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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Polygram Records
Salesrank: 206623
Released: October 25, 1990 |
| Our Price: $39.99 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Destroyer Track Listing:
1. Detroit Rock City
2. King of the Night Time World
3. God of Thunder
4. Great Expectations
5. Flaming Youth
6. Sweet Pain
7. Shout It out Loud
8. Beth
9. Do You Love Me?
Editorial Review:
Digitally remastered Japanese reissue of the band's top 201976 album in a miniaturized LP sleeve limited to theinitial pressing only. Nine tracks, including the top 10smash 'Beth', plus the classics 'Do You Love Me', 'Shout ItOut Loud' and 'Detroit Rock C
Description of Destroyer:
With their 1976 album Destroyer, the band's fifth release in two years, Kiss began to expand their fan base by shedding a bit of their edge, taking on a more melodic sound and a less menacing image. The Peter Criss ballad "Beth," written for his wife, is the most sentimental love ballad the group ever recorded, and songs like "Detroit Rock City" and "Shout It Out Loud" had the kind of arena-rock punch that kept subscriptions to the Kiss Army at an all-time high. Despite, or because of, the blatantly commercial direction the band seemed to be heading in, 1976 was the most creatively rewarding period in its lengthy career. In addition to releasing Destroyer, the band pumped out the equally touted album Rock and Roll Over, which included the pounding "Take Me" and the groovin' "Calling Dr. Love." The only finer year was 1978, when the band starred in the classic B-grade flick Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. --Jon Wiederhorn
Destroyer Reviews:
Probably Kiss's most popular studio album of all time. 
2009-11-10 - There is no denying that KISS Destroyer is one of the most famous Rock N' Roll albums of all time. KISS was starting to become a household name by the time they released Destroyer, and the album only did more to add to their rising fame. Featuring quite possibly the best album opener of all time, Detroit Rock City, upon listening, you knew that you were in for a wild ride with this album. Detroit Rock City is everything that made KISS one of the greatest bands ever, with it's amazing power chords, Gene Simmons' bouncy bass lines, and Paul Stanley's incredible vocals, it was a KISS fan's dream come true. The next song, King of the Night Time World, was another winner, with it's great rolling drums, and powerful guitar licks, and Paul Stanley singing, "I'm The King!", well, this is arena rock material of the highest order for sure. Next up, Gene unleashes his inner Demon on the wicked song, God of Thunder, a track so unworldly, only Gene Simmons could pull it off. And he does, splendidly. But just when things are really starting to heat up, what does KISS do? They put a cheesy slow melodic song featuring Gene schmoozing it up to the female audience, titled Great Expectations. Sure, it's an okay song, I guess, but...oh, well, let's move on. Paul Stanley steps things up a notch with the song Flaming Youth, which is not one of KISS's best songs ever, but after the last track, at least it picks up the pace a little more. Then there is, Sweet Pain, Gene Simmons' ode to S&M, I'm guessing. I'm not into S&M, but, this is a pretty cool song that I find myself humming to every time that I listen to it. Next up is, Shout It Out Loud, which is another well-known KISS anthem, and, it rocks loud and proud with it's, "You've got to have a Party!" attitude. Up next is a touching ballad to Peter Criss' wife, titled Beth. It's a beautiful song sung by Criss as well, which ironically became KISS's first Top Ten hit, and it literally helped sell thousands more copies of this album to females who swooned at it's mushy lyrics. The last song on the album is Do You Love Me, and it is another song sung this time by Paul Stanley schmoozing it up once again to the ladies, and it is, I'll admit, a guilty pleasure of mine. Then the album comes to an abrupt end with a track that is nothing but distorted concert gibberish with Paul Stanley talking to the audience. What The? That's it? Yep, unfortunately. Still, the album delivers the Rock N' Roll goods, and that's all that really matters. And while it's not what I would consider KISS's best album, it is still no doubt an epic work of music for sure, and a definite crowd pleaser.
This brings back memories... 
2009-10-29 - When I was in High School I borrowed this from a friend, I couldn't wait to get home and listen to what I heard was a classic 70's rock album. I listened to it and, What is this?? This album sucks. Detroit Rock City and Shout It Out Loud are are the only OK songs, the rest of the songs are laughable and just embarrassing to hear. I even listened to the song samples here at Amazon before writing this review and I have to admit they still sound terrible. Many people say this is their best album, but I actually think KISS Love Gun is a little better, because the previous albums were awful.
I respect all the KISS fans, but I think they are one of the most overrated bands in history. Other 70's bands were years ahead of KISS and had much better albums than Destroyer. I'm talking about Boston's debut album and Don't Look Back, Bon Scott Era AC/DC's Let There Be Rock, UFO's Phenomenon, other material by Deep Purple, Rush...
Overrated Band, Overrated Album.
Same old ways modern days 
2009-10-10 - 1976 was an opening. Biggies such as Led Zeppelin, the Who, Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones were slipping down the drain on drugs. Timing, perfect; punk was hungry and the strongest arena rockers picked up just enough spit fire to ride the storm (Love Gun / Sex Pistols). How appropriate Ezrin, brains behind the imploding comet Alice Cooper, would be the architect. Heavy metal bubblegum with merchandising accessories and fan club ~ boogie Beatlemania. Don't forget to add enough mush for the girlfriends to endure it (B-side "Beth"). Mainly power chords, football rally choruses (Sammy Hagar was taking note) and, above all, big top glitz. Hippies & commies bug off, here come the billion dollar babies. Nowadays, the young and hip don't buy music from their heroes, they digitally steal it. #1s more and more are geezers 'cause their fans don't know enough about computer piracy so off to the mall they march. For the love of merch. It's all about selling lunch boxes anyway (Beatles knew that first) ~ and staying sober long enough for the jackpot. You get the audience you deserve. Checkmate, Kiss.
Arguably KISS' finest studio album over 30 years later
2009-10-07 - KISS' fifth album Destroyer was released in March of 1976.
The album was the band's long-awaited followup to the monstrously successful live album, 1975's Alive!. Alive! was the album that made KISS a household name but its followup immortalized KISS forever.
The band entered The Record Plant in January, 1976 (the month I was born mind you) with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (famed for work up to that point with Alice Cooper, Lou Reed and would subsequently work with Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd) to create their classic contribution to rock history. I first got this tape by mistake in July of 1988 and the chance paid off, KISS' best studio release from the make-up years (I now have the remastered CD). On this album, rhythm guitarist/singer Paul Stanley, bass player/singer Gene Simmons, lead guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss peaked as a band.
We open with a news reading and intro of the fan going to a concert and cranking "Rock and Roll All Night" on his tape deck (either cassette or 8-track (this was 1976 mind you) into the rocker "Detroit Rock City" (penned by Stanley and Ezrin) which is a tale of a fan going to see a rock and roll concert only to die. The crash segues into the classic "King Of the Night Time World" which is also sung and penned by Stanley and Ezrin with Mark Anthony and famed Runaways svengali Kim Fowley. Next is the Stanley penned sinister rocker "God of Thunder" (sung by Gene and would be his bass solo/blood spewing number and also was Peter Criss' drum solo spot for many years). The first side ends with Gene's grand theatrical number "Great Expectations" which featured choirs, strings and bells.
Then we have "Flaming Youth" which was penned by Paul and Ace and Ezrin. We follow with the Simmons penned rocker "Sweet Pain" (which featured famed Bob Ezrin session player Dick Wagner playing lead guitar here). Next was the first single "Shout it Out Loud" which was a Top 40 stomping anthemic rocker penned by Stanley/Simmons/Ezrin. Next was the ballad "Beth", which was written and sung by Peter. The song was a love ballad and seen as the band as a throwaway song and initially was the flip side to "Detroit Rock City" before DJ's flipped the 45 over and played "Beth" and the song reached #7 on the US charts. The closing "Do You Love Me" is a great rocker as well. Just when you thought it was over on the original album, it ends with the collage of sound effects a/k/a Rock and Roll Party with the choir from Great Expectations and was on the original LP, CD and CD remaster of Destroyer.
Destroyer remains KISS' greatest triumph and biggest selling studio album (Triple Platinum in US sales) as it reached #11 on the US charts. Today, Destroyer sounds great and has aged very well!
Highly recommended!
An Experiment In Destruction
2009-08-13 - KISS' Destroyer was, at the time of its release, the most experimental album that the band had put out. It was also the first certified platinum album for the group. Thirty-plus years later, the album is still regarded as one of the band's greatest efforts. Why? For the simple fact that this album not only appealled to hardcore KISS fans, it reached out to the mainstream as well.
One could argue that this album is more like a mini greatest hits package than just KISS' fourth major label release. A number of their greatest tracks are included here. The first track, "Detroit Rock City" is my favorite KISS tune. It's a blistering rocker that showcases Gene Simmons' bass. Another thundering tune is "God Of Thunder." "Beth" shows the softer side of the group, and it became one of their greatest hits. "Do You Love Me" takes the listener on a wild ride with the ladies that love KISS. "Great Expectations" shows KISS experimenting heavily with their sound (and it works here). The anthemic rocker "Shout It Out Loud" will have you pumping your fists into the air. "King of the Night Time World," " "Flaming Youth," and "Sweet Pain." round out the collection.
To top it all off, "Destroyer" has what many consider to be one of the greatest album covers ever.
If you consider yourself a KISS fan and do not own "Destroyer," then you aren't a true KISS fan. If you've never heard KISS before or only know them from their later work or the many greatest hits packages released over the years, trust me when I tell you that "Destroyer" is THE album to own by KISS. Highly recommended.
