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Rating:
(This review is also from ancient times, dated November 22, 2011. Enjoy it!)
When we think of the past NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal), that renowned period between the years 1979 and 1984 when the concept of classic heavy metal was born through some bands, which later led to the development of extreme metal (thrash metal in particular), what are the first groups that come to mind? Iron Maiden first, followed by the less famous Saxon, Diamond Head, Venom, etc., just to name a few. Yet, have you ever tried asking this question to some of your friends or companions? How much do you want to bet that, even if they mention those bands with similar sounds but that are not officially part of this movement (Judas Priest, Motörhead), they won’t remotely mention the band I am about to review now?
Def Leppard (a play on words from deaf leopard, which indeed means deaf leopard.... well, not so deaf!), a band at the time composed of the historical founder Rick Savage on bass, Steve Clark and the new member Phil Collen on guitars, Joe Elliott on vocals, and Rick Allen on drums, had already made a name for themselves on the global rock scene of that new decade with the good debut "On Through the Night" and the subsequently more than decent "High 'n' Dry," thanks also to the production of the latter entrusted to perhaps one of the best rock record producers in the world, Robert "Mutt" Lange, already famous for having collaborated with the giants of world hard rock AC/DC in mixing "Back In Black," the second best-selling music album in history. For their third feat, the band, satisfied with his work, decided to bring him back on board, and so one of the most famous and best-selling hard rock albums of all time was born, and, without exaggerating too much, a historic monument of '80s music.
In this album, Phil Collen replaced Pete Willis due to alcohol-related issues; nonetheless, before his departure, he collaborated on the writing of some guitar rhythm parts. This album takes a slightly different turn from the two predecessors. Along with the hard rock and heavy metal sounds in the style of AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, and Kiss, it adds an evident AOR influence, a radio-friendly rock music format very widespread in the '70s, which makes the songs quite catchy and memorable, but here there is no problem at all. In fact, there is absolutely no problem or flaw in this album. If it will be remembered among the best albums of that decade and capable of selling 20 million copies to date, 10 of which in the United States alone, the reason is simple: it is melodic rock that is very smooth, yet at the same time hard and powerful, in full '80s style. And above all, an honest and passionate work, born from the mere desire to make music, and the success it earned was well-deserved.
You can understand this yourself by simply starting the listening of this album, beginning with the opening track Rock Rock ('Till You Drop), where the talented young Rick Allen demonstrates his drumming prowess and Joe Elliott's voice, legendary in his genre, seems almost a fusion between Bon Scott and Brian Johnson. If the track didn't thrill you much but you intend to continue, with the following track you will encounter their most famous song, Photograph, so famous that it’s now a fixture in their concert setlists and has been included in a list (albeit debatable) of the 100 best hard rock songs by VH1. There are no small particular moments in this song; the entire song is unique, from the captivating opening riff, the fantastic chorus engaging every voice in the group, to Steve Clark's emblematic heavy solo, supported by a decent performance from Phil Collen. You then move on with a very rock n roll track, titled Stagefright (the initial phrase “I said Welcome to my show” is very striking, recorded live on purpose), arriving at one of the album's strongest pieces, Too Late For Love, and the most massive and complex track, Die Hard The Hunter. We have thus arrived at another of the three best songs on the record after Photograph, Foolin', slower than the latter but still energetic and strong. Completing the trilogy is Rock Of Ages, with its nonsensical German opening phrase "Gunter glieben glauben globen" (the band explained that the idea for this phrase was suggested as a joke by Mutt Lange, to replace the original opening "One, two, three, four"). Who would have thought that a certain Chris D'Arienzo would later decide to use this song's name to create a musical entirely dedicated to the '80s glam metal scene? Too bad the song itself is not included. To close the album, there are three more tracks: two of them are perhaps the slightly less successful ones on the entire album, Comin’ Under Fire and Action Not Words, but to console the listener, they immediately get back on track with the remaining track Billy's Got a Gun, the second in complexity after Die Hard The Hunter. The album ends here, though a bit short for my taste, but it has completely satisfied me. Moreover, I wanted to wait until the end to tell you without repeating myself too much: among the many strengths present in the album, what immediately stands out are the choruses, the beautiful choruses, present in every single song, which enhance them in a stunning way, and in live performances manage to engage from the first to the last spectator, becoming even more beautiful, reaching epic levels (in the glory days, today they perform a bit less).
Unfortunately, they will never reach such high levels of hard rock again, as in December of the following year Rick Allen will have a car accident (due to a "fool") which will cause him to lose his left arm. Yet, the band didn't even dare to think of replacing Rick with another drummer. After a long recovery, he returned to the group with a stronger spirit than before, which, together with the great leopards, will give birth to what I personally consider the album that most perfectly marries two very opposing genres, ROCK and POP, in history.
To Be Continued......
SCORE = 100 / 100
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Photograph (04:07)
I'm outta luck, outta love
Got a photograph, picture of
Passion killer, you're too much
You're the only one I wanna touch
I see your face every time I dream
On every page, every magazine
So wild and free, so far from me
You're all I want, my fantasy
Oh, look what you've done to this rock and roll clown
Oh-oh, look what you've done
(Photograph) I don't want your
(Photograph) I don't need your
(Photograph) All I've got is a photograph (Photograph)
But it's not enough
I'd be your lover, if you were there
Put your hurt on me if you dare
Such a woman, you got style
You make every man feel like a child, oh
You got some kinda hold on me
You're all wrapped up in a mystery
So wild and free, so far from me
You're all I want, my fantasy
Oh, look what you've done to this rock and roll clown
Oh-oh, look what you've done
I gotta have you
(Photograph) I don't want your
(Photograph) I don't need your
(Photograph) All I've got is a photograph (Photograph)
You've gone straight to my head
Oh, look what you've done to this rock and roll clown
Oh-oh, look what you've done
I gotta have you
(Photograph) I don't want your
(Photograph) I don't need your
(Photograph) All I've got is a photograph (Photograph)
I wanna touch you
Ohhh
(Photograph)
(Photograph) Yeah, photograph
(Photograph)
(Photograph) ???
(Photograph) I wanna know
(Photograph) I wanna know
(Photograph) I wanna really know
(Photograph) I wanna touch
03 Stagefright (03:44)
I said Welcome to my show
It's just a-you and me baby
We got the whole damn night to go
You're holding out on me, while I'm on fire
If you can't stand the heat, then you should try
Victim of my vices, you know you are
You skate on ice to paradise, stairway to the stars
Stagefright all night, won't you let go
All night stagefright, on with the show
You come on like a lady dressed to kill
Never thought you could be caught, but you will
A little understanding, a little love
A headline act around the back, is what I'm thinkin' of
Stagefright all night, won't you let go
All night stagefright, on with the show
Stagefright all night, you're dream starts today
All night stagefright, is only a heartbeat away
You're going for my head, you're going down
Gettin' good at being bad, you're hangin' round
A fun inspired asylum, toys for the boys
Love on the rocks, forget-me-nots, you got no choice
Stagefright all night, oh won't you let go
All night stagefright, get on with the show
Stagefright all night, you're dream starts today
All night stagefright, is only a heartbeat away
Stagefright all night, oh won't you let go
All night stagefright, get on with the show
05 Die Hard the Hunter (06:15)
Let's welcome home the soldier boy (Far away, far away)
No angel of mercy, just a need to destroy (Fire away, fire away)
Let's toast the hero with blood in his eyes
The scars on his mind took so many lives
(Die hard the hunter)
Welcome home, soldier boy
Put down your pistol, yeah, put down your toy
Yeah, they can take your gun away from you
But never take away your attitude
(They can't do that) Whoa no no
(They can't do that)
You got no enemy, no front line
The only battle's in the back of your mind
You don't know how to change from bad to good
You brought the war to your neighbourhood
(You can't do that) Whoa no no
(You can't do that)
(Die hard) You're caught in a trap
(Hunter) There's no lookin' back
(Die hard) He's lost in the crowd
(Hunter) Die hard and proud
(Die hard the hunter)
(Die hard the hunter) ???
(Die hard the hunter)
(Die hard the hunter)
Back in the city, he's a man on the loose
He is the shadow that's a-following you
He takes no prisoners when he's hunting for game
He's got a bullet and it carries your name
(You can't do that) You can't do that
(You can't do that) Whoa no no no
(Die hard) You're caught in a trap
(Hunter) There's no lookin' back
(Die hard) He's lost in the crowd
(Hunter) Die hard and proud
(Die hard) You're caught in a trap
(Hunter) There's no lookin' back
(Die hard) He's lost in the crowd
(Hunter) Die hard and proud
(Die hard the hunter)
(Die hard the hunter) ???
(Die hard the hunter)
(Die hard the hunter) ???
(Die hard the hunter) ???
(Die hard the hunter) He's got it comin' tonight
(You can't do that) You can't do that
(You can't do that) No no no
Oww!
06 Foolin' (04:33)
Lady luck never smiles
So lend your love to me awhile
Do with me what you will
Break the spell, take your fill
On and on we rode the storm
The flame has died and the fire has gone
Oh, this empty bed is a night alone
I realized that long ago
Is anybody out there, anybody there?
Does anybody wonder, anybody care?
Oh, I just gotta know
If you're really there
And you really care
'Cause baby I'm not
F-f-f-foolin', oh f-f-foolin'
F-f-f-foolin', oh f-f-foolin'
Won't you stay with me awhile?
Oh whoa ho
Close your eyes, don't run and hide
Easy love is no easy ride
Just wakin' up from what we had
Could stop good love from going bad
Is anybody out there, anybody there?
Does anybody wonder, anybody care?
Oh, I just gotta know
If you're really there
And you really care
'Cause baby I'm not
F-f-f-foolin', oh f-f-foolin'
F-f-f-foolin', oh f-f-foolin'
Ohh!
Ah-ah-oww!
Oh, I just gotta know
If you're really there
And you really care
'Cause baby I'm not
F-f-f-foolin', oh f-f-foolin'
Not f-f-f-foolin', oh no
I'm not foolin' myself (I'm not foolin' myself)
No no no (I'm not foolin' myself)
I'm not, no (I'm not foolin' myself)
I'm not foolin' (I'm not foolin' myself)
No!
07 Rock of Ages (04:07)
Gunter glieben glauchen globen
All right, I got something to say
Yeah, it's better to burn out
Yeah, then fade away
All right
Ow!
Gonna start a fire
C'mon
Rise up gather round
Rock this place to the ground
Burn it up let's go for broke
Watch the night go up in smoke
Rock on, rock on
Drive me crazier
No serenade, no fire brigade
Just the pyromania, come on!
(What do ya want?) What do ya want?
(I want rock n' roll) Yes I do
(Long live rock n' roll)
Oh, let's go let's strike a light
We're gonna blow like dynamite
I don't care if it takes all night
Gonna set this town alight, c'mon
(What do ya want?) What do ya want?
(I want rock n' roll) All right!
(Long live rock n' roll) Oh! Yeah! Yeah!
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', keep a rollin'
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', rock n' rollin'
We got the power, got the glory
Just say you need it
And if you need it say 'Yeah!'
Oh yeah! Heh heh heh heh
Now listen to me
I'm burnin', burnin', I got the fever
I know for sure, there ain't no cure
So feel it, don't fight it, go with the flow
And gimme gimme gimme gimme one more for the road, yeah!
(What do ya want?) What do ya want?
(I want rock n' roll) You betcha
(Long live rock n' roll) Now hit it
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', keep a rollin'
Rock of ages, rock of ages
Still rollin', rock n' rollin'
We got the power, got the glory
Just say you need it
And if you need it say 'Yeah!'
Say 'Yeah!'
Gonna burn this damn place down, woo-hoo
Down to the ground
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh...
10 Billy's Got a Gun (05:56)
Billy's got a gun, he's on the run
Confusion in his mind, the blind leads the blind
Yeah, Billy's got a gun, he's gonna shoot ya down
He's got evil in his eyes, got a reason to despise
There's danger in the air
(Can you feel it in the air?)
There's danger in the air (Danger)
Such a strange emotion
(Can you feel it in the air?) Ohh yeah
Ohh yeah
Oh, he was locked inside a room without a door
His innocence he suffered for
In a world of black and white, they were wrong and he was right
Just looking for a clue, it's a nightmare come true
He's going underground to track that danger down
Oh Billy, hey why you got that gun?
(Can you feel it in the air?)
There's danger in the air (Danger)
Such a strange emotion
(Can you feel it in the air?) Ohh yeah
Oh Billy
(Never give him an even break
Gettin' caught is the chance you take
It could be your last mistake)
You could be so helpless
(As a bird with a broken wing
Like a sheep in a lion's den
Gonna fall but you won't know when)
He's gonna get you
You hear footsteps in the night, see shadows on the wall
And the ghostly sound of silence, as the mist begins to fall
Then a scream rang out like thunder, but the lightning was too late
As the rain came down on the crimson ground
It was the hand of fate
And a crowd of people gathered round, but Billy couldn't wait
(Can you feel it in the air?)
There's danger in the air (Danger)
Such a strange emotion
(Can you feel it in the air?) Ohh yeah
Yeah, Billy's on the run
Oh, you better run
(Never gave him an even break) Better run
(Gettin' caught is the chance you take) You better run
(It could be your last mistake)
Yeah, Billy's got a gun
(As a bird with a broken wing) Oh Billy
(Like a sheep in a lion's den) Oh Billy
(Gonna fall but you won't know when) Yeah, Billy's out
He's gonna get you
Yeah!
Bang bang
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Other reviews
By ocram
Pyromania represents a perfect blend of light/dark tones where power and melody celebrate one of their most successful marriages.
Every track is worth listening to countless times, and everything possesses a scenic spectacularity and energy that fits perfectly in the 'live' dimension.
