There are alot of negative reviews for this disc which was rumoured to be a double disc event. For a 35th Anniversary reissue, this is not at all worthy of that moniker. It is a disappointing revist to say the least. Bob Ezrin approached KISS about this remix because he wanted to do something for its 35th. But the thing about Ezrin's recording is that so much of it was premixed during the making of it and many of the tracks were recorded "wet" (meaning that there was no way to EVER alter its effects, etc). So, from the get-go, this project had many limitations, as he notes in the cd booklet. There are differences, however. For examples, an omitted background vocal from the archived tape of "Detroit Rock City" makes its debut along with an added effect to the end of the last verse. Also, Ace's stinging feedback intro to "King..." isn't as prominent. The piano is more upfront in "Great Expectations" . And there are other such differences throughout. Then there is "Sweet Pain" with a different solo (I, myself, was hoping that the different solo was going to be an Ace Frehley outtake) and louder harmonized gang vocals folowing the guitar part. Overall, the mix is more present. The piano agumentations on some songs is not as noticable (eg, Detroit...) and in the process it sounds more "band" like because it sounds more like just the four guys. The opposite approach could have produced a KISS Symphony version . The drum sound (as noticed in the beginning of "Shout...") is tighter, with less air.

With all of the differences, however, this release is "nothing new" and the lack of fanfare is most distressing. Diehard fans will notice the differences but those who are just coming to the band will not even be able to appreciate them. So, for a 35th Anniversary, this really is targeted at diehards. If this present disc had been accompanied with a second disc of demos and outtakes, then there would hardly have been any negative reviews. The Remix is great for what it is. The packaging is good (although they SHOULD HAVE altered the color of the back to match the front artwork). The black disc even has a faux record label. There is so much that is good about this issue. But the complaints are valid. The bonus track is the original solo to "Sweet Pain"? THAT doesn't qualify for an Anniversary acknowledgement. KISS has just rejoined Universal Music Group. They have nearly all of KISS' recorded stuff. There is plenty that they could have included. A live DVD or cd would have been SOMETHING. A stripped bonus disc would have been SOMETHING. A symphony remix as a bonus disc would have been SOMETHING. But what they have issued--great as it may be sonically--is unremarkable in value. I have bought this album in several formats numerous times. I don't regret buying this version, either. BUT all of it was unnecessary. Want to revisit something? How about a remix and remaster of Hot In The Shade? Some of the 80s percussive things on that disc, particularly "Read My Body" need an exit. How about a guitar-dominant remix of Unmasked? What if you release a version of The Elder with Ace's guitar parts present? There's a lot that could be remixed and remastered in the KISS World. BUT--and it's a big one--do it with determination. I'm not knocking Ezrin's remix. The disapointment is not with this issue's sonics. It's with its packaging, what it does not do because of what it does not include.

Bottom line is that completists and die hards will buy it. New fans won't appreciate the differences. And most will feel cheated.

It is cool to see this CD get some kind of treatment after all these years. Granted, there is not a heck of a lot to hold your hopes on. The remix is not bad, but it does take away a lot of the mysticism and allure from the original. The Original version was kind of dark and had a muddy sound that was really different for its time. When I was a kid i would stare at the cover all day and just listen in awe to the darker vibe of Kiss. Very, very different from the straight, clean sounding 'Dressed to Kill' which was their prior studio effort. These songs were longer, more adventurous and the album as a whole had a great flow to it. A lot of that (in fact most of that) can be attributed to Bob Ezrin and his more artistic approach to producing. The layers he created, the effects, the orchestration and slower songs all made this album the perfect showcase to go with the bands image and show. What an album for its time. A true classic.

Then there is this. It isnt over the top different, but just enough to make it slide more to the 'rock' style of Kiss. Some of that darkness is lost a little but it really doesn't do it much harm either. I still would prefer the Original version easily over this. BUT be forewarned that myself and most others writing negative stuff grew up on this album. We worshiped it. Knew all the words to all the songs, had posters on our walls and this album was the reason for that. We probably have all heard this 1000+ times. So a bias is definitely there. Why change a masterpiece that holds so many memories? Well, really, after 35 years why not.

My biggest disappointment is that it didnt go a little further with content. As with many others, we have probably all bought this album 15 times since 76 on 4 different formats, so adding some unique and unheard tracks or takes would have been nice. They know all the diehards will buy it anyway but we hate just completing our collections. We want, and deserve a bit more than this after so many years. It fact, this just feels like they are sticking their toes in the water. Surely a double CD, Limited, w/DVD would have been more of a celebration of this classic, than this single CD w/o even a bonus track. A previous song with a different solo hardly gets the heart beating for diehards. There is plenty of space on the CD that could have been used and made us feel a little better about the whole thing. Face it, not many new fans are coming to the table at this point and most will buy the original. For us, who spend another 10 bucks on a CD we have heard 1000 times, its light. Plus, that hiccup before 'Sweet Pain', as others stated, is inexcusable. Major oversight.

I do, however, believe that the booklet and notes by Ezrin are nice, and I do believe blowing the dust of this classic doesn't hurt as a teaser for the new CD coming out in the fall. Ezrin deserves another paycheck from this CD as he made it great to begin with. He did not ruin this by any means and in fact, some of the tracks do have an element of added energy from the boost in technology. I just still have to stay true to the original.

Hey, at least its not another best of. It has its qualities and isn't a terrible reissue. It just is not essential and not a proper homage to such a classic release.

I'm in agreement with earlier reviewers who lament the lack of bonus materials on this release. Sure, having "Sweet Pain" with a different solo is nice, but there were LOTS of additional songs recorded for "Destroyer" that could have been - and were originally rumored to be - included on this package. A "Deluxe Edition" a la recent Def Leppard releases would have been a truly spectacular 5-star item. I'll enjoy the vinyl version of "Destroyer," especially with the original artwork, but this will be the fifth time I've purchased this album now: 1976 vinyl, 1982 cassette, 1986 CD, and 1998 remastered CD. *sigh* Fool me once, shame on you, fool me five times...well, you get the picture. Still a classic album by the hottest band in the world...but it could have been REALLY special, and this just isn't.

ETA: I can confirm that 1) the vinyl DOES include the "skip" at measure 4, beat 1 of "Flaming Youth" (and wow, what a numbskull mistake to have on the final mastered copy!), and 2) the vinyl DOES NOT include the second version of "Sweet Pain." Beautiful, 180 gram LP, nice liner notes, but the track listing is for the CD only! That, combined with the unforgivable mistake at the beginning of "Flaming Youth," makes me really shake my head with regret.

So here it is...

I've been waiting, (like so many others out there) for Destroyer to come out once more!

What hit me first, while listening to the songs was the much louder, cleaner and airier feel to the tracks.

A lot of small stuff comes through, like Peter's bass drum kicking on "Detroit Rock City", enormous bass sound on "God Of Thunder", and in my opinion a nice suprise...the acoustic guitar on "Beth", which you can here throughout the entire song! Nice one! Bob Ezrin did a very professional job on Destroyer, and sort of brought the album to our technological era, without polishing it too much or taking away the organic feel. A '76 version ready for the next years...so to speak. The '75 cover has a bigger impact than the original painting, and looks amazing as LP. Happy that amazon was selling Resurrected also in vinyl form. Bless the black circe!

The CD booklet is thick, very informative with an old stylish layout. Photos are interesting, but nothing really new.

Very unfortunately is the fact that, the "lost treasures" were kept to a ridiculously BARE minumum. "Sweet Pain" with lost guitar solo/harmonies was included as track 6, making the only real musical goodie here part of the original set. I don't think there was need to then add "Sweet Pain" (original version) as a bonus(???)track. The lost "Beth" vocals (hahaha), which I'm sure many of us including me, thought/hoped to be an entire verse, bridge or at least some more words, turned out to be a second ahaaaaaaaa harmony, which was mixed into the middle of the song - piano part following the second chorus.

Really?? Probably the same ahaaaaaaaa Peter sang at the end, just copied.

Well, I am giving Resurrected 4 stars. Four members that changed the musical landscape, an album that belongs into the annals of hardrock music, and one of the best album covers of all time! Besides that the price, at least for the CD is fair enough.

Destroyer is by many fans rated as their best studio effort.

This was the album where Kiss had to prove that they were more than a live spectacle, and show their best songs. And they did just that.

1. Detroit Rock City - One Kiss' most celebrated songs. High energy. Great guitars, drums & vocals. This was the song that showed straight away that Kiss could come up with some amazing stuff. It has almost never left the setlist since.

2. King Of The Night Time World - Follows DRC like a brother. Criss' galloping drums is a real treat here. There's nothing like this track to get the blood pumping.

3. God Of Thunder - Gene's showcase number. Dark & eerie with one great riff after another. Stanley wrote it. This was a type of song that really hadn't been explored by Kiss before. Heavy indeed.

4. Great Expectations - A laid back beautiful song by Simmons.

Has a part from some classical number. Not a typical Kiss song, but surely just as good.

5. Flaming Youth - Anthem rocker. Didn't quite work out as a classic the way Kiss had hoped, but fits the album well. One of the few forgotten diamonds from this album.

6. Sweet Pain - The only song off the album which hasn't been played in concert. Very cool drum rhythm, and chorus. I like it.

7. Shout It Out Loud - This was The anthem here. Gene & Paul trading vocals with a chorus you'll never forget. Rock'n Roll.

8. Beth - Criss' classic ballad took everybody by surprise, even the band. This was the song that made this album a chart success and put Kiss in the big league. Good song, but I still think it's the weakest on the album.

9. Do You Love Me - I love this one. No song so simple should be this cool. Resurrected for the reunion tour in 96, and have become a standard. Great version on this album.

This album is a safe bet. No weak songs. Cool productions. Great playing. Essential.