CLASSIC ALBUM : Del Leppard – Hysteria

Having joined forces with acclaimed producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange in the early 1980s for their second album, High ‘n’ Dry, Sheffield-formed Def Leppard had managed to define their sound and their next record, 1983′s Pyromaniac, had enjoyed significant success. But when drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car crash the following year the fate of the band was left in doubt, but after developing and learning to play an electronic drum kit, Def Leppard came back bigger than ever with an appearance at Monsters of Rock in 1986. Working once again with Lange, the group commenced work on their fourth album, Hysteria, which would launch itself to the top of the charts and spawn several hit singles, cementing the band’s reputation as one of Britain’s biggest rock bands of the decade.

As would be evident through his work with Bryan Adams, Lange had a talent for taking a sound and transforming it into something epic and powerful. This is immediately apparent when listening to Hysteria, as every song has a presence and seems designed for arenas, allowing thousands of fans to sing along. Some of Def Leppard‘s most famous work appeared on the album, such as the energetic Rocket, the pop-friendly Animal and the We Will Rock You-esque Pour Some Sugar on Me. The title track, along with Love Bites and Love and Affection provide the obligatory power ballads, whilst Armageddon It adds a tongue-in-cheek element. The album has a heavier side too, most notably with the songs Women, Gods of War and Don’t Shoot Shotgun. Although their next album, Adrenalize, would be a worthy follow-up, Hysteria stands as Def Leppard‘s crowning achievement.