Successful bands may enjoy dizzying levels of fame and fortune, but the resulting pressures can be damaging. Record companies demand consistently large sales figures and an endless stream of hit singles. Fans demand a certain style of music. But what happens when a scene changes beyond recognition? It's a conundrum Def Leppard have faced since the mid ‘90s, and one they've finally cracked on their first new album in seven seven years.
The Sheffield rockers were, quite simply, massive in the ‘80s, but everything changed when the old guard were rendered irrelevant by grunge. Def Leppard evolved and released some fine work, but that output often felt too calculated as they tried to keep fans and labels happy while striving to modernise their sound and recapture previous levels of success.
This superb effort is the band's most impressive and spirited release in decades, because they're not trying to second guess themselves or the market. In fact, they didn't even plan to make an album and were merely writing, focusing on the songs individually. Without expectation or a game plan, their creative juices flowed.
Dangerous is an instant classic, part Promises part Photograph. Likewise All Time High, a battering ram of rhythmic crash and bang with an inspirational chorus. The brilliant Wings Of An Angel is built on dirty verses and a moody, surging hook reminiscent of 'High N' Dry' and 'Pyromania'.
In spite of those nods to their halcyon days, this isn't 'Hysteria Part Two'. Sure, Let's Go is Pour Some Sugar On Me rebooted, but there are new touches too. We Belong features all the band singing and highlights their ensemble vocal prowess, Energize's electro-pop anthemics recalls the divisive 'X' period and Invincible could be David Bowie fronting mid ‘00s Manic Street Preachers. The psychedelic darkness of Blind Faith, meanwhile, sounds like the Beatles embracing nihilism.
Where past efforts, like 'Slang', were too experimental for some fans, every fresh flourish on this album is integrated into Def Leppard's sonic universe. Big smack-you-in-the-face hooks fit for stadiums. Multi-layered vocal harmonies. Sublime production values. Swaggering guitars and dynamite soloing. This record is self-titled for a reason. Somewhat appropriately, it also includes tributes to the groups that influenced them.
The funked up bounce of Man Enough retools Queen's Another One Bites The Dust, Battle Of My Own distills Led Zeppelin's acoustic grooves and epic bombast into two and a half exhilarating minutes and Sea Of Love is a giddy magic carpet ride of classic rock influences with a sugary-sweet melodic centre.
'DefLeppard' is an artistic rebirth and a storming testament to the power of creativity. Now the band need to see it through. Over the last decade they've been accused of playing too many old songs on tour and have claimed they'll be in trouble if they don't air the hits. At least half of these new songs will kill live, and now they've made the album they wanted to make it's time to start playing the shows they want to play.
Def Leppard Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sun December 06 2015 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Mon December 07 2015 - BELFAST SSE Arena Belfast
Wed December 09 2015 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Metro Radio Arena
Thu December 10 2015 - GLASGOW SSE Hydro
Sat December 12 2015 - BIRMINGHAM Genting Arena
Sun December 13 2015 - NOTTINGHAM Capital FM Arena
Tue December 15 2015 - MANCHESTER Arena
Wed December 16 2015 - CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
Fri December 18 2015 - LONDON SSE Arena Wembley
Sat December 19 2015 - SHEFFIELD Arena
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