Album Review: Def Leppard – Def Leppard by Blair De Abreu

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email
Print

Release Date: Oct. 30-2015

defleppard-band

No need for a history lesson about Def Leppard and my best stories regarding them are simple.

I have visited Steve Clark‘s grave in England, the only celebrity grave I have ever visited. He was one of the first guitar players I was awestruck by.

My transition from 80’s pop a la Madonna (whom I still love and listen to) and Steve Winwood (whom I still love and listen to) was while on a family vacation and snagged my brothers Hysteria cassette. Didn’t give it back for the rest of the 2-week vacation! When we returned home I went to the library and checked out a Twisted Sister and W.A.S.P. record. My path was set. Let it be known I left the original KISS album there, recalling being scared by those guys at a young age. It would be another year before I revisited KISS and fell in love with everything about them!

Had lawn tickets for Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick at the Molson Amphitheatre a few years back. Talk about a dream line-up for my wife and I to see and hear. As I went to get drinks I was pulled into the booth for local radio station trivia and upgrade your tix. I won, can’t recall what the question was, ended up front row centre. Amazing show by all and Def Leppard still sound and play great live! I have no problem admitting I was in awe with the shape Phil keeps himself in, absolutely in awe!

Here is what I think of the latest release.

defleppardLet’s Go”: Yes it sounds like “Pour Some Sugar On Me” with a One Direction chorus, that works for me, sounds great! For those that call this “too boy band sounding” I recall Def Leppard doing this well before NKOTB and the like…and what’s wrong with a great sticky sweet chorus anyway?

Dangerous”: A very good rocker!

”Man Enough”: Not the groove for me, not one bit.

”We Belong”: Cool that all bandmates sing and a good tune.

Invincible”: Generic rocker.

”Sea of Love”: Good chorus but the song doesn’t sound quite finished/polished.

”Energized”: A song with this title should be just that, it is not.

All Time High”: Another generic rocker that is just a tad better than “Invincible”.

Battle of My Own”: Please guys, don’t do the acoustic thing again, you did it well a couple times; really well, but that is done. Too much of a Zeppelin rip as well.

Broke ‘n’ Brokenhearted”: another solid rocker with great guitar riffing.

”Forever Young”: Doesn’t sound finished enough, sorry guys I like your finished and polished/produced sound.

Last Dance”: Another slow tempo song, nothing hooking me here.

Wings of an Angel”: Getting the feeling this should be a 10 song record. Good chorus, rest of song is not a finished product.

Blind Faith”: Finishing slow and low.

Def Leppard-Viva-Hysteria-1-End-of-Tour

Overall this is the best sounding and showing from Def Leppard since Slang in my opinion. I liked Slang for the more raw side of Def Leppard, loved it in fact. Other than that record, and their first 2 back in the early 80’s which are great and raw as well, Leppard is held and will always be held to a high standard of finished and produced songs. Stick with that is what I say because this album starts so very strong with the first 2 songs and then tails off quickly. I think they could have worked 10 songs much better into this because 5 are strong and the other 5 are close, drop 4 completely for now at least. I do understand they consider this their most experimental album, and good on them for that. What it comes down to is I am buying a handful of songs rather than the entire record.

Blair De Abreu

BUY: Def Leppard-Def Leppard

Def Leppard Website / Def Leppard Facebook / Def Leppard Twitter

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB7BeKwoYAs[/embedyt]

Check Out Our Latest .

neil peart, rush, phil lynott, john sykes, thin lizzy, motorhead, david lee roth, slaughter, fogerty, rock, metal, news, talk, anniversary, decibel geek, podcast

Decibel Geek Times – EP609

We’re back with our regular audio installment which covers the past, present, and future of the genre we love with the Decibel

john sykes, kerry king, erik gronwall, thin lizzy, slayer, skid row, whitesnake, acdc, kiss, gene simmons, jeff beck, doro, satriani, vai, zebra, femme fatale, decibel geek, podcast, rock, metal, hard, heavy, music, music news

Geekwire Week of 01.28.25 – Ep608

We’re finally back to cover all the latest, greatest, and strangest rock news with the first Geekwire of 2025! A lot is

judas priest, haunt, starcrazy, ace frehley, kiss, massive wagons, eclipse, nestor, rock, metal, music, best of, 2024, year in review, hard rock, melodic rock, decibel geek, podcast

Best of 2024 – Ep607

We’re back this week with our long-awaited Best of 2024 episode and there’s a lot for you to wrap your ears around.