Destroyer (Kiss album)
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:01:21 PM Wikipedia source
Destroyer is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Kiss, released on March 15, 1976, by Casablanca Records in the US. It was the third successive Kiss album to reach the top 40 in the US, as well as the first to chart in Germany and New Zealand. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on April 22, 1976, and platinum on November 11 of the same year, the first Kiss album to achieve platinum. The album marked a departure from the raw sound of the band's first three albums.
Infobox
Released
March 15, 1976 (1976-03-15)
Recorded
September 3–6, 1975; January 4 – February 5, 1976
Studio
Electric Lady and Record Plant, New York City
Genre
Hard rock heavy metal
Length
34:28
Label
Casablanca
Producer
Bob Ezrin
Tables
Professional ratings · Reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Blender
Blender
Review scores
Blender
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
8/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Review scores
Pitchfork
Review scores
9 /10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Spin Alternative Record Guide
Spin Alternative Record Guide
Review scores
Spin Alternative Record Guide
Review scores
7/10
Uncut
Uncut
Review scores
Uncut
Review scores
The Village Voice
The Village Voice
Review scores
The Village Voice
Review scores
C+
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Blender | |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 8/10 |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Pitchfork | 9 /10 |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10 |
| Uncut | |
| The Village Voice | C+ |
· Charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1976)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peak
position
6
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1976)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peak
position
6
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1976)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peak
position
17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1976)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peak
position
16
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1976)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peak
position
25
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1976)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peak
position
4
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1976)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
22
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1976)
US Billboard 200
Peak
position
11
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 6 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 6 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 17 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 16 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 25 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 22 |
| US Billboard 200 | 11 |
· Charts
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2021)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peak
position
108
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (2021)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peak
position
119
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2021)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peak
position
68
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2021)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peak
position
16
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2021)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peak
position
36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (2021)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peak
position
55
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2021)
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
Peak
position
4
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
Chart (2021)
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
Peak
position
3
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 108 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 119 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 68 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 16 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 36 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 55 |
| US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard) | 4 |
| US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard) | 3 |
· Charts
German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2026)
German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peak
position
16
| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
| German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 16 |
· Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
20,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)
45th Anniversary Super Deluxe edition
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)
45th Anniversary Super Deluxe edition
Region
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)
45th Anniversary Super Deluxe edition
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000‡
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
2× Platinum
Certified units/sales
2,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe edition | Gold | 100,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Kiss Timelinehttps://kisstimeline.com/timeline/kiss-enters-electric-lady-studios-to-start-recording-destroyer/
- "American album certifications – Kiss – Destroyer"https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kiss&ti=Destroyer&format=Album&type=#search_section
- Leaf and Sharp, Behind the Mask, pp. 67–68.
- Gill, Kiss Album Focus, p. 178.
- Lendt, Kiss and Sell, pp. 40–41.
- Gill, Kiss Album Focus, p. 181.
- Gill, Kiss Album Focus, pp. 183–184.
- Kissfaqhttp://www.kissfaq.com/multimedia/audio/noneofyourbusiness.mp3
- Gill, Kiss Album Focus, pp. 185–189.
- "Shine Like A Radio: The Great Lost 1974 Album"https://web.archive.org/web/20211123012102/https://lightintheattic.net/releases/978-shine-like-a-radio-the-great-lost-1974-album
- "Review: KISS Destroyer 45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition"https://michaelcavacini.com/2021/11/16/review-kiss-destroyer-45th-anniversary-super-deluxe-edition/
- Kiss – den osminkade sanningenhttps://books.google.com/books?id=LXsZCgAAQBAJ&q=kiss+%22magna+graphics%22+1975&pg=PT81
- Gooch and Suhs, Kiss Alive Forever, p. 64.
- Gill, Kiss Album Focus, p. 185.
- subscribehttps://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/10/24/detroit-rock-city-kiss-fan-death-mystery-new-book/74405434/
- Leaf and Sharp, Behind the Mask, pp. 253–254.
- Leaf and Sharp, Behind the Mask, p. 255.
- Leaf and Sharp, Behind the Mask, p. 256.
- Leaf and Sharp, Behind the Mask, p. 252.
- Gill, Kiss Album Focus, p. 188.