Music review: Def Leppard – 鈥楧iamond Star Halos鈥�
Hard to believe that it鈥檚 been 42 years since the release of Def Leppard鈥檚 debut album.
While 鈥淥n Through the Night鈥� was the album that started it all for the British rockers, it was 1983鈥檚 鈥淧yromania鈥� that truly won me over with its polished rock anthems. In fact, numerous tracks from the set would become a part of a personal soundtrack repeatedly played during my freshman year of college.
It鈥檚 been nearly seven years since the band treated loyal fans to a new album. After just one listen, I can confidently proclaim that 鈥淒iamond Star Halos鈥� is certainly worth the wait as Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell prove that they are out to rock until they drop.
鈥淭ake What You Want鈥� aggressively opens the album by unleashing a lively guitar surge that fuels Elliott鈥檚 signature vocals as he declares, 鈥淚鈥檓 in this to win/You don鈥檛 have to believe it/Take it or leave it/Just let it begin.鈥�
鈥淜ick鈥� follows with a T. Rex infectious influence that is reminiscent of the successful rock formula heard on tracks like 鈥淎nimal鈥� and 鈥淩ocket鈥� from 1987鈥檚 鈥淗ysteria.鈥�
鈥淔ire It Up鈥� gets the party firing on all cylinders with a thundering pulse that rivals the energy displayed on the band鈥檚 signature hit 鈥淧our Some Sugar on Me.鈥�
Other highlights include the straightforward rocker 鈥淪OS Emergency,鈥� the explosive 鈥淯nbreakable鈥� and the lush ballad 鈥淕oodbye for Good This Time.鈥�
Country and bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss lends her angelic voice to two tracks on the album. With 鈥淭his Guitar鈥� and 鈥淟ifeless,鈥� the band demonstrates its continued willingness to experiment with different musical styles.
The set closes dramatically with 鈥淔rom Here to Eternity.鈥� The haunting number about heartache and shame is highlighted by a spirited guitar solo from Collen.
Fans can catch a live performance by Def Leppard when they make a much-anticipated appearance at Pittsburgh鈥檚 PNC Park on Aug. 12 along with M枚tley Cr眉e, Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.