5 Stars
Audio CD (paid link)
On first listening to Def Leppard’s 12th new studio album, my first reaction was, “Another Def Leppard covers album.” Of course it’s not, as all fifteen songs are originals from the Def Leppard cannon. If you like, it’s a tribute to Def Leppard by Def Leppard.
The majority of songs are written by the combo of Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. (The Jagger/ Richards of Def Leppard.) But all the songs have contributions from all band members during the recording of the album. Particularly the bass work of Rick Savage, the thunderous drums of Rick Allen and Phil Collen’s sidekick guitarist Vivian Campbell. Plus, various songs were written in collaboration with other writers during the worldwide lockdown, some of them intended for other artists, but they were found to be perfect for the home band.
Since their formation in Sheffield, England, in 1977 (riding on the new wave of British heavy metal in the early eighties, before breaking into the big time with fellow hard rock new wavers Iron Maiden in 1983 with Pyromania, an album made with production wizard Mutt Lange), Def Leppard have never been afraid of flying the flag of their influences.
As the album opens up with ‘Take What You Want,’ the Leps are back and rockin’. The guitars swing and crunch the solos, scorching out, leaving the ground burnt. Rick Savage’s bass work is the best I have ever heard him before, urgently propelling his buddies ever forward. Joe Elliott’s vocals are as polished and determined as ever. No slowing down for our Joe. The drums from Rick Allen are bombastic, filling the sound on their own.
Which leads me nicely into the influences that are all there to be heard. Mott the Hoople, Faces, David Essex, of course, David Bowie and Mick Ronson. When Rick Allen comes in on the belting rocker’ SOS Emergency,’ it reminds one of Mick Tucker from Sweet in the early seventies.
Second song in, ‘Kick‘ could be the glitter band celebrating another goal for Sheffield United, except of course the guitar solos on this take your head off. Def Leppard’s five-piece vocal harmonies are perfection, generating even more excitement. Elements of Freddie Mercury and the boys can be heard.
‘Fire It Up’ does exactly that, led by chanting verses by Joe Elliot in a five-band choir before the rhythm section comes tumbling in and the guitars go into overdrive.
This should have all been evident by the album title. A line from Marc Bolan’s breakthrough hit ‘Get It On,’ nobody really knows what it means, but we all do, loving it. Now you know that, try saying the title without breaking into the song, “Well, Your Built Like A Car. You’ve Got a hubcap Diamond Star Halo.”
The first surprise on the album is ‘This Guitar’ featuring the first appearance from vocalist Alison Krause who duets with Joe Elliott. It veers heavily into country music, and you think it shouldn’t work, but it does. Phil Collen’s guitar solo brings the rock back into it. ‘Liquid Dust’ is the first little slip-up on the album. Tinged with Indian influences, it’s a good song; I’m just not sure it fits in with this collection.
What a wonderful title ‘U Rok Mi‘ is; straight from the text speak of our present generation and something Slade would’ve done. The song starts as if it was something from Led Zeppelin 3 but soon builds into a stadium enticing rock chorus.
‘Goodbye For Good’ is a Joe Elliott ballad notable for a Phil Collen’s Spanish Guitar solo and the piano playing of former David Bowie sideman Mick Garson who also crops up further along on ‘Angels’ (‘Can You Help Me Now’). Recorded whilst Joe Elliott was on one side of the Atlantic and Phil Collen the other, it’s a glorious slab of celebration. ‘Open Your Eyes’ comes straight back rockin at you and is everything that is good about Def Leppard in just over four minutes. This one will be massive in the stadiums. Rick Savage’s bass playing takes center stage on this with the production/engineering of Ronan McHugh really sparkling.
The album’s pinnacle for all Def Leppard fans who just wanna rock has to be ‘Gimme A Kiss.’ A direct throwback to the early eighties, this could have been a highlight off ‘On Through The Night,’ Def Leppard’s second album. It’s that good. There’s lots of attitude, letting your New York Dolls hang out with the final kiss-off at the end. I feel that should’ve been the end of the album.
Up to now, it has been first-class rock/pop music. A real return to form. So 40 minutes plus of excellence, then it just goes too far, filling up the CD to beyond an hour. Forty-five minutes of pure quality has been tainted by the last 25%—quality above quantity. What’s worse, there are two bonus tracks on the deluxe version that are inferior version repeats of things before. If only they had stopped at track eleven.
Nonetheless, I still rate those 11 tracks five stars and I choose to ignore the rest.
Written by Mott The Dog
Remember to visit and subscribe to Mott’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1003417143122919/
Mott’s reviews of new releases can be found by clicking here
