When a Rock’n’Rock Hall of Famer (which he was inducted to in 2014 as original KISS member) is releasing a new album, you always expect a notable result. Ace Frehley, the legendary guitar player, returns to the record stores on 18th September 2020. His album Origins Vol.2 showcases songs originally performed by other artists. Here is my review.
Ace Frehley – About The Artist
Daniel Paul “Ace” Frehley was born in on 27th April 1951 in The Bronx, New York City, USA. There is a lot of musical talent in his family. In 1964, he got an electric guitar for Christmas. His nickname “Ace”, by the way, grew in high school years, when he was a real ace to date girls. He played in multiple bands, some of them even had limited commercial success. In 1972, he was casted together with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss for the band, which named itself KISS in 1973. Frehley left the band in 1982 (and returned for a six year period in 1996), aiming for a solo career. At that point in time, he already had released his debut album, Ace Frehley, in 1978. His first solo album after splitting up with KISS was Frehley’s Comet in 1987. At the end of the 1980’s, Frehley stopped recording albums, but came back with that in 2009, when he released Anomaly. Origins, Vol.1 has been released in 2016 and featured three tracks from KISS as well as bands like Steppenwolf or The Troggs. Origins Vol.2 is his ninth album.
Ace Frehley – Origins Vol. 2 – Track by Track
The twelve song album lasts 47 minutes.
1. Good Times Bad Times (Led Zeppelin)
Ace Frehley starts the album with a Led Zeppelin classic: Good Times Bad Times has been released in 1969 originally. The sound is wider, more powerful than the original – a strong statement at the beginning of these Origins.
2. Never In My Life (Mountain)
The second track is following a similar concept: a hard rock classic brought back to the 2020 Frehley world – a lot of power, more presence – and of course, excellent guitar play. Nice one!
3. Space Truckin’ (Deep Purple)
The pre-released single Space Truckin’, originally by Deep Purple (1972) is a great example to explain the spirit of the album: whether you like the original more or whether you prefer this Ace Frehley rock jamming, may be a matter of taste. The polish of the original tunes definitely gives a new and cool touch – but the interpretation is still close to Deep Purple. Nice!
4. I’m Down (The Beatles)
I’m Down might not be the biggest Beatles classic, but Ace Frehley definitely understands to keep the surfing song character one the one hand, but on the other hand let the guitars play. One of my favorite re-interpretations.
5. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)
It is so amazing how Frehley just adds nuances to the original songs – Jumpin’ Jack Flash feels to be like a powerful Stones (maybe on-stage) version here.
6. Politician (Cream)
I am not too much a fan of the orignal Politician by Cream. The way the album is set up, you can more or less tell before listening that it likely implies that I do not like this new version too much as well. Unfortunately, this is the case – the powerful guitar interlude gives some increased sympathy, though.
7. Lola (The Kinks)
Not just as it is the original to Weird Al Yankovic’s Yoda, I was looking forward to Lola. The 2020 version feels significantly darker, the guitars also turn the quite melodic original into a headbang track and hard rocker. Go to Yoda and he’ll show the Force? There is a lot of metal force in Mr Frehley alternatively.
8. 30 Days In The Hole (Humble Pie)
30 Days In the Hole, originally performed by the Humble Pie in 1972, is to me one of the tracks which profited most from the re-arrangement and rock upgrade. Great new interpretation.
9. Manic Depression (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
Similar to Politician, Manic Depressionis not my favorite as an original – and it is also too chaotic to me in the new version. Still, you have to admit that Frehley created a successful transformation of this song.
10. Kicks (Paul Revere & the Raiders)
Fun fact about this song: while the original song is just some 2:30 minutes long, the Ace is giving us additional some 30 seconds. A lovely, very melodic rock track. Really fun to listen.
11. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (The Animals)
With that cover of an The Animals original, the album finishes its original runtime. Very melodic and powerful – a great listen!
12. She (KISS)
The bonus track is a KISS classic.Quite close to the original sound – not too surprisingly…
Ace Frehley – Origins Vol. 2 – Spotify
Here is the Spotify widget to Origins Vol. 2:
Ace Frehley – Origins Vol. 2 – My View
I feel it is very difficult to judge on albums like Origins Vol. 2. Definitely, Ace Freshley adds value to these songs (so it is not a cheap bootleg). There is a lot of power added and the overall sound is much more modern than the original arrangements. I also liked that he tried to stay close to the original sound. On the other hand, this also means that we talk about wisely selected, minimal adoptions of the song. I thus feel that Origins Vol. 2 is a good listen for classic hard rock fans, definitely.
Hard Rock & Metal Album Reviews on Flyctory.com
Here are all Media Reviews of the Hard Rock and Metal genres:

Rising Wings – Reach

Manntra – War of the Heathens

Danko Jones – Electric Sounds

Marduk – Memento Mori

Alice Cooper – Road

Sleazy – Back on Track

Atreyu – The Moment You Find Your Flame EP

Uncaved – Dogmatorraistes

Mammoth WVH – Mammoth II

Somnuri – Desiderium


Later Sons – Rise Up


1476 – In Exile


Mental Cruelty – Zwielicht


Green Labyrinth – Sequences


Ayron Jones – Chronicles Of The Kid


Saturnus – The Storm Within


Extreme – Six


Ray Alder – II


Omnium Gatherum – Slasher EP


Oryad – Sacred & Profane


Marathonmann – Maniac


Moor – Heavy Heart


Enforced – War Remains


Storm Seeker – Nautic Force


As Everything Unfolds – Ultraviolet


Texas Hippie Coalition – The Name Lives On


Grand Design – Rawk


Vass / Katsionis – Cynical Silence


Tribulation – Hamartia EP


Lordi – Screem Writers Guild


Black Hawk – Soulkeeper


Night Demon – Outsider


Bad Bones – Hasta El Final!


John Diva & The Rockets of Love – The Big Easy


Suicide Silence – Remember… You Must Die


Endlevel – Weekend War


Steel Panther – On The Prowl


Tanzwut – Silberne Hochzeit


Those Damn Crows – Inhale/Exhale


Dark Sarah – Attack of Orym


Pristine – The Lines We Cross


Black Star Riders – Wrong Side of Paradise


Shaam Larein – Stick En Kniv I Världen


Sündflut – Basta! EP


Amberian Dawn – Take a Chance (A Metal Tribute To ABBA)


Induction – Born from Fire


Hostage – Memento Mori


Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society


Alter Bridge – Pawns And Kings


Orianthi – Rock Candy


Sleeping Romance – We All Are Shadows


Magical Heart – Heartsonic


Monster Truck – Warriors


Slipknot – The End, So Far


Silent Knight – Full Force


I Am – Eternal Steel


Blind Guardian – The God Machine


Fire Horse – Out of the Ashes


Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… and The Dead!


Lugnet – Tales From The Great Beyond


Bad Baron – Ace of Hearts


Thundermother – Black And Gold


Versus Goliath – Liebe & Chaos


Manntra – Kreatura


Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army


H.E.A.T. – Force Majeure


Heischneida – Heischneida II


Traitor – Exiled To The Surface


Breathe Your Last – Apocalypse


RXPTRS – Living Without Death’s Permission


April Art – P.O.K.E.R.F.A.C.E.


Motionless In White – Scoring The End Of The World


Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos


Wucan – Heretic Tongues


Shameless – So Good, You Should….


Famyne – II: The Ground Below


J.B.O. – Planet Pink


Silver Dust – Lullabies


Axel Rudi Pell – Lost XXIII


DeVicious – Black Heart


Askara – Lights Of Night


Papa Roach – Ego Trip



Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars


Disconnected – We Are Disconnected


Circle of Friends – The Garden


Paleface – Fear & Dagger


Der To – Hand aufs Herz


Sunrunner – Sacred Arts of Navigation


Messa – Close


Crowbar – Zero and Below


Gutrectomy – Manifestation Of Human Suffering


Thunderor – Fire It Up


Corey Taylor – CMFB… Sides EP


Matt Pike – Pike vs the Automaton


Ard – Take Up My Bones


Goodbye June – See Where The Night Goes


Once Human – Scar Weaver



Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – 4


Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory


Saxon – Carpe Diem


Validor – Full Triumphed


The Sleeper – Radiant


Herman Rarebell & The Hurricane Orchestra – Scorpion’s Songs Symphonic


Claus Trophobia – Space Rock Voodoo


Great American Ghost – Torture World EP


Magnum – The Monster Roars


Skillet – Dominion


Tristan Harders’ Twilight Theatre – Drifting Into Insanity


Fuer den Faehrmann – Blutmond EP


Volbeat – Servant Of The Mind


Hämatom – Die Liebe ist Tot


Lordi – Lordiversity (Full Box Review)


Lordi – Spooky Sextravaganza Spectacular (from: Lordiversity)


Lordi – Abracadaver (from: Lordiversity)


Lordi – Humanimals (from: Lordiversity)


Lordi – Abusement Park (from: Lordiversity)


Lordi – The Masterbeast From The Moon (from: Lordiversity)


Lordi – SuperFlyTrap (from: Lordiversity)


Lordi – Skelectric Dinosaur (from: Lordiversity)


Navian – Cosmos


Running Wild – Blood on Blood


Hulkoff – Ragnarök


Bodyguerra – Fire & Soul


Alcatrazz – V


Creeping Death – The Edge of Existence EP


Naraka – In Tenebris


Rage – Resurrection Day


Iron Maiden – Senjutsu


Danko Jones – Power Trio


Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart


All Good Things – A Hope In Hell


Mentalist – A Journey Into The Unknown


CueStack – Diagnosis:Human


Existent – Kartenhaus EP


Buckcherry – Hellbound


Helloween – Helloween


Cleopatrick – Bummer


Anchors & Hearts – Guns Against Liberty


SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen – SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen


Mental Cruelty – A Hill To Die Upon


Pop Evil – Versatile


Manntra – Monster Mind Consuming


Evanescence – The Bitter Truth


As Everything Unfolds – Within Each Lies The Other


Burn Down Eden – Burn Down Eden


The L.A. Maybe – Dirty Damn Tricks


Silent Winter – Empire of Sins


Thunder – All The Right Noises


Heart Healer – The Metal Opera by Magnus Karlsson


Orden Ogan – Final Days


A Day To Remember – You’re Welcome


Definition of Insanity – Into The Abyss


Dreamshade – A Pale Blue Dot


Erik Cohen – Northern Soul


Flaming Wrekage – Cathedral of Bones


Damon Johnson & The Get Ready – Battle Lessons


Mentally Blind – Stage: Zero


Korpiklaani – Jylhä


Accept – Too Mean To Die


Michael Schenker Group – Immortal


Tragedian – Seven Dimensions


Wig Wam – Never Say Die


Bashdown – Pushing the Envelope


John Diva & The Rockets Of Love – American Amadeus


Majestica – A Christmas Carol


Sodom – Genesis XIX


AC/DC – Power Up


Orianthi – O


Averlanche – Life’s Phenomenon


Solstafir – Endless Twilight of Codependent Love


Paradise in Flames – Devil’s Collection


The Struts – Strange Days


Benediction – Scriptures


Artificial Eden – Artificial Eden


Thundermother – Heat Wave


U.D.O. & The German Armed Forces Concert Band – We Are One


Beyond the Black – Horizons


Asking Alexandria – Like a House on Fire


Paradise Lost – Obsidian


Axel Rudi Pell – Sign of The Times


Nightwish – Human :||: Nature



Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting


Gotthard – #13 (Album Review)


Böhse Onkelz – Böhse Onkelz (2020 Album)


Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man


Seven Spires – Emerald Seas


Sepultura – Quadra


Richie Kotzen – 50 for 50


Lordi – Killection


Kirk Windstein – Dream In Motion


Marko Hietala – Pyre Of The Black Heart


Skull Koraptor – Chaos Station


Shadowmass – Shadowmass (Album Review)


Project Renegade – Order of The Minus


Lacuna Coil – Black Anima


Steel Panther – Heavy Metal Rules


Black Star Riders – Another State of Grace


Tarja – In the Raw


Hammerfall – Dominion


Avantasia – Moonglow (Album Review)


Doro – Forever Warriors // Forever United (Album Review)
New York on Flyctory.com
Here are all postings about the “Big Apple”:


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 01 September 2023)


Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 July 2023)



Somnuri – Desiderium


NHL Schedule 2023-24 released – Here are my suggested Trips


Museum of Jewish Heritage


Nickelodeon Universe American Dream (East Rutherford NJ)


Overcoats – Winner


Sophie B. Hawkins – Free Myself


American Airlines / British Airways Soho Lounge New York JFK Terminal 8


Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South – Midtown West


Dream Wheel NJ


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 10 February 2023)


Singapore Airlines A380 Premium Economy


Angry Birds Mini Golf (American Dream, East Rutherford NJ)


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2022


Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2022


Madame Tussauds New York


Top of the Rock Observation Deck


Hampton Inn @Aviation Plaza Linden (New Jersey)


Carlo’s Bakery Hoboken NJ – The Heart of a Cake Empire (Pictured Story)


Edge NYC Observation Deck


Conrad New York Midtown


The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters


Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience (New York City)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 September 2022)


Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023


Jeremy Black – Part of Me EP


American Airlines Admirals Club New York LaGuardia (LGA)


Microtel Inn by Wyndham Long Island City


Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Day 6/7, 30.4./1.5.2022)


Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Day 1, 25.4.2022)


Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Preview)


Adria Hotel & Conference Center (Queens, NY)



Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars


Jon Spencer & The HITmakers – Spencer Gets It Lit


Watching the New York Islanders at UBS Arena


Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Day 2, 11th March 2022)


Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Day 1, 10th March 2022)


Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Preview)



Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – 4


Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Rickie Lee Kroell (8th February 2022)


Rickie Lee Kroell – Hauptsache was mit Deichkind


Jeffrey Mitchell Ross – Waited A Long Time


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 Jan 2022)


Carolyn Miller – Thank You EP


Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Flood


X: THC – Fall Down Seven Times, Rise Up Eight


Tom Morello – The Atlas Underground Fire


Echo Bloom – Wake


Ben Rice – Future Pretend


Cassadra Jenkins – An Overview On Phenomenal Nature EP


Haley Mae Campbell – Growing Up EP


Patty Smyth – It’s About Time


The Big Three of Tennis Men Singles – Unique Dominance?


Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Carolyn Miller (10th June 2020)


Dion – Blues With Friends


Lady Gaga – Chromatica



Joe Satriani – Shapeshifting


American Airlines Flagship Lounge New York JFK (now: Greenwich Lounge)


Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell


Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis 2019 (Day 5/6 – 21st/22nd July 2019)


Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis 2019 (Day 1 – 17th July 2019)


Gulliver’s Gate – a Miniature World at Times Square


John Hotel (Flushing, New York City)


Visiting the US Open 2018


US Open (Tennis) – 1st September 2018


US Open (Tennis) – My Day – 31st August 2018


BA 1 – British Airways’ Most Exclusive Intercontinental Experience


Flying LOT Premium Class