Showcase Album for June 1999 - Def Leppard "Euphoria"

First came Pyromania, then came Hysteria, and a dozen years and a couple of albums after, comes Euphoria, the next in the -IA trilogy, and the album that will resurrect the careers of a group of British musicians who were the driving push behind the metal revolution in the 1980s. One of the few bands from the NWOBHM that has survived into the 1990s and will continue ticking into the beyond, riding on wings of more albums like their latest. I can forgive them for their past musical blunders (namely "Slang"), and it seems they have created "Euphoria" as a peace treaty for their mistakes in a not so distant time ago.

I have been a Def Leppard fan for over a dozen years now, they were the second band that I got into, and they hold a special place in my heart. The album "Hysteria", I listened to literally thousands of times, or more. All day, every day for years and years, and still have not tired of it. That one album is probably the closest release I can think of that comes to a 10, and with that nostalgic value thrown it, I know I'd slap a 10 on it, and all albums that are released are measured up to this standard. The Leps are always used to compare other bands, because they did just that, set new standards for metal and hard rock music to be judged on, and developed their own unmistakeable sound.

As everyone knows the ups and downs of this band, they have been much publicized, from their drummer losing an arm (and still being one of the best in the business), to the death of their guitarist, Steve Clark, to their comeback, to a few run-ins with the law in the past couple of years, their fans have remained faithful. Some even banishing me to hell and a few other not so pleasant sounding places for even thinking about spouting a few critical remarks about "Slang" (which still sucks in my opinion). This kind of manical fanbase has really helped keep them above the music industry's waters, which have drowned many metal bands. That and their history of selling records and making money, so it looks like their new one, "Euphoria", will be given the chance it deserves. And does it ever deserve one.

Let's Get Rocked

We "lost" 'our' band with Slang, and their many comments of having to move on into the 'future' with a 'new sound' and leaving the past behind. Those that loved their past music, felt extreme sorrow for the loss of yet another metal favorite to the 'other side', and I, for one, had lost faith in them, and knew it would take a miracle to have that restored. Never did I think that Def Leppard would release another album that truly sounds like them, and is worthy of having their band name stamped on it. But out of the darkness, comes a shining beam of metal light, and then I started hearing the rumors that the Leps were working on an album that mines their wonderful metallic sounds of the past, and I just couldn't believe it, I would have to hear it to believe it. When a friend of mine and fellow Def Leppard fan, Riffola, presented me with a rough sounding mp3 recorded off the radio of their first single, "Promises", I nearly had a heartattack. This was Def Leppard, this was my Def Leppard! Tears of joy flowed down my face, so many years have I waited for this album, and its fabulous and its here. And now that I have heard their new album, the lost faith has been restored, the metallic world shines once again with the glory of Def Leppard claimed back into its ranks. Instead of being the lost band to be hidden and tucked away in the alterna wannabe corners, they can have the full light of our metal love shone on them! Maybe this is getting too dramatic, but all of those that have loved Def Leppard throughout the years will know why I feel the way I do about the band, and their music. But what does the music sound like??? That's what's important!

To cut to the chase, the music is great. If you remember Pyromania and Hysteria, then you will know exactly what this sounds like...for the most part. There are also songs that would sound right at home on the darker Retroactive album, and then a couple that ...well they are tough to describe, but we'll get to that. The big lush, huge sound is back with a vengance, poking its head up into a couple of ballads, and a song that just screams to be played on the radio, which was wisely selected for the first single. Joe Elliot sounds fantastic, his voice has matured since the Pyromania days of course, but he sounds as fabulous as he did on Adrenalize and Retroactive. He was one of the vocalists that I was convinced had lost their vocal abilities some time ago, but he proves it wrong on this album, thankfully. The guitar riffs are throwbacks to the olden days, when metallic biting riffs ruled our world. Vivian Campbell and Phil Collen flex their axeslinging abilities and shred all through this record, with some truly sharp and unique riffs. I have to give them a nod for their axework, its very clean and consistant all the way from A to Z.

Yes Lep fans, this is the album we've been waiting for! Rejoice!

Comin' Under Fire

1.Demolition Man -- Great opening party rock track. Its "Let's Get Rocked" and some of their Adrenalize rocking tunes mixed up into one song, with a real get up and go chorus, almost rushed vocals, it gallops and runs and completely rocks out. I can just hear this one live already. Pomp party rock at its best, look out 80s here we come! Damon Hill (a race car driver?) does the closing guitar solo on this song. I guess that's worth mentioning eh?
2.Promises -- Mutt Lange (surely you know who he is!) lent his talents to the writing of this song, and it shows. Its the first of three that he puts his stamp on. "Promises" would be right at home on "Hysteria". From the opening guitar riffs, that lay the foundation for the song, the listener is bound to be hooked from the start. It draws you right in and says "listen to me!", just like any good single would. A toe tapping, rhythm makes this one a real winner. Even the solo sounds like something from "Hysteria"! Amazing! Yes this is the Def Lep I used to love, right here in 1999!
3.Back In Your Face -- Another party rocker! woohoo! Reminds me of Gotthard's "Fist In Your Face". Cute lyrics, and lots of guitar and Joe sounds like he means what he's singing. Better listen to him. The "Hey" chorus is back!
4.Goodbye -- Huge vocal chorus, and a gigantic musical depth, give this power ballad a "Love Bites" feel. A bit more stripped than that classic, its still a slow and pretty little addition to their ballad collection so far. It doesn't contain the magic of "Tonight" and "Hysteria" but its an endearing ballad that slowly grows on you. I found myself loving it more and more as I listened to it.
5.All Night -- Another Mutt song. But what the hell is this? Do I ever love it but this is weird! Is it Def Lep? yeah it is.... a very sexy song, no doubt about that, slinky and sexy, probably the strangest thing they've ever done but I like it! Its funky and strange, and has an almost hip hop - TLC kind of overtones, but its unmistakeably Def Lep and definitely hard rock. No disappointments here. Its out of the ordinary but so uniquely sexually charged, that you have to like it. "Make Love Like A Man" meets... god only knows what. Check it out and see for yourself!
6.Paper Sun -- OOH YEAH!!! This is my run away favorite, and pick of the album! "Paper Sun" kills, slays and just rules. Take Retroactive's "Ring of Fire", "I Wanna Be Your Hero" and "Desert Song", make it a hundred times better, but retain that dark sound, with the heavy guitar riffs, high flying soloing, and an absolutely KILLER chorus, and you have this song. The ending allows the guitars to go nuts, lots of shredding, its packed with it. They say its not 'radio friendly' enough, but this thing absolutely rocks. One of the Leps all time best tunes. That darker heavier riffs and bass just mixes so well with their lush layers of sound. Absolutely awesome. This one gets my thumbs up.
7.It's Only Love -- The last of the "Mutt" songs. Lots of "nah nah nah's" for this laid back acoustic ballad. This is the hard rock version of Aussie pop band, Savage Garden's "Universe" in overall sound. The lyrics are really nice, for a sweet ballad. It just doesn't make 'power' ballad status, because there's not much power there!
8.21st Century Sha La La La Girl -- For all practical purposes, this is "Pour Some Sugar On Me 1999". Similiar type lyrics and melody, the harmonies and addictive rhythm, make this one of their best hook filled hard rock tunes that they have cranked out since the 80s. It has 'hit' scrawled all over it. The lyrics are delivered in a rushed kind of way just like "PSSOM" was, and the chorus is a vocal fest, with the Def Lep backup vocal sound, and Joe Elliot coming way out in the lead. The guitar is sharp and bouncy as it blends itself right into the rest of the song.
9.To Be Alive -- Soft and emotional, the guitar is really beautiful, and unique, the chorus is breathtaking. Another great ballad. This one has an almost delicate quality to it, and fuses some of the more endearing qualities of "Love Bites" and "Tonight" into one song.
10.Disintegrate -- Of course this song is going to be measured up to "Switch 6 2 5" from their "High In Dry" album (isn't that the last instrumental they did?), but I think its an individual entity in itself. Parts of it make me think of the guitar in Rough Silk's "Glissando" song. It has plenty of repeating melodies to keep it more in the realms of being an actual song instead of just a shred fest.
11.Guilty -- GREAT! Yes! This song is so addicting, and just wonderful! Its in the same mid-tempo ballad type as "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)" and "Animal". Absolutely fantastically terrific. This is melodic rock the way it should be. The chorus is huge and the bridge leading up to it just sounds wonderful. This song is just too good to put into words. Its... Def Lep perfection.
12.Day After Day -- This song is another dark moody song like "Paper Sun". It mixes up all the elements from the dark and brooding, heavier "Retroactive" material and toss in a dose of "White Lightning", just much improved and delivered in a better package with all the trimmings. Great vocals, great guitar melodies, that are in your face and heavy. Big booming chorus that is as punchy as it is catchy. The use of acoustic guitar to round the end of the song off is the perfect touch. Reflective and haunting.
13.Kings Of Oblivion -- Kind of reminds me of "Tear it Down" for some odd reason. Its a hard rocker all the way through, from start to finish, with a huge chorus, and is just a great rockin' tune, it finishes the album off perfectly.

Back In Your Face

So what's the verdict? After fawning all over the album, that should be clear. "Euphoria" gets high praise from me for many reasons. We have... the album itself. Its a very solid release, with lots of diversity and variety but it all flows and fits together because it all SOUNDS like Def Leppard. Every song has their unmistakeable harmonies, and cushy layers of backing vocals that sets their music apart from all the other cookie cutter metal bands out there. Another point for "Euphoria", is the fact that even though it sounds GOOD the first time through, the more I listened to it, the more I found myself liking it even better than I originally thought I was going to. Its the perfect example of an album that grows on the listener. Then there are... the songs. Throughout the thirteen cuts included on this release, they have offered up a variety of styles that are all 'blasts from the past'. Most of the songs on this album can be traced back to some of their past works, especially mirroring songs on both "Hysteria" and "Adrenalize", with a couple of dark songs tossed in that would have been right at home on "Retroactive". But isn't that what we wanted after their complete departure from the metallic world on "Slang"? You betcha! There are a handful that fit up there with the most selective selection of Def Lep's best material, namely, my pick of the album, the dark and heavy "Paper Sun", the melodic mid-tempo ballad "Guilty", and the song that screams 'play me!' "Promises". Then finally... there's the nostalgic value of this album. Most metal fans, and many people that aren't metal fans in general, have heard of Def Leppard, and enjoyed their music past and present, because of their pop sensibilities and their certain way of creating a sound that is easily enjoyed by the masses as well as the metal die hards. Since this album motions in the return of their past glory (as well as their huge 80s sound), it will conjure up memories of great times, and even greater music. But as a stand alone, this album delivers in a huge way. Although its just not quite "Hysteria", I can safely claim that overall its their second best album. And there's no way you can go wrong with that! A contender for album of the year. If you don't have it already, then take my word on it, go out and buy it! Def Leppard is back! With a vengance.

Production	Songs	Lyrics	Performance	Overall
9.3	9.5	9.1	9.6	9.2

Reviewed by Alanna Evans
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