Hysteria

 

 

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The road to Hysteria was paved with nightmares. First, longtime producer "Mutt" Lange decided to pursue other ventures and opted out of working on the album. This culminated in extreme friction with Def Leppard and the first initial producer, Meat Loaf veteran Jim Steinman, who was unable to cement the band's signature sound into something tangible. Their second attempt with Nigel Green was no more successful, and to make matters worse, drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a vicious car crash, leading to months of rehabilitation. By the time Robert Lange had changed his mind and returned to produce the album, the band had been battered and bruised. Things didn't proceed as smoothly as anticipated, however. Lange's penchant for perfection culminated in over 3 years of studio production time, making Hysteria one of the most drawn out and difficult recordings of all time.

The proof however, is in the pudding. Leppard's songwriting and Lange's ultra-sleek production skills made Hysteria one of the greatest hard/pop rock albums of all time. Utilizing a vast array of studio effects, unorthodox recording techniques, and painstaking attention to detail, Hysteria is a sonic nuke of epic proportions. The album starts off slow with 'Women,' an ode to the long-legged, plush-lipped fairer sex, which pulsates like the engine of a car just turned on. 'Rock It' accelerates out of the park with a bombastic drumline, backmasked vocals and a 1-2 bassline intermixed with dozens of classic rock references in lead singer Joe Elliot's lyrics. Clocking in at 6:37 seconds, the song switches between standard rock formulas and an eerie, pulsing bridge section that builds back up to penultimate release. 'Animal' brings on the reverb and effects pedals to craft a sultry, sexy tale of lust personified. "I need your touch, don't need your love..." sums up the delivery vehicle for the band's first true semi-ballad. However, the following song 'Love Bites' is truly the breakout ballad of the entire album, mixing sweeping guitars with an exploding chorus and tragically sweet lyrics about yearning, love, and commitment.

Things immediately jump into heavy swing from hereon out, starting with the earth-shattering 'Pour Some Sugar On Me,' which has gone on to become one of the most recognizable rock anthems of all time. Swaggering sexual references rebound off of a fist-pumping "HEY!" verse section before launching into the ultimate song-along chorus. 'Armageddon It' is a bluesy feel-good song with somewhat oblique lyrics, but is most certainly one of the most unique and catchy rock songs ever produced. The chunky attack of the song flows seamlessly into a dreamy bridge section with Steve Clarke's wonderfully messy guitar skills bouncing perfectly off of axe-mate Phil Collen's precise technicality. The album turns political with 'Gods of War,' a follow-up to Pyromania's 'Die Hard The Hunter.' An anti-war anthem, the song rises to a strong crescendo while layering audio clips of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher over stereo'ed missiles, Apache gunships and "Solidarno''" chants, creating a chilling atmosphere with a strong (albeit often ignored) message.

The album corners right back into rock anthem territory with 'Don't Shoot Shotgun' and 'Run Riot;' the former a silly but incredibly catchy girl/boy number, and the latter a big middle finger to rules, laws, regulations, conformity, and routine. Both are difficult not to headbang to, or at the very least tap your foot along. The title track 'Hysteria' is a touching, heartfelt ballad about the urgency and absolute need to be with someone you love so strongly. In typical "Mutt" Lange fashion, the album plays several tricks on the listener during the bridge section, which, for a brief moment, is almost haunting in intensity. The album throws one more hard rocker at the listener with 'Excitable,' the most glaringly sexual song on the entire record. "...a little...X-rated...a little bit...EXCITIN'..." is but one of the more tame references to the horizontal mambo in this adrenaline fueled number. The album closes with the semi-ballad 'Love And Affection' which brings the listener down after almost an hour of hefty rock craziness. It's the weakest song on the album by far, but that's quibbling.

'Hysteria' isn't Heavy Metal. It's barely Hard Rock. What it is however, is Pop Rock of the highest caliber. It turns its back on the straight-laced British Heavy Metal of 'High N' Dry' and 'Pyromania' in favor of more commercially accessible Rock with heavy cross-gender appeal. In the hands of lesser musicians and a producer, it could have spelled absolute disaster. But the dynamic team of Def Leppard and Robert "Mutt" Lange proved without a doubt that there is a RIGHT way to go mainstream without losing integrity, passion, or songwriting skill. Any Hard Rock or Metal fan who doesn't have 'Hysteria' in their collection is missing out on what is one of the most important Rock albums ever created.

With sales topping more than 15 million, Hysteria is one of the best metal albums of all-time and I know it has been 19 years since the release of this metal classic. This album is brilliant and simply the best album from Def Leppard. Love Bites reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles. Pour Some Sugar on me reached #2. Armageddon It reached #3 and Hysteria reached #10 (which should have been Def Leppard's second #1 single on the Hot 100 countdown). Rocket and Animal are stand-outs from this album.

Def Leppard's Hysteria is one of the best metal albums of all-time. The success of this album proves that it is one of the best metal albums of all-time.

The commercial success of this album was amazing.

Love Bites is the best song from Def Leppard.

Well I should say this band is innovative with a distinctive sound! It is one of the greatest bands from the 80s...

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5.0 out of 5 stars How to follow up an album like Pyromania? With one like Hysteria.
Released in 1987 four years after their breakthrough t album, Pyromania , Hysteria remains UK band Def Leppard's peak commercially. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Tommy Morais

1.0 out of 5 stars No Dynamic Range
After listening to my 80's copy of this recording (Vinyl) I was so turned on by the sound but unfortunately the record itself was noisy and needed replacement. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Seeker

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent edition for the Def Leppard fan
This re-release is a great treat for any Def Leppard fan. Most of the bonus music is available on other DL releases at this point but in slightly different variations. Read more

Published on Nov 14 2006 by Bob

5.0 out of 5 stars WARNING.....pop metal
Do not buy this CD expecting it to sound like Pyromania. Why you ask? Because it's completely different than Pyromania. Read more

Published on Dec 31 2004 by no1metalfan

3.0 out of 5 stars Why send men to do a robot's job?
In 1985, after putting the five then-current members of Def Leppard into a freeze-dried chamber, Robert John "Mutt" Lange began the follow-up to his last studio effort,... Read more

Published on July 15 2004 by Da Peace Dogg

4.0 out of 5 stars An absolute classic.
It's true that this album wasn't as "metal" as those before it, but that didn't stop it from being their best and most popular album. Read more

Published on July 7 2004 by H3@+h

1.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, Fabio
I didn't realize that yours was the only opinion that mattered, but being the man I am, I can respect the fact that you like the Def Leppard prom band versus the Def Leppard rock... Read more

Published on Jun 30 2004 by fabulousfishhead

5.0 out of 5 stars it's stupid to censure this album to Wallyum
If you don't like this album,please don't write the review.
if you censure this work means you don't understand very much of music,this album is a masterpiece of... Read more

Published on Jun 30 2004 by fabriziofabris

2.0 out of 5 stars Lacking in integrity
Coming after the long and admittedly tragic delay, I wasn't terribly impressed with this album. Considering the circumstances, I can understand if the drum sound is a little off,... Read more

Published on Jun 29 2004 by William J. Eichelberger

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album,idiot fishhead
Great album,one of best album of def leppard.splendid music very picturesque like album.
i hate those elements don't appreciate this cd,this cd is the best of 80'years. Read more

Published on Jun 29 2004 by fabriziofabris

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