KISS - DESTROYER

I understand that what I am about to say will be considered blasphemous and I am going to step on many a KISS fans toes but I have to admit…I do not like this album. Of the entire KISS catalog, DESTROYER is probably the least played. I would even bet that ANIMALYZE hits the CD player with higher frequency. So, that being said this review (post) may be slightly ‘off’ and therefore I must apologize. When it all boils down as a KISS fan I feel nothing for DESTROYER and even less for producer Bob Ezrin.
Most KISS fans believe that Bob Ezrin is responsible for ultimate KISS glory (DESTROYER) and the ultimate KISS failure (MUSIC FROM THE ELDER). It is my opinion that Bob Ezrin not only led KISS in the wrong direction once, but also did it a second and third time when you include the very confused (REVENGE).
Now, before you pull out your bats and chains and throw me against the fence for my final beating hear me out that I do not ‘hate’ Bob Ezrin as a producer…I dislike him as a KISS producer. I love his work with Alice Cooper but with KISS…he somewhat misses the mark.
Now, with my Mr. Ezrin disgust aside I will be the first to admit that his works with KISS were phenomenal achievements for the band. I understand that without DESTROYER there would have never been a LOVE GUN. Without an ELDER we would have no CREATURES OF THE NIGHT. Without REVENGE there would have be no PSYCHO CIRCUS…and a world without ‘these’ albums would be a sad world to live in.
I first saw the album DESTROYER in the Hall School music room in 1981. It was one of those special days when each kid was allowed to bring in one album or 45” record and play his or her favorite cut. Mandy Stockman brought in her brothers beat up copy of DESTROYER and played “Beth”. I didn’t know it at the time I just remember it being a slow song…the kind my sister would like. I remember staring at the cover and being equally scared/thrilled/intrigued by the contrast of the silver and black superhero costumes and face paint against the deep purple and orange background.
“These guys look like they are from Hell,” I though to myself (my mother obviously speaking through me). That night I made a horrible child like scribble drawing of Gene Simmons face in my Big Chief tablet and my mom asked me who it was. I told her and was immediately warned not to think about or draw that ‘bad man’ (if you need more back story please see my post MEETING THE DEVIL IN THE WOODS).
When I finally picked up this (actual) album from a vintage vinyl store in the high school years I was amazed at how much I remembered the cover down to the minuet details of the burning buildings on the back cover. It just goes to show you…when you run across something that cool as a kid, it is forever burned into your memory. KISS just so happens to be ‘one’ of those cool things.