|
[ Def Leppard UK - Hysteria Album Media Reviews ]
|
Review :: Kerrang! No. 153 Aug 20 - Sep 2 1987 "STEP INSIDE, walk this way, you and me babe, hey, hey!". Indeed, this Joe Elliott-growled intro to 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' sums up my attitude to this album: an instant love affair of the intimate and lasting kind. Most fullfilling too, after four years of Lep-less celibacy. Yet the old familiar trademarks are still alive 'n' kicking: the instantly recognisable and unique guitar interplay between Phil Collen and Steve Clark; the constant no frills but-well-'ard pounding of the Rick Savage bass; the gritty but gorgeous vox box of Joe Elliott; and finally the formidable Rick Allen backbeat, which thanks to a lot of hardwork is still an integral part of the Lep sound. So let's dig into the trax. Side One opens with the US single 'Women', a rough stomp through traditional mid-paced Lep territory (a la 'Rock Of Ages'). With heavy MTV rotation, this will no doubt blast the Yanks into oblivion. Next up is 'Rocket', giving Rick Allen a chance to show off his impressive array of electronic equipment to maximum effect in a funky drum alonga-Allen spot. Well done, old bean! 'Animal' is, of course, the UK single, doing astonishingly well, and the type of songs that most British bands with AOR pretensions would sell their roadies to have written. 'Animal' also demonstrates those Sav/Clark/Collen/Allen soopadoopa backing vocals, often quite stunning in their interlocking with Joe's lead. While (to my mind) 'Pyromania' lacked a real ballad, 'Hysteria' sports two, in 'Love Bites' and 'Hysteria', the former managing to conjour up that much sought-after tingling invasion down the spine, and showing a maturity previously unkwon to Leppard. Moving on, and 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' is a real corker: a total rocker boasting the Collen/Clark trademark, and some truly swoon-inducing vocals from Elliott. (Fancy him? me? Surely not!) 'Armageddon It' closes Side One, with a strutting boogie backdrop clearing to reveal a surprising chorus complete with fabbo melodic guitar work. Flip ze vinyl then, and when pushed I must confess that I find Side Two slightly less top notch - but even so, it's still a million times better than a lot of bands' wildest dreams. 'Gods Of War' could be accused of not having quite enough of the Leppard 'oomph!', but 'Don't Shoot Shotgun' soon uts the situation to rights, with a simple but effective chorus. 'Run Riot' threatens to annihilate live, and again shows Rick Allen to have lost none of his ability, confidence and judgement. Grooving along to the title track then, and this must be the pick of Side Two, showing the boyz gelling together as a band at their very best, but don't forget the invuable contribution of mega-producer 'Mutt' Lange, whose guidance and expertise has helped Leppard onto the platinum-encrusted path they now tread. Rounding off the album, we have 'Excitable' and 'Love And Affection', the former showing the new stompalong side of the band, while the latter is a slow number rathe rsimilar in tempo to 'Billy's Got A Gun' from 'Pyromania'.
So, was the wait worth it? Should you buy it? C'mon! Is the Pope Catholic?! 'Hysteria' is, without a doubt, the album to set the standards in both musical style and production for the remainder of the decade.
|