METAL EDGE MAGAZINE
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Hard Rock In Review
by Paul Garano

DEF LEPPARD
Euphoria
Mercury Records

Def Leppard scorched the American scene like a wildfire with Pyromania, set a new standard for commercial rock with Hysteria, and are targeted for a return to the glory days of "-ia" albums gone by with Euphoria, a melody-drenched and hook-heavy composite of Leppard's various spots through the years. From the power-ballads that ruled radio, to the jacked-up anthems that have made them one of rock's most endearing live acts, Euphoria doesn't stray far from past Lep successes. And why should they? "Demolition Man" rockets the album in with flash, a custom-made show-opener from the same free-spirited mold as "Let's Get Rocked" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me." First single "Promises" follows, reuniting the band wit legendary producer Mutt Lange (At this point, I feel compelled to note that it's Shania Twain who's engineered to sound like Def Leppard, not vice versa) for apower-packed souns so Hysteria, you might swear you've heard it before.

"I'm back in your face, like I've never been away/I'm back in your face and it's where I'm gonna stay," the Def ones black to open "Back In Your Face," a hard-hitting acclamation that is sure to have age-old fans pumping their fists in the air in preparation for the band's upcoming tour. Campy and cliché? Sure, but Def Leppard have never been one to shy away from proven confectioneries - And if you're gonna tag the album Euphoria, why start now? Could there be a better time to introduce the first of the album's handful of ballads? If you're on your high school ten-year reunion committee, skip straight to "Goodbye," the Leps at their prom-theme best. At my high schoo, we voted AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" the theme, so I'll cast my reunion vote for the sultry, sexed-up swagger of "All Night." Fans who didn't like the dance swing that swayed through Slang won't be likely to feel a warm spot for the boogie that got in the Leppard's butt on this Prince-flavoured feast of swank and innuendo.

But that's the only real detour from the neo-traditional Def Leppard sound that has made for mass-marketing radio success over the years. In a nutshell, there's something here for everyone, from the light and airy ("Paper Sun," "It's Only Love" and "Guilty"), to the ever-present power-ballad ("To Be Alive"), and from a punchy-pop-aesthetic ("21st Century Sha La La La Girl" and "Day After Day"), to a few On Through The Night and High 'N' Dry throwbacks ("Disintegrate" and "Kings Of The Oblivion").

Fans flinched when Def Leppard released Slang more than three years ago, but they can flick their Bics and get ready to stand on their chairs once again - Euphoria is an unashamed salute to the same big melodies and red-hot hooks that had the Leps selling-out arenas more than a decade ago.