We are finally to the 11th Studio album by Def Leppard. It comes off the longest break between albums sitting at 7 years. The last album was ‘Songs From the Sparkle Lounge’ back in 2008. Now, they did have some live albums in between the two studio albums and we reviewed those years ago, you can click those links below. Therefore, we are jumping to 2015 where the band released their first self-titled album. Why now? Simply put, the band felt this album was nothing but the Def Leppard sound. No one era of the band…a little bit of all of them. I can tell you for sure this does sound like a Def Leppard album…good or bad! The sound hasn’t changed and neither has the band as it is still Joe Elliott, Rick Allen, Rick Savage, Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell as it has been for over 20+ years. I still think of Vivian as the new guy though. LOL!!

The album was released on October 30, 2015 and it went #10 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. This was their seventh Top 10 album of their career. Now, it did go to #1 on the Rock Charts in case you were wondering. The album did spawn four singles, but of course none of them charted in the Top 40 as we are long past those days. But we do get an album that is what you want from the band and expect. It is a Def Leppard album, no doubt. There is also a lot of diversity on the album which can be good and can be bad if it isn’t done right. We will see if it was.

The band says the album is all Def Leppard from across the years, well the opening track “Let’s Go” is straight out of the ‘Hysteria’ era. A bombastic opening track that oozes everything from that album. It has a huge chorus full of those gang vocals they do so well. Listen to Sav’s bass lines, he does some great work on this one and of course there is a Leppardesque solo to boot. An arena rock track that puts you on notice the boys are back.

With “Dangerous”, they could be ‘Hysteria’ again or even “Adrenalize’ with this one. A heavier track then “Let’s Go” and has a little more punch to it. But it still has the big choruses and vocals like you’d expect. The Lep boys sound like they are on a mission to make sure the world knows they are still around. And I am noticing!

“Man Enough” is a Sav showcase as the bass is brutal and all over this from the opening notes to the very end. Sav is showing he is man enough on that bass. This one has a darker tone and one of the more interesting songs on the album. There are some glam elements to it as well. That riff during the chorus is crunchy and cool. One of my favorites on the album. I am not sure what era this one is from but it laced with a lot of Queen influence.

Then we get the BEST song on the album with the ballad “We Belong”. Why is it the best? Well, I’ll tell you. It is because EVERY band member sings a line or verse on this one. It adds more layers to the band by doing this and shows they are still willing to try new things and do it well. It might be one of the best ballads they’ve written in a long while too! Love it! Love it! Love it!

“Invincible” has more Sav…man he is all over this album and I’m loving it. This is more ‘Hysteria’ and ‘Adrenalize’ vibes and I am fine with that. A little more on the pop side of things than rock of the opening tracks, but still just as catchy and full of goodness.

Then we get “Sea of Love” and I am not sure what to make of this one. It has hooks, no doubt, but this feels like a 70’s glam song and I’m maybe it is the title that gets me as when I hear “Sea of Love”, I think old time crooners. Plus it is a little on the generic side of things too. But it does rock a little.

If you like the ‘X’ album, then “Energized” will be right up your alley as this could’ve easily been from that one. Wait, I like the ‘X’ album so this one is pretty cool. My only drawback to it is it feels like it wants to be a much bigger song then it is. It still has the big chorus, but the verses slow it down too much. Still, not bad.

Then we are back to rocking out with “All Time High”. This is more 70’s glam inspiration. Here is the problem, the minute the song is over, I completely forget how this one goes. Nothing special about it, not real catchy or hooky for me.

Things are saved with the eerie and yet sexy “Battle of My Own”. Mostly acoustic and very ‘Slang’ inspired. I love the simple chorus, the moody verses and Joe’s delivery of the lyrics is pretty cool. The full band explodes in around 1:30 and the song turns to a very symphonic type rocker. A different and extremely interesting track and in a very good way. One of my favs on the album.

“Broke ‘N’ Brokenhearted” is another 70’s glam inspired track. I’m beginning they are turning in to one of those bands like Down ‘N’ Outz. Another decent rocker, could be “Sparkle Lounge” era maybe. Not one of my favs though.

With “Forever Young”, I’m going to say it again…very Mott the Hoople (70’s glam). Not that I have anything negative to say about that sound, but it doesn’t do much with me at this point. This does have some great guitar work by Phil and Viv, it has that going for it. But another I find hard to remember how it went when it was over.

Bring out the acoustics and get ready for another ballad. “Last Dance” is really cool. It reminds of when they played with Hothouse Flowers and did “Little Wing” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. It has that coolness to it. Great track and another top notch ballad for the boys. Good job!

“Wings of an Angel” is another really cool track. If I had to pick an era for this one, I think the closest would be ‘Euphoria’ and the song “Paper Sun”. It has that epic feel to it. I love the style changes, the big chorus and an almost angelic/atmospheric vibe. The guitar work is pretty killer too. This is the type of stuff I want them to do. Really stretch themselves and push the limits. Grade A Track.

The album ends with “Blind Faith” and again the band is pushing themselves. Joe softens his delivery, the slower tempo, the guitar picking and as the song goes on, I hear little Beatle elements with the horns and there is a classic 70’s rock feel to the song as well. Another ballad, but different and cool because by the end, the full band explodes in and they turn it up a notch. These moments from the band are the really cool ones.

Track Listing:

1. Let’s Go – Keeper
2. Dangerous – Keeper
3. Man Enough – Keeper
4. We Belong – Keeper
5. Invincible – Keeper
6. Sea of Love – Keeper (1/2 Point)
7. Energized – Keeper (1/2 Point)
8. All Time High – Delete
9. Battle of My Own – Keeper
10. Broke ‘N’ Brokenhearted – Keeper (1/2 Point)
11. Forever Young – Delete
12. Last Dance – Keeper
13. Wings of An Angel – Keeper
14. Blind Faith – Keeper

The Track Score is 11.5 out of 14 Tracks or 82%.  I have to say, this is the best effort by the band since ‘Euphoria’. There were so many really cool moments and the album has a nice variety of songs. Some don’t work, but they all can’t be great songs.  I loved Rick Savage’s playing as his bass was on fire. The guitars were great as always and Rick Allen is crucial to their sound.  Joe’s vocals sound great and I like some of the choices he made on some songs.  A valiant effort. I am going to shock some as My Overall Score is a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars.  Maybe when this came out, I was starving for some of the old Leppard sound to come back and it did…all the eras actually. Hey, they did an eras tour on an album rather then an actual concert tour like Taylor.

NEXT UP: DEF LEPPARD – “PERSONAL JESUS” – 7″ Single (2018)

THE DEF LEPPARD COLLECTION SERIES

1. Def Leppard E.P. – 7″ Single (1979)
2. First Strikes 1978-1979 (Bootleg CD)
3. Girl – Sheer Greed (1980)
4. On Through the Night (1980)
5. When the Walls Came Tumbling Down (April 26 1980) (2020)
6. High & Dry (1981)
7. Too Many Jitterbugs – B-Sides And Rarities (2020)
8. Raw – Early BBC Recordings (2020)
9. Girl – Wasted Youth (1982)
10. Pyromania (1983)
11. “Photograph” 7″ Single (1983)
12. “Too Late For Love” 12″ Single (1983)
13. Live at the L.A. Forum 1983 (2018)
14. Seattle, August 3, 1983 (Bootleg CD)
15. Pyromania TV Collection (Bootleg DVD)
16. Hysteria (1987)
17. “Animal” 7″ Single (1987)
18. “Women” 7″ Single (1987)
19. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” 7″ Single (1987)
20. “Hysteria” 7″ Single (1987)
21. “Armageddon It” 7″ Single (1988)
22. “Love Bites” 7″ Single (1988)
23. “Rocket” 7″ Single (1989)
24. Animal Instinct – The Def Leppard Story – Book Review (1987)
25. Rarities – Volume One (2018)
26. Live in Mountain View – August 17, 1988 (Bootleg DVD)
27. Historia – DVD (1988)
28. Live: In the Round, In Your Face (CD Video / DVD) (1989)
29. Adrenalize (1992)
30. “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” – Cassette Single (1992)
31. “Tonight” CD Single (1993)
32. Live Sheffield 1992 (Bootleg DVD)
33. Retro Active (1993)
34. Visualize DVD (1993)
35. Hard Rock Café – Singapore, Malaysia October 26, 1995 (Bootleg DVD)
36. Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980-1995) (1995)
37. “When Love & Hate Collide” – CD Promo Single (1995)
38. Video Archive (1995)
39. Slang (1996)
40. Montreal: The Classic 1996 Broadcast (Bootleg CD)
41. Live Bites: FM Broadcast (Bootleg CD)
42. Live in Argentina 1997 (Bootleg DVD)
43. Euphoria (1999)
44. Rarities – Volume Two (2019)
45. Rarities – Volume Three (2019)
46. Tokyo 1999 (Bootleg CD)
47. Cybernauts – Live (2000)
48. Cybernauts – The Further Adventures of the Cybernauts (2001)
49. X (2002)
50. Hysteria: Classic Albums DVD (2002)
51. Best of Def Leppard (2004)
52. Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection (2005)
53. Yeah! (2006)
54. Yeah! Bonus CD with Backstage Interviews (2006)
55. Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)
56. Man Raze – Surreal (2008)
57. B-Sides (2021)
58. Yeah! II (2021)
59. Yeah! Live (2021)
60. CMT Crossroads – Taylor Swift & Def Leppard (2009)
61. Down ‘N’ Outz -My ReGeneration (2010)
62. Man Raze – PunkFunkRootsRock (2011)
63. Down ‘N’ Outz -The Further Adventures of… (2014)
64. Def Leppard (2015)
65. Personal Jesus 7″ Single (2018)
66. Down ‘N’ Outz -This is How We Roll (2019)
67. Hits Vegas: Live at Planet Hollywood – Vinyl (2020)
68. Hysteria: Live – Vinyl (2020)
69. Def Leppard Acoustic Vegas – 10″ Vinyl (2020)
70. Down ‘N’ Outz – The Music Box E.P. (2020)
71. Diamond Star Halos (2022)
72. High & Dry – Picture Disc (RSD) (2022)
73. Drastic Symphonies (2023)
74. Drastic Symphonies – Picture Disc (2023)
75. Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard (2023)
76. Def Leppard – ‘One Night Only: Live at The Leadmill’ (RSD) (2024)
77. “Just Like ’73” – 7″ Single (2024)

PREVIOUSLY POSTED:

1. The Def Leppard E.P. (1979/2017)
2. Def Leppard: Interview Picture Disc (1982?)
3. “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” – 12″ Promo Single (1984)
4. Live at the Top (Bootleg) (1987)
5. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” –  5″ Shaped Picture Disc (1987)
6. Hysteria U.S. Tour 1988 – Tour Book (1988)
7. “Make Love Like a Man” – 12″ Single (1992)
8. “Let’s Get Rocked” – 12″ Single (1992)
9. Adrenalize: The 7 Day Weekend Tour (1992/1993)
10. X: World Tour (2003)
11. Mirrorball – Live & More (2011)
12. Def Leppard: The Definitive Visual History – Book Review (2011)
13. Viva! Hysteria (2013)
14. And There Will Be A Next Time…Live from Detroit (2017)
15. Hysteria: 30th Anniversary Box Set (2017)
16. The Story So Far – The Best of (2018)
17. The Collection, Volume 1 (2018)
18. Hysteria: The Singles Box Set (2018)
19. Live at Abbey Road Studios (2018)
20. Def Leppard: Concert Review – Charlotte, NC June 9th 2018 (2018)
21. The Story So Far – The Best of Volume 2 (2019)
22. The Collection, Volume 2 (2019)
23. London to Vegas (2020)
24. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 29 March 2019 (2020)
25. The Early Years ’79-’81 (2020)
26. The Collection, Volume 3 (2021)
27. Def Leppard Funko Pop!