Destroyer (Kiss album)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:42:35 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
9.0/10
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 | 9.0/10 |
| 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)
Peakposition
6
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1976)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
6
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1976)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1976)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
16
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1976)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peakposition
25
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1976)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
4
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1976)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
22
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1976)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
11
| Chart (1976) | Peakposition |
| 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)
Peakposition
108
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (2021)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peakposition
119
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2021)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
68
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2021)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
16
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2021)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
36
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (2021)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
55
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2021)
US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
4
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
Chart (2021)
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
Peakposition
3
| Chart (2021) | Peakposition |
| 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 |
· Certifications
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 |
| 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. | ||
· Accolades
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Publication
Rolling Stone
Country
U.S.
Accolade
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Year
2003
Rank
496
Blender
Blender
Publication
Blender
Country
U.S.
Accolade
The 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time
Year
2002
Rank
50
Guitar World
Guitar World
Publication
Guitar World
Country
U.S.
Accolade
The 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time.[deprecated source]
Year
2006
Rank
60
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
| Rolling Stone | U.S. | The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | 2003 | 496 |
| Blender | U.S. | The 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time | 2002 | 50 |
| Guitar World | U.S. | The 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time.[deprecated source] | 2006 | 60 |
· Release history
United States
United States
Country
United States
Date
March 15, 1976
Label
Casablanca Records
Format
LP
Catalogue number
NBLP-7025
Canada
Canada
Country
Canada
Date
1976
Label
Casablanca Records
Format
LP
Catalogue number
NBLP-7025V
United States
United States
Country
United States
Date
July 1987
Label
Casablanca/PolyGram
Format
CD
Catalogue number
824 149-2
United States
United States
Country
United States
Date
August 12, 1997
Label
Mercury Records
Format
Remastered CD
Catalogue number
532 378-2
Worldwide
Worldwide
Country
Worldwide
Date
August 21, 2012
Label
Universal Music Group
Format
Re-release
Catalogue number
—
Worldwide
Worldwide
Country
Worldwide
Date
2014
Label
Universal Music Group
Format
Remastered LP
Catalogue number
B0019818-01
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue number |
| United States | March 15, 1976 | Casablanca Records | LP | NBLP-7025 |
| Canada | 1976 | Casablanca Records | LP | NBLP-7025V |
| United States | July 1987 | Casablanca/PolyGram | CD | 824 149-2 |
| United States | August 12, 1997 | Mercury Records | Remastered CD | 532 378-2 |
| Worldwide | August 21, 2012 | Universal Music Group | Re-release | — |
| Worldwide | 2014 | Universal Music Group | Remastered LP | B0019818-01 |
References
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