Hysteria - Def Leppard (CD 1987)

Consistency.

So many rock bands today (and yesterday) try to achieve consistency while expanding on their artistic abilities. Typically, the results are lack luster at best, or a change in direction that never quite gathers the attention of earlier works.

But if there is one thing that can be said of Def Leppard during their reign in the 80's, it's consistency.

It started with their 1981 release of High 'n' Dry with some hard rocking tunes that introduced a world to this mega-star from the United Kingdom. But nothing could prepare them or us for the incredible success behind their 1983 monster smash Pyromania (see: http://www.epinions.com/content_47213284996).

Let's face it. Def Leppard could have packed it up right there and they would still be considered one of the finest rock bands of all time.

But, fortunately for us, they didn't (despite ensuing tragedy).

No, instead they released, in 1987, a follow-up album to Pyromania called Hysteria that set the rock world on its ear. Despite the 4 year gap since Pyromania was released, Def Leppard was still wildly popular and continuously being played on the airwaves across the world. 4 years didn't age Pyromania at all. In fact, it was likely more popular than ever.

That certainly didn't hurt the chances of this groups 4th album when it did hit the stores and the airwaves in late 87. Hysteria was an instant success, one that would ride that wave for a long time to come.

Made up of 12 songs, each one a bona fide hit in its own right, Hysteria gave the fans exactly what they were crawling for - more of the same, just better.

Hysteria is just that. It's Def Leppard at their prime, it's Def Leppard following the success pattern of Pyromania. It's Def Leppard doing what they do best - rocking.

Pyromania, and now Hysteria. Quite the one-two combination punch if ever there was one. It was enough to make the 80's the decade of the Leppard. Def Leppard that is.

1. Women
The opening track to Hysteria immediately set the tone for the album (and the continuation of the Def Leppard sound). Taking basic lyrics about the pleasure (and sacrifices) of the fairer sex, putting them behind some powerful guitar riffs and tight percussions, and you've got yourself a classic Def Leppard hit. And as the lyrics stated:

"It was one part love, one part child
One part lover, one part wild ... "

Wild is a word and a half for this track.

2. Rocket
Following along the rhythmic sounds of Women comes Rocket, a more intense sounding song that gets the entire group singing harmonies while blasting away at their instruments. Great background effects, something common in many Def Leppard songs, helps create the mood for this song. The high-powered vocals from lead singer Joe Elliott help this song take off.

3. Animal
Somewhat of a common theme throughout this album is, quite frankly, sex and sex appeal. Animal certainly exemplifies that feeling, especially with chorus-lyrics such as:

"And I want, and I need, and I lust
Animal ... ".

Focusing more on melodies and rhythms, this song is instantly recognizable, instantly enjoyable and quite a mood generator (in the right atmosphere). A slower-paced song that's loaded with energy, Animal brings out the tiger in this Leppard.

4. Love Bites
Doesn't it, though? A great, great power ballad presenting the pain and suffering that often accompanies that elusive feeling of love. From the opening, cryptically spoken verse of "If you've got love in your sights -- Watch out, love bites..." to the melodic and dark atmospheric sounds of this song, to the closing chorus of:

"Love bites, love bleeds
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies
It's no surprise
Love begs, love pleads
It's what I need..."

This was (and is) one of the biggest hits on the album. Dark and moody, constantly being played, it's a smoother Def Leppard sound that most, and one that's totally infectious. Masterful.

5. Pour Some Sugar on Me
Back to the sex theme - with a vengeance. Taking some rap-like lyrics, vocalizing them expertly behind some hard-playing guitars and bass, Def Leppard shoots to the top of the charts with this one while they get women across the world dancing to a frenzy behind it. Pour Some Sugar on Me is one of those songs that, through lyrics alone, will not do it justice. It must be heard to be experienced. Hear it. Listen to it. Feel it. Try not to get into the groove behind it. This is hot stuff to be sure. And great Def Leppard at that.

6. Armageddon It
Another winner, Armageddon It focuses on some superb guitar solos behind more powerfully sung lyrics to establish yet another typically solid Def Leppard tune. I sound like a broken record, but that's the way Hysteria is. Track after track of hits. Each song related in sound and style, but different enough never to get old or boring. As is the case here. A mixture between a love song and a hard driving rock song, somewhere, somehow, Def Leppard finds that marriage and makes it work. More great stuff deserving of all the credit it receives.

7. Gods of War
Stepping aside from the up-beat, sex-laden concepts behind Hysteria, Def Leppard put out one of the more powerful tracks on this album with Gods of War. Far darker than most of their earlier works, this track can be seen as pointing out the pointlessness of war. Lyrics such as:

"We're fightin' for the gods of war but what the hell we fightin' for
We're fightin' with the gods of war
And I ain't gonna fight no more..."

point out the depth of this song. The music behind it helps drive the message home. Moody, dark, message-heavy, this is still an exceptional track, one that deserved far more attention than it received.

8. Don't Shoot Shotgun
It's interested how Def Leppard arranges the layout of the tracks on this album. There's a definite pattern to it that makes the entire listening process even more enjoyable. Moving from the dark, slower paced Gods of War comes the, still dark, yet faster paced Don't Shoot Shotgun - a trip into the world of dangerous love. Taking some interesting lyrics and presenting them at light speed, Def Leppard does well what so few even attempt - get an entire story presented, told and wrapped up in a 5 minute segment. You sometimes forget that this is merely a song - it sucks you in that deep. Nice stuff, especially for a 'b' side.

9. Run Riot
I like to think of this song as ending a mini-trilogy which began with Gods of War. It continues at the pace established by Don't Shoot Shotgun and really works as a continuation of that song. Not the best on the album, as it received little air play, but certainly worthy of inclusion here, Run Riot uses a customary high-speed pace of Def Leppard coupled with some nicely arranged background effects and solid, tight percussions. Amazing performances all around make this a standout track that just never stood out.

10. Hysteria
The title track to the album is also one of the finest songs available and a personal favorite. Taking the speed down a notch or two, Hysteria is a ballad-like song that focuses primarily on some well sung vocals behind some good and never over-powering guitars. Great melodies, great vocal performances and mood-establishing rhythms really work wonders for this song. This is Def Leppard at their finest, plain and simple.

11. Excitable
Hysteria could have ended at 10 tracks, and some people thought it should. But Def Leppard still had music to perform and put out, so we're treated to, what I can, two bonus tracks. Beginning with Excitable, the song mirrors its name. Fast paced, loaded with energy and fun to listen to, Excitable takes the 'sex theme' further with lyrics like:

"Ya know I get so excitable
I really get so excitable
I wanna get you excitable
So come, let's go
Ah, baby, don't say no ..."

and matches it to the energy behind the rest of the album. Easily one of the albums most energized tracks, Excitable will get you just that...excited.

12. Love and Affection
And closing out the album, and the two added bonus songs (as I refer to them) is Love and Affection. As you can tell from the title, it's about, well, love and affection (yes, and sex). Somewhat of a lover's quarrel set to music, this song has a catchy tune to it which made it somewhat of a hit, but the lyrics fall a little flat and the energy that contained the rest of the album seems to be lacking just a bit here. Not a bad song, one you're likely to hear from time to time, but not a showcase for the rest of the album.

And there you have it. Another 12 tracks that further solidify Def Leppard as a force to be reckoned with. One of Rock's biggest one-two punches of all time, Hysteria, following their famed Pyromania put to rest any fears that Def Leppard would not recover from their own internal tragedies.

They would, and have, persevered. And the 80's belonged to them.

Thanks, as always, for reading...