of being a banger anthem in its own right. The closing track and candid ballad, “Good in Goodbye,” is an affectionate yet cathartic adieu to the band that Hannes (together with Anna Brunner and Tim Opitz) penned and performed beautifully.
Bookended by these tracks, the rest of the album unfolds in KISSIN’ DYNAMITE’s energetic and infectious style, that is with an abundance of catchy melodies, earworm choruses, and potent rhythms. As such, the reimagined classics taken from their first few records (2008’s “Steel of Swabia” and 2010’s “Addicted to Metal”) sound more robust and benefit greatly from Hannes’s mature voice and seasoned delivery. In this respect, both “Heartattack” and “Love Me Hate Me” sound fresh and vibrant, driven by killer grooves and infectious vocal lines. On the other hand, the mellow nature of “Out in the Rain” is further enhanced by Elize Ryd’s delicate and radiant vocals, and listening to this version now, it feels like it was always meant to be a duet; the lyrics really cater to this approach.
Ballad “Lie to Me” has been pretty much completely transformed (both musically and lyrically) into an emotional and deeply heartfelt number that features Anna Brunner alongside Hannes Braun in a haunting duet. On the album’s second half, the up-tempo “Steel of Swabia” is elevated even more by the presence of two power metal legends like Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAL) on vocals and Sam Totman (DRAGONFORCE) on guitars, enhancing the already potent melodies and pushing the chorus into the stratosphere. Conversely, “Against the World” features subdued orchestrations from EKLIPSE that beautifully frame the vocals and enhance the lyrics. The last revamped song is “Only the Good Die Young,” a mid-tempo melodic delight that still has enough vigor and oomph to be a crowd pleaser.
When it comes to the newer songs, “I Salute You” (featuring SALTATIO MORTIS) is driven by a marching rhythm and a high-energy melody while the Scottish bagpipe in the background sounds ominous. But then again, this is a track about going to war, and it wouldn’t feel out of place on the early seasons of Outlander (or its prequel Blood of My Blood). The high-octane anthems “Night is Calling” and “I’ll Be” get the blood pumping with their sleek vocals, fists-in-the-air arena rock intensity, and 80’s vibe. These tracks don’t really deviate from their established formula, but why fix something that isn’t broken, right? With a title like “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart,” one would expect a slower number (maybe even a power metal ballad), but what we get is another mid-tempo melodic offering that doubles as a cautionary tale when it comes to the fragility of our emotions in romantic situations.
All things considered, this self-titled release retains the essence of who KISSIN’ DYNAMITE has been at its core and celebrates the band’s past achievements without feeling nostalgic or even wistful. The remastered tracks sound fuller and heftier with a modern production behind them, while the new ones carry all the expected trademark elements. As a fond farewell and a deliberate recognition of times past, “Kissin’ Dynamite” is one of the most respectful ways to announce a line-up change and give fans one last reason to come together in celebration. For his final bow, Hannes Braun put his heart and soul into this album and sang these songs to perfection, and I hope whoever steps into his shoes will carry KISSIN’ DYNAMITE to new highs and honor the band’s legacy.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- Glory Days
- I Salute you (feat. Saltatio Mortis)
- Heartattack – 2026
- Night Is Calling
- Out in the Rain – 2026 (feat. Amaranthe)
- Love Me Hate Me – 2026
- Lie for Me – 2026 (feat. Anna Brunner)
- I’ll Be
- Steel of Swabia – 2026 (feat. Primal Fear & Sam Totman)
- Against the World – 2026 (feat. Eklipse)
- Nothing Breaks Like a Heart
- Only the Good Die Young – 2026
- Good in Goodbye
Lineup
- Johannes (Hannes) Braun – vocals
- Ande Braun – guitars
- Jim Müller – guitars
- Steffen Haile – bass guitar
- Sebastian Berg – drums
Label
Kissin’ Dynamite Records
