Hysteria - Def Leppard

Advantages: A coming of age album, perfectly polished
Disadvantages: Probably not to be topped again by the band

...when after the gentleness of Hysteria and a soft cuddle with your new fella. It'll either having you reach for the volume knob to turn it up or turn it down. I liked it, simply because it was fun, after such a serious track. It tells you to 'stand up' We're back almost into bop mode again. The last track 'Love and Affection' could have been another 'Hysteria' but it seems to lack something, I think because it sounds so similar. It bares the mark ...
...spoils it. Its again gentle and reflective. It doesn't have the same broodiness of 'Hysteria'. It would have felt better on a follow up album. It's still a good piece to finish an album but not a rock album. They were essentially a commercial rock band unlike others, they had chosen to conform, whether it was to make money or get popular fast. One feels that previous albums, 'On through the night' and 'Pyromania' seemed to be true Def Leppard. One ... Read review

Advantages: rock heaven
Disadvantages: ????????????

...Night High N’ Dry Pyromania Hysteria (inc. Pour Some Sugar On Me, Armageddon It, Love Bites, Hysteria)* Adrenalize (inc. Lets Get Rocked, Heaven Is, Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad)* Retroactive Vault – Greatest Hits Slang Euphoria Also available on video Historia In The Round In Your Face Visualize Vault – The Videos * Highly recommended listening ... Read review

Advantages: 12 brilliant songs
Disadvantages: not as heavy as it could be

...few of the tracks. Hysteria and Armaggedon It are the highlights for me, but all 12 tracks stand out. Just writing this review makes me want to dig it out from my record collection and listen to it again. Although not as heavy as there previous releases, it has the perfect balance between being heavy metal, but also appealing to the general public. They’ve never really matched this album since and I don’t think they will. If you want a classic in ... Read review

Advantages: Great songs - not just heavy rock
Disadvantages: Too over-produced in places

Del Leppard really pulled all the stops out on this album. After drummer Rick Allen's accident, and after massive US success but lukewarm acceptance at home in the UK, they were really up for it this time - and they spared themselves nothing. "Hysteria" was that rare record, a hard rock, metal set which still crossed the boundaries and appealed to a much wider audience. The first single, "Animal", was heavy enough to be lapped up by the fans who'd ...
...great pop single on the radio. "Armageddon It" showed a keen sense of humour if it wasn't such a great song, and "Pour Some Sugar On Me" made a great stadium rock song. On the power serious side, the power ballad "Love Bites" was one of the great rock love songs of all time, and "Gods Of War" showed they could handle serious issues sensitively as well. My only niggling comment about this album was that on the whole it sounded a bit too over-produced. ... Read review

Advantages: Great all round rock band
Disadvantages: Many of the albums are similar

...at what they do. Hysteria was the album that really made them international superstars. Their blend of heavy and light rock, some decent lyrics, and some amazing harmonies, combined to make them different from all the other 'rock' bands of the 80s and 90s. It's a testament to their tenacity and class that they are still around today. Throughout their careers they have been dogged by tragedy, losing one member, and having a drummer lose an arm. ...
...and the new millenium. Hysteria is perhaps their best album so far, the other really are just variations on Hysteria, catapulting them up the British and America charts with classic rock anthems such as Armageddon It, Pour Some sugar on Me and the odd love ballad like Love Bites. The best song on the album is probably the title track, Hysteria, which has great rhythm, excellent guitar, and superb lyrics! The combination of the different styles, ... Read review