Destroyer [Resurrected - Back to Black Edition]

by Kiss

Overview

The pressure was on Kiss for their fifth release, and the band knew it. Their breakthrough, Alive!, was going to be hard to top, so instead of trying to re-create a concert setting in the studio, they went the opposite route. Destroyer is one of Kiss' most experimental studio albums, but also one of their strongest and most interesting. Alice Cooper/Pink Floyd producer Bob Ezrin was on hand, and he strongly encouraged the band to experiment -- there's extensive use of sound effects (the album's untitled closing track), the appearance of a boy's choir ("Great Expectations"), and an orchestra-laden, heartfelt ballad ("Beth"). But there's plenty of Kiss' heavy thunder rock to go around, such as the demonic "God of Thunder" and the singalong anthems "Flaming Youth," "Shout It Out Loud," "King of the Night Time World," and "Detroit Rock City" (the latter a tale of a doomed concertgoer, complete with violent car-crash sound effects). But it was the aforementioned Peter Criss ballad, "Beth," that made Destroyer such a success; the song was a surprise Top Ten hit (it was originally released as a B-side to "Detroit Rock City"). Also included is a song that Nirvana would later cover ("Do You Love Me?"), as well as an ode to the pleasures of S&M, "Sweet Pain." Destroyer also marked the first time that a comic-book illustration of the band appeared on the cover, confirming that Kiss were transforming from hard rockers to superheroes. [In 2012, Universal issued a Resurrected edition featuring a new mix by original producer Bob Ezrin. The in-album version of "Beth" is extended, featuring a verse not heard on the original release, while a version of "Sweet Pain" with an alternate guitar solo is added as a bonus track.] ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	08/21/2012
Label:	Casablanca / Mercury / Universal
UPC:	0602527912042
Rank:	68550

Tracks

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?
10. Sweet Pain [Original Guitar Solo]
11. [Untitled]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kiss   Primary Artist
Gene Simmons   Primary Artist,Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
J.R. Smalling   Drums
Josh Ezrin   Vocals
Bob Ezrin   Orchestra,Piano,Keyboards
Peter Criss   Drums,Lead Vocals
Ace Frehley   Guitar,Vocals
Helen Reddy   Vocals (Background)
Paul Stanley   Guitar,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Dick Wagner   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
New York Philharmonic   Orchestra
Richard Gerstein   Piano
David Ezrin   Vocals
Brooklyn Boys Chorus   Vocals
Citrus Singers   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

C. Mark Anthony   Composer
Mark Anthony   Composer,Composer,Composer,Composer
Stanley Penridge   Composer
Bob Ezrin   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Kim Fowley   Composer
Ivan Kral   Composer
Eddie Kramer   Producer
Gene Simmons   Composer,Producer
Sean Delaney   Producer
Peter Criss   Composer
Ace Frehley   Composer
Paul Stanley   Composer,Producer
Corky Stasiak   Engineer
Jay Messina   Engineer
Iggy Pop   Composer
Ken Kelly   Cover Painting
Stan Penridge   Composer
Dennis Woloch   Design