The Classic Metal Album Grudge Match:

Artist: KISS

Title: KISS
Label: Casablanca
Release Date: 1974

Rating: 5 Skulls

 VS.
Title: Destroyer
Label: Mercury
Release Date: 1976

Rating: 4 Skulls
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    • Redwolff's Review:
    KISS' self-titled album was the first album I ever bought with my own money. I was seven, and I had saved up my allowance money to buy one record. Why KISS? I don't know. But I never once regretted that decision. This was a formative album that remains a favorite even today.

    This album could hardly be called metal by today's standards, it's far too rock and roll. The songs are all very standard: verse-chorus-verse-chorus. Most of the beats are up-tempo (except for that creepy slow-down at the end of "Black Diamond"), the choruses are very catchy and every word can be understood. There are no curse words, no graphic sexual imagery-- this was a family kind of metal album, one my mother could hear playing in my room without charging in and demanding an explanation. That was a golden time... things got much more difficult later.

    My favorite songs are definitely "Strutter," which our band in college played, at my insistence, and "Firehouse." These tunes just flat-out kick ass. The choruses beg you to sing along, almost as if they were anthems, and there are some simple but great guitar riffs. "Kissin' Time" and "Love Theme from Kiss" are so hilarious-- I can't believe they had the balls to not only wear make-up and costumes but also release these ridiculously cheesy tracks! "Cold Gin" and "Deuce" are also great songs, absolute classics of this era. "Let Me Know" and "100,000 Years" I could take or lose, they really were the weaker spots on the album. And of course the closer, "Black Diamond," with its decelerating rhythm at the end, scared the tar out of me when I was little, and I still can't listen to it without feeling icky.

    I bought this KISS album again on CD a few years ago but I don't listen to it very often. I love it as I would love one of the Barbies or fabulous late-seventies polyester outfits I had at the same time I acquired this album, simply because listening to KISS' first album fills me with the comfortable, nostalgic feelings of my safe, happy childhood. Listening to it now, many years later, however, it strikes me as sounding very dated. As I said at the beginning of this review, it can hardly be considered metal-- but this was truly a groundbreaking and important album for the genre, and KISS an influence on many bands that followed them. OK, there are some metal fans that say that KISS is CRAP, like our own Death, but he probably wasn't introduced to them at an early age like I was. Listening to early KISS now is not impressive in the least. But to have grown up with them gives you a different perspective not only on the band itself but also metal music in general.

    For all that this album has given me over the years, I have to give it five skulls. The music alone might not merit this perfect rating, but this album is so much more to me than just the songs.
    KISS: 5 out of 5

    Douwe Kroodsma's Review:
    When Kiss was ready to record Destroyer, they had just made their major breakthrough with Alive!, the live album that was a million-seller. They wanted the next studio album to be something special. This album must be a hit again, not like their first 3 studio albums, which didn't sell that well.

    They asked Bod Ezrin to produce this album, to make sure it would be something special. Bob Ezrin later also produced The Elder and Revenge. Ezrin not only produced the album and co-wrote most of the songs on it, but also contributed a lot of special sound effects on the album. The album became very diverse, varying from heavy rocksongs to sweet ballads. To this day almost every new album is compared with this classic by the band.

    The album begins with somebody listening to the news on the radio, and later on starting a truck while playing a tape of Kiss. This goes on with the first song of the album "Detroit Rock City." A great rock song, which never gets boring. By the end of the song you hear the truck again, this time getting in a crash. When the sounds fade out "King Of The Night Time World" begins. This song is one of my all-time favorites, a true rocker. Great live song too.

    Next is "God of Thunder." When I recently listened to this version again, it struck me how slow and heavy it is. Personally, I prefer the original demo sung by Paul Stanley (as on the Box Set), but it is a classic and Gene Simmons' signature song. Number 4 on the album is "Great Expectations," which slows down a bit. This song is not a typical "Kiss-song" but fits nicely between the other songs. In my opinion, it would fitted Peter Criss' voice better, some way. Even a choir is arranged to spice up this number.

    "Flaming Youth" is next, using a riff that was originally meant for a Simmons' song called "Mad Dog" what didn't make it to be released, preceeding "Sweet Pain." This song is never played live, as far as I know. Would have fit perfectly on Alive II, though. The classic "Shout It Out Loud" makes you want to rock 'n' roll again, a song with the same "vibe" as "Rock 'n' Roll All Night."

    The 8th song is by Peter Criss, "Beth." Again not neccesarily a real Kiss-song, but this ballad became the band's greatest hit single ever. The last song on the record is "Do You Love Me." This song never did it for me, until the MTV-Unplugged version saw the light.

    All in all this is a great 70's Kiss album, if not THE Kiss album. When an album after 16 years (!) still sounds fresh, you can say that the mission was accomplished.
    Destroyer: 5 out of 5

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