KISS Destroyer UK:CD|MP3 U.S.:CD|MP3 Recorded September 1975 and February 1976
Released March 15, 1976
Say it with me: “You wanted the best, you got the best! The hottest band in the world: KISS!”
Despite being the global phenomenon it is today, only a modest reception greeted KISS‘ first three albums on initial release back in the 1970s. While all very good rock albums, it seemed KISS, Hotter Than Hell, and Dressed To Kill just couldn’t find a big audience. Between them they had what are now thought of as classic KISS songs such as “Strutter,” “Rock and Roll All Nite,” and “Parasite.” But it was the release of the stunning live album Alive! which turned KISS fever into a full-blown pandemic.
On March 15, 1976, a mere six months after Alive!, the band released its fourth studio album, which was produced by Bob Ezrin. It had rock anthems, ballads, wailing guitars, string sections, thumping drums, and the world’s most iconic musicians. This was to be the album which turned KISS from rock stars into superstars. And its title summed up the band’s intent: Destroyer.
Things didn’t quite go immediately to plan. The first three singles released were solid rock tracks: “Shout It Out Loud,” “Flaming Youth,” and the almighty “Detroit Rock City”; life-affirming anthems that make you want to party and require maximum listening volume. All with Ace Frehley‘s screeching guitars, Paul Stanley‘s swaggering vocals, and Gene Simmons‘ gargling sneers shooting from the speakers. Thanks to these, Destroyer sold relatively well at first. But, ironically, it was the softer sound of drummer Peter Criss‘ ballad “Beth” which proved hugely popular with radio audiences and boosted Destroyer‘s sales.
Artist Ken Kelly‘s stunning work made for one of my favourite album covers of all time and has helped the album become part of popular culture: Destroyer-era merchandise, inspired by the costumes the band is wearing, is still hugely popular. Its lead track, “Detroit Rock City,” is also the name of a movie comedy (in which the lead female character is called Beth) about four KISS-mad friends desperately trying to get their hands on KISS concert tickets.
Alive! gave KISS the break it deserved and Destroyer finally cemented the band’s place as one of the biggest and best rock acts in the world. It was the fourth album since the band’s eponymous debut only two years earlier, encapsulating a rich time for the band and its ability to write popular and long-lasting rock songs.
It is amazing that after 35 years it sounds as good today as it ever has. I was introduced to KISS many years after the release of Destroyer, but it is thanks to tracks like “Detroit Rock City” and “God of Thunder” that makes it one of my favourite albums from the vast KISS catalogue.
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?
* The news reporter at the beginning of “Detroit Rock City” is actually Gene Simmons
* Ace was originally to have his vocal debut on this album with a song called “Queen For A Day”, but that plan didn’t work out
* One of the unreleased gems from this album is a tune called “Ain’t None Of Your Business”, with Peter Criss on vocals. Think “Mainline” crossed over with “Baby Driver” – it was a heavy song, and should have been left on the album IMO
* The band, particularly Gene, worked REALLY hard on the track “Great Expectations”. When it became clear that the album needed a new tune that could be a follow-up to “Rock And Roll All Night”, Bob Ezrin and KISS played a prank on Gene. They told him all the masters for “Great Expectations” were LOST and it would be impossible to re-record. Gene collaborated with Paul and Bob in a rush job to come up with “Shout It Out Loud”. After finishing the recording, Bob revealed the secret to Gene: Great Expectations was safe and sound, they just wanted to get a new song out of him.
* People forget that “God Of Thunder” isn’t really Gene’s song… it was written by Paul, and in fact Paul sang the original demo version
I was just listening to the Paul Stanley demo the other day of “God Of Thunder” – hilarious!!! It’s the happy God of Thunder version, woo, whoa yeah, uh ha, all right!
Also – it’s not Ace Frehley doing the solo on “Sweat Pain,” it was Dick Wagner. According to Gene, Ace never showed up to record the solo; according to Ace, he laid down a solo for the song but wasn’t too happy with it and planned to record a new one.
“Shout It Out Loud” is one of my favorite KISS songs ever — you gotta have a party!!!!
I was just listening to the Paul Stanley demo the other day of “God Of Thunder” – hilarious!!! It’s the happy God of Thunder version, woo, whoa yeah, uh ha, all right!
Also – it’s not Ace Frehley doing the solo on “Sweat Pain,” it was Dick Wagner. According to Gene, Ace never showed up to record the solo; according to Ace, he laid down a solo for the song but wasn’t too happy with it and planned to record a new one.
“Shout It Out Loud” is one of my favorite KISS songs ever — you gotta have a party!!!!
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Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
It is amazing that after 35 years it sounds as good today as it ever has. I was introduced to KISS many years after the release of Destroyer, but it is thanks to tracks like “Detroit Rock City” and “God of Thunder” that makes it one of my favourite albums from the vast KISS catalogue. 
Some interesting trivia tidbits about this album…
* The news reporter at the beginning of “Detroit Rock City” is actually Gene Simmons
* Ace was originally to have his vocal debut on this album with a song called “Queen For A Day”, but that plan didn’t work out
* One of the unreleased gems from this album is a tune called “Ain’t None Of Your Business”, with Peter Criss on vocals. Think “Mainline” crossed over with “Baby Driver” – it was a heavy song, and should have been left on the album IMO
* The band, particularly Gene, worked REALLY hard on the track “Great Expectations”. When it became clear that the album needed a new tune that could be a follow-up to “Rock And Roll All Night”, Bob Ezrin and KISS played a prank on Gene. They told him all the masters for “Great Expectations” were LOST and it would be impossible to re-record. Gene collaborated with Paul and Bob in a rush job to come up with “Shout It Out Loud”. After finishing the recording, Bob revealed the secret to Gene: Great Expectations was safe and sound, they just wanted to get a new song out of him.
* People forget that “God Of Thunder” isn’t really Gene’s song… it was written by Paul, and in fact Paul sang the original demo version
Comment by Greg Davies/cGt2099 — March 15, 2011 @ 2:15 pm
I think in my house we’ve cornered the market on most vinyl copies owned of KISS Destroyer in one household.
Comment by Empress Eve — March 15, 2011 @ 4:45 pm
I was just listening to the Paul Stanley demo the other day of “God Of Thunder” – hilarious!!! It’s the happy God of Thunder version, woo, whoa yeah, uh ha, all right!
Also – it’s not Ace Frehley doing the solo on “Sweat Pain,” it was Dick Wagner. According to Gene, Ace never showed up to record the solo; according to Ace, he laid down a solo for the song but wasn’t too happy with it and planned to record a new one.
“Shout It Out Loud” is one of my favorite KISS songs ever — you gotta have a party!!!!
Comment by Empress Eve — March 15, 2011 @ 4:52 pm
I was just listening to the Paul Stanley demo the other day of “God Of Thunder” – hilarious!!! It’s the happy God of Thunder version, woo, whoa yeah, uh ha, all right!
Also – it’s not Ace Frehley doing the solo on “Sweat Pain,” it was Dick Wagner. According to Gene, Ace never showed up to record the solo; according to Ace, he laid down a solo for the song but wasn’t too happy with it and planned to record a new one.
“Shout It Out Loud” is one of my favorite KISS songs ever — you gotta have a party!!!!
Comment by Empress Eve — March 15, 2011 @ 4:52 pm
Paul sounds like he’s saying GOD OF THUNDO!
Speaking of that song, I am hoping that Marvel use it in the upcoming Thor movie :)
Comment by Greg Davies/cGt2099 — March 15, 2011 @ 11:42 pm
Anyone have the comic book KISS VS. Batman?
Comment by RSKnight — March 16, 2011 @ 12:05 am
I would kill to own that, if it was real!!!
Comment by Greg Davies/cGt2099 — March 17, 2011 @ 4:40 pm