Diamond Star Halos

It has been seven years since Def Leppard released their last, self-titled, studio album and, in between these two albums there was a huge career-spanning double “best of” compilation, The Story So Far. Before I bought that I wouldn't have described myself as a very big fan of Def Leppard fan (and actually only owned a few albums), but I have to say that I enjoyed their retrospective a lot more than I expected to and gave me a new found respect for the band. As such, when Diamond Star Halos came out I bought it on the day of release, pretty much loved it instantly and have been listening to it regularly since then; this is Def Leppard at their creative and commercial best.Huge harmony-drenched choruses, big meaty riffs, some excellent lead guitar and anthemic melodies that will have filled stadiums in the 1980s... and that's just the opening track. Oddly enough, they go from sounding like classic Def Leppard on the first track to then sounding like Bryan Adams on the second with Kick sounding like the long, lost single from Waking Up The Neighbours. Not a bad thing, in my opinion. Fire It Up is, again, solid gold Leppard with a bombastic sound, catchy, sing-along chorus and could have easily slotted onto one of their massive selling eighties albums Hysteria or Pyromania. This Guitar, featuring Alison Krauss, is a classy Bon Jovi-esque big rock ballad boasting an emotive Phil Collen guitar solo. It may be a little slushy for some fans and it's veers a little close to the top end of my cheese-ometer, but it just about gets away with it.A more Bryan Adams style again returns on SOS Emergency, but this one is slightly generic and a little less successful; like the sixth and final single release from a big hit album that just about scrapes into the top 40. I like You Rock Mi a lot – it's a groovy piece with a bassline reminiscent of White Lines (Don't Do It) and would have probably been a staple of early 90s MTV had it been released back then. From then on the quality seems to tail off a little towards the end of the album, but I still very much enjoyed Open Your Eyes, one of the dirtier, less-polished sounding songs on the record, almost a little grungy, and a great bit of harder-edged texture to mix things up. The sublime, orchestral-augmented Angels (Can't Help You Now) is another late-album pick, with the latter part of the song seemingly going all gloriously mid-seventies ELO... again, not a bad thing. My final favourite on Leppard's twelfth studio album is the final song, From Here To Eternity, which has some fabulous Aerosmith style chord changes and harmonies.If you are a die hard Def Leppard fan, it would be baffling if you were in any way disappointed by Diamond Star Halos. It has all of the hallmarks of their best work, it is brilliantly played, superbly produced and packed full of great songs. If this album had been released in the early 90s, say between Hysteria and Adrenalize and trimmed down a little, I believe it would be spoken about in the same way as their very greatest releases. As it is, it's simply a huge treat for Leppard lovers and fans of commercially-leaning heavy rock and, if it had a tiny bit more of quality control and had the band been a tad more ruthless with what was allowed to make the final cut, this could have been up there with their Platinum-selling monsters of the eighties. Even as it stands, it's still one of the best rock albums of the year and probably the best Def Leppard studio album for several decades.

Never afraid to acknowledge their glam roots (T. Rex; Mott The Hoople; David Bowie; Sweet) Def Leppard still manage to maintain their own sound and style. "Diamond Star Halos" probably won't gain Def Leppard any new fans, but the band's dedicated followers will love this album.The album kicks off with their three (current) single releases with most of the plaudits going to "Take What You Want" a great rock track reminiscent of Def Leppard's "High'n'Dry" album in style with an AC/DC style lead break thrown in . The second track, and first single from the album, "Kick" is a great feel good song, just what the 'doctor ordered' in these difficult times, yet surprisingly received mixed reactions when released. Their third single "Fire It Up" tries too hard to be "Pour Some Sugar On Me" ; a great verse, but a chorus that is a bit predictable and is one of the weaker songs from the album.There are tracks on the album that wouldn't be out of place on Def Leppard's past releases; "Open Your Eyes" could be a track from "Slang" whilst the awesome "All We Need" is reminiscent of "Adrenalize" (but also has an "Animal", from "Hysteria", style riff).The album also has many changes in tempo and style; the sublime, glam tinged, rock tracks "SOS Emergency" and "Gimme A Kiss", that catch the listener between headbanging and dancing. Then we have the excellent country rock tinged tracks with Alison Krauss "This Guitar" and the ridiculously catchy earworm "Lifeless".The album is almost faultless, but as previously mentioned "Fire It Up" falls a little short as does the lush ballad "Angels (Can't Help You Now) which has great production and arrangements but, IMHO, the melody is a bit bland."From Here To Eternity", the closing track, is heavy; dark; brooding and menacing but a song wrought with emotion with some stunning guitar work in the outro.Overall an excellent piece of work from one of the UK's greatest rock bands.

This album from the northern rockers is more gentle with softer songs.More like ballads than rock classics.Still worth a listen though.

Having been a fan from early days I was eventually persuaded to have a full listen to an album I had previously not been that keen on. Actually on second listen there is some powerful Leppard stuff on here, reminiscent of the early powerful guitars, and always Joe's instantly recognisable powerful rock voice. Why not 5 stars? One or two songs do feel a bit like fillers, but overall it is a good album, bordering on excellent and okay, it isn't Hysteria-level but very few albums ever are. Solid 4 and one I will listen to again

its the 2023 takebof Def leppard who continue to make some great music, still sound good and still taking chances good album overall lots to enjoy here

Classic Def Leppard

Great band and good quality CD. Would recommend.