: At the time of release, critics from sites like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork were mixed, with some calling it a "step backward". However, retrospective reviews from platforms like Reddit now often hail it as a cult classic.
Released in September 2013, Kiss Land is often viewed by fans as an underappreciated masterpiece that took the dark, atmospheric sound of his Trilogy mixtapes and made it more "maximalist".
: The album is a "cinematic experience" inspired by horror filmmakers like John Carpenter. It explores themes of fear, isolation, and the alienation of fame as Abel Tesfaye travels the world.
The Weeknd has released several "zip" style pieces for the album’s 5th and 10th anniversaries.