Coming on the heels of the group's breakthrough album Alive!, Destroyer is easily the most ambitious studio recording of KISS's '70s catalogue. Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with Alice Cooper, was brought in to produce the album. Among the production flourishes Ezrin introduced to KISS were sound effects, strings, screaming children ("You're the Devil!" on God Of Thunder) as well as a children's choir.

Destroyer is the first KISS album to prominently feature outside musicians, such as members of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra. Though one musician was not credited. Dick Wagner, from Alice Cooper's band, replaced Ace Frehley on one track, Sweet Pain, as Frehley didn't want to interupt a card game he was playing during recording sessions for the song.

The success of Alive! and Destroyer enabled the band to embark on their first tour of Europe.

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Track listing

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1. "Detroit Rock City" (Paul Stanley, Bob Ezrin) - 5:20
   • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
2. "King Of The Night Time World" (Kim Fowley, Mark Anthony, Stanley, Ezrin) - 3:13
   • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
3. "God Of Thunder" (Stanley) - 4:13
   • Lead vocals - Gene Simmons
4. "Great Expectations" (Gene Simmons, Ezrin) - 4:21
   • Lead vocals - Gene Simmons
5. "Flaming Youth" (Ace Frehley, Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin) - 2:55
   • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
6. "Sweet Pain" (Simmons) - 3:20
   • Lead vocals - Gene Simmons
7. "Shout It Out Loud" (Simmons, Stanley, Ezrin) - 2:50
   • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons
8. "Beth" (Peter Criss, Stan Penridge, Ezrin) - 2:45
   • Lead vocals - Peter Criss
9. "Do You Love Me" (Fowley, Ezrin, Stanley) - 3:33
   • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley
10. "(Untitled Track)" (Simmons, Stanley, Ezrin) - 1:25
    • Lead vocals - Paul Stanley

Personnel

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• Gene Simmons - Bass/Vocals
• Paul Stanley - Guitar/Vocals
• Ace Frehley - Lead guitar
• Peter Criss - Drums/Vocals

Charts

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Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1976	Pop Albums	11

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1976	"Shout It Out Loud"	Pop Singles	31
1976	"Flaming Youth"	Pop Singles	74
1976	"Beth"	Pop Singles	7

Album notes

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• The unnamed track at the end of the album is usually referred to as "Rock and Roll Party."
• Destroyer is certified triple platinum.
• "Detroit Rock City" was released as a single but failed to chart. The B-side of that single was "Beth."

External links

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• Official Website
• KISS FAQ - Destroyer, Accessed on July 9, 2005.

KISS albums | 1976 albums | Hard rock albums | Albums with hidden tracks

Destroyer | Destroyer