Destroyer KISS Released – 1976 by Mercury Records Track List 1. Detroit Rock City 2. King of the Nighttime 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?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Destroyer’ is the classic KISS album from 1976 featuring some of the most recognisable material in the history of the band. ‘Alive!’ had just been released a year earlier really putting the band on the map across America and they knew it needed to be followed up with their best studio album yet.

KISS managed to deliver with songs such as ‘Detroit Rock City’ ‘God of Thunder’ ‘Shout It Out Loud’ and the unintentional mega hit ballad ‘Beth’. Add to that Bob Ezrin’s production techniques that were unique for the time, and you have a triple platinum record.

On the opening track Gene Simmons dominates with a great bass line in ‘Detroit Rock City’ intertwined with some superb guitar riffs that make that song one hell of an album intro. You can hear the pyro as you listen to this one. It’s gone down as one of the great metal/hard rock songs of all time.

‘Shout It Out Loud’ is an anthemic KISS-Klassic and shows when they are top of their game there a few better at writing such catchy material. ‘God of Thunder’ is a personal favourite of mine and the throaty growl of Gene Simmons really gives the song an apocalyptic feel. ‘Beth’ originally was a B Side on the single for ‘Detroit Rock City’ that exploded once mainstream radio got their hands on it. A classic ballad, what else can I say?

For a large percentage of people the rest of the album doesn’t rate too highly. But while I understand a few of the criticisms you have to remember this was released in the 70s and these songs were great for the day (and in my mind they still are).  ‘Destroyer’ is perhaps the most pop oriented recording in their catalogue except for maybe ‘Dynasty’ but do you really care?

KISS, despite the marketing, the ego’s, even the KISS-kaskets, are still an amazing live band, one of the biggest and greatest in the history of rock n roll and they wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for great albums like ‘Destroyer’.

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Dirty Rock review by ‘Jonni Starr’ 2007

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