Def Leppard - Hysteria

 

	RELEASED: 1987 PRODUCER:Mutt Lange LABEL:Mercury BAND: Joe Elliot Phil Colen Rick Allen Rick Savage                               Steve Clarke
+ Production                            Songs,No Filler                              - Drums, Lack of guitar solos Cheesyness	TRACKS: 1.Women 2.Rocket 3.Animal 4.Love Bites 5.Pour Some Sugar on 6.Armageddon It 7.Gods of War 8.Don't Shoot Shotgun 9.Run Riot 10.Hysteria 11.Excitable 12.Love and Affection

 

OVERVIEW

This is one of the biggest selling rock albums of all time. Selling in excess of 15 million copies on its original release, Hysteria is a moulded piece of pop/rock perfection. It took them 4 years, millions of dollars, their drummer's arm and eventually Steve Clarkes life. What you're left with is probably the cleanest and most painstakingly produced rock album ever. The harmony vocals have been layered and layered and layered again. Most bands would come off contrived and fake. But somehow Def Leppard manages to wear their hearts on their sleeves and your finished with 'All killer and no filler'.

SONGS

Women starts the album off in average form, but still has plenty of appeal. This was puzzlingly the lead off single, which they later regretted. Things spark straight up with the infectious groove of Rocket; I still remember the video for this today. The unbelievably smooth Animal flows in next and is one of the highlights of their career; this song is a pop/rock masterpiece. The sensationally Mutt Lange penned ballad Love Bites still gives you goose bumps to this day. Great riffs and great vocals show Def Lep at their peak. As if that wasn't enough Pour Some Sugar on me rockets the band back up, with loud powerful guitars and a huge sing-a-long chorus. This was the biggest song they ever had. The rollercoaster just keeps on rolling with Armageddon It and the almost epic Gods Of War, which is killer. The album finally comes to the title track, which is another sensational ballad that, with Police style riffs and warm vocals, it hard not to love.

CONCLUSION

Hysteria is not for everyone. But if you can stomach the squeaky clean production and average lyrics you will find a real gem. The only disappointment is the lack of real guitar solos. Apart from that, it is really hard to fault this album. It's not heavy, but it isn't supposed to be. They aimed at the pop market and hit a bullseye. It can become cheesy and boring at times, but there is no doubt it's an absolute classic. It sold more than 15 million copies and produced 7 hit singles. That says it all..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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