Kiss – Destroyer

I have the blue label version of this album. However, it has the hidden 6th track as noted here with the red label version.

Is there anybody who has anything to say about the actual content (i.e. the music) on this album?
I can say that it was in quite a few ways different than their previous and subsequent albums. Take for example "Great expectations", "Flaming Youth" and perhaps also "Sweet pain" but most of all the "Beth" which (strangely?) became one of their more well known songs. Until "I was made for lovin' you" Kiss was not so much known for their singles (with the exception of "Rock and roll all nite"), at least not here i Europe.

In 1975, the epochal double "live" album "Alive!" established KISS as the Hottest Band in the World, and in typical KISS fashion, instead of following it up with what was expected of them, i.e. reproducing the theatrical pomp and sheer vulgarity of their ear-bleeding, light-strobing, fire-breathing, blood-spitting stage performances, they holed up in the studio to create more intricately-arranged, experimental material with renowned producer Bob Ezrin. Such a risky about-face could have resulted in KISS losing the momentum they had spent the past few years building, but as luck would have it, the overly stylistic end product, after some initial fan backlash, became their first platinum-selling album.

"Destroyer" bears all the sonic criteria of KISS' sleek, fist-pounding arena rock, albeit with augmented musical proficiency and diversity, however, thanks to Ezrin's interference and instruction, the limp production of old is notably absent. Having rejected or heavily altered the material brought to him during the recording sessions, Ezrin's highly disciplined approach paid dividends, since the nine (plus a hidden instrumental exitlude) compositions that did make the grade seamlessly translate into an arty concept album with an almost dark, unearthly overall mood. Granted, taken as a whole, this drink-drive-die-at-night-in-the-city saga lacks the non-stop energy, exuberant party-rock anthems and simplistic calling cards of their previous output, but like any album that digresses from a very distinct formula, it slowly becomes a favourite, not least because it features the uncharacteristically touching string-laden ballad "Beth" and bombastic live staples "Detroit Rock City," "God of Thunder" and "Shout It Out Loud".

RATING: 4.5/5

Definitely my favorite studio album by the most marketed rock band in history! Best songs include Detroit Rock City, God of Thunder, Shout It Out Loud and Beth. If I were to introduce KISS​ to a new listener, I would make sure they listened to this album.

The album cover is classic KISS styled and highlights all of the original at their prime!