Review by Stormy
3 stars out of 4
Remember Def Leppard's break-through album "Pyromania" with the target
on the album cover? A prophesy maybe because the British rockers have
been "targeted" by members of the music media. That's the curse sometimes
of phenomenal fame such as the type this band tasted with their mega-hit
machine follow-up "Hysteria". Then there was the accident, the tragedy
and still another huge album with "Adrenalize" - unpretentious melodic
rock with some hard punch harmony vocals - the type music critics love
to rip on. Here, with the very well-engineered "Euphoria", do we have
still another target? Will this produce the "same old sound" cliches
from the critics? Face it, this is Def Leppard, straight forward music;
they're not going to sound like The Offspring or Korn to stay with the
times. They dabbled in probing the different facets of their songwriting
capabilities with the excellent but sadly overlooked "Slang" about three
years ago. That CD proved their talents. Hell, they've been proving their
talent since the beginning. So "Euphoria" is sort of a "greatest hits"
perspective without the actual hits - yet. The lead track "Demolition Man"
weaves the youthful energy of "On Through The Night" with the soaring
harmonies of later releases. The funky "All Night" harks back to the
"Slang" title track. "Paper Sun" brings the hard driving feel of "High
And Dry" to mind. There are some ballads here, well done as usual. This
is the Def Leppard signature and probably another reason for them to be
targets. But this band's signature sound - a sound that appears to be
meticulously honed - goes beyond that, and has been often emulated, but
rarely equaled. And if "Promises" seems like a song designed to get
airplay so the band can enjoy a resurgence, then so be it! It's already
#1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and what better test of time
is there than that? The fans demanded a return to that anthemic sound
and the Leps gave the fans what they wanted.
Now watch them as they begin to reclaim their fame. "Euphoria"
proves Def Leppard won't be going anywhere but up!
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