Reviews (page 5 of 9)
Tekevät parhaansa editoidakseen ja paisuttaakseen musiikkinsa kuuntelukelvottomaksi. Joissakin bändin melodioissa on silti vähintäänkin huumorisoittoon kelpaavaa tehoa. Ja ykköshitti on... no sitä itseään.
- You know...sometimes trash is just fun. Sue me. - "Animal" moving into "Love Bites" and then "Pour Some Sugar On Me"...let's just wrap it up here. Because that is *chef's kiss.* - Appreciate them trying to have a political track or two? Even if the title "Don't Shoot Shot Gun" sounds like they are having a stroke.
Brings me back to childhood…
Lots of bangers, 4 stars
Classic banger that goes HARD! Yes, it’s “hair metal”. Yes it’s drowned in sex, innuendos, ballads and classic glam solos tied up in a pretty bow. So what? It’s fun, energetic, powerful and enjoyable from start to finish. 7 singles from one album, most of them their most played/known tracks. AND it’s their come back album after Rick Allen’s accident. BEAST! I understand people don’t like it and ultimately dislike Glam Rock, but come on… you can’t give this album a 1 star rating. Way harsh!!
This album has sold 20 million copies, which seems crazy, until you remember that every strip club in the world probably bought 5 copies because it was the only reliable way to access "Pour Some Sugar on Me"
Fine. They all kinda sound the same.
3.5/5
ehh...
This is music for assholes. It is self-indulgent and vapid. It doesn't have any redeeming qualities. The music is too self-absorbed, too craving of commercial validation that it can't even be heavy metal. It's pop, flaccid and impotent despite its constant, desperate gestures of virility. The songs don't just objectify women, they reduce all of their listeners to a subservient status. If you're a Def Leppard fan, you have no higher purpose in life than filling stadiums and buying albums. The over-enlarged egos that compose the band Def Leppard champion excess like it's an act of rebellion. It's not. It's amplified mindless consumerism. Stoke the economy, keep profits up, generate a good ROI. I feel stupider for having listened to this album twice. I feel like buying a Camero and drunk driving. I feel like changing my name to Don or Chip. I feel the sweet relief from responsibility that being a shallow, unselfconscious, unselfreflective individual must offer. 2 stars because I thought the song Rocket was actually pretty cool.
made me sad. the musical equivalent of being forced to sing happy birthday to a coworker on your lunch break. a lame attempt to manufacture excitement from nothing. unearned and uncalled for. empty. forced. probably fun for a fleeting moment for those who don't know any better. i expected to dislike this, but i didn't expect it to be so boring. the "hooks" don't work. the songs are too long. rot. or if i'm more charitable, music to have a dalliance with at fourteen, but to move on from once you realize there's a big, beautiful, genuine world out there.
Well, it happened. I thought that chocolate cake would remain on the bottom for me throughout this experience but hysteria is the worst album. I’ve heard so far on this list the whole 62 minutes and 32 seconds feels like parody to me. I get that this was pop back in the day, but even for pop music These songs are just silly. I ended up listening to this album twice hoping that my first impression was just some type of Grammy shell shock but the second lesson was worse than the first this fucking singer man. So some backstory, I used to work a karaoke night at a really shitty bar in the suburbs my dad had a DJ company and he got the gig and the place was too trashy for him so I took over night after night. Pour some sugar on me would be sung multiple times tonight actually and it was an immediate excuse to get downright gross clientele there we’re all coheads And racist and had that special meth allure. Miley saving Grace on these karaoke nights was a little old woman who would come in dressed, had to toe and pink cowgirl outfit she would come in and request. These boots are made for walking by Nancy Sinatra. She would sing it. Everyone would share she’d walk right out. I loved her. She was the best I drinking years were haunted by this. Pour some Sugar over me song coyote, ugly come out, and I think it revitalize this trash heap. Song became a Q for everyone in a bar to fake the sexiest. I remember one time I was at Joe’s on weed and the song came on. Everyone’s backs turned and they screaming at the stage the DJ playing it. I took advantage of the moment and started drinking everyone’s beers behind their back because I was broke and then I urinated in a garbage can None the wiser that’s what I think I was pretty drunk. I get why this band exist. I understand why the album was made. These guys are just getting paid. My mom and my aunt’s all we put on Def Leppard. I get it not hating on the band not judging anyone who likes the band teach their own but why the fuck was this album on this 1001 list. Why do I need to hear this album before I die? What was significant substantial innovative about this Chazy ass album. God of war has a decent beginning, and I started to become optimistic that there might be some hidden gems, but I was wrong. The song quickly jumped right back into the same formula. I think the reason I’m so mad at them and so mad that I had to hear this is I’m such a fan of reversing audio And making audio interesting by stretching it and time warping it and their use of that effect throughout this album, it is so on the surface like they took away form highlighted it clicked reverse, and left it weird effect man, this is some trippy shit. Congrats hysteria you are my least favorite album so far
62 minutes 32 seconds. damn i figured that if def leppard had one thing going for them, it'd be brevity. this album cover rules. triangles are all the rage, and it ties in the absurdly angular def leppard font. slashing hand written type with weird kerning contrasts all the sharp angles. faces scream, for some reason as alien hyrogliphic startrek meet predator giberish explodes from all angles. im rdy for 60 minutes of mair metal now. Im not loving it, but im not exactly hating it. it's inoffensive arena music. BG vocals are so tinny and icy, they make my nipples hard (not in a good way) 2 arms are essential for drumming hey its over! 2
Not my thing
This brings me back. Awesome
Gentlemen, coming to the stage, Candy!!! Sugar pouring everywhere! Having never actually sat down and listened to this album in my whole life I feel like I know way too many songs off of this! Just because it was popular doesn't mean it was good!
...
Some good songs
It's 80s as hell, but it's a good fuckin time.
Let's say some horny British blokes started a band and at one point decided, "Let's make the ultimate strip club soundtrack for white dudes." The result? The soundtrack of my senior year in high school. Completely inescapable. And for good reason -- probably the best side of "popular" hard rock ever committed to vinyl. Women, Rocket, Animal, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Armageddon It. We heard these songs again and again. And then rewound because, except for Hysteria, the second side completely peters out. Was a slog to get through the inanity that is Gods of War on through to Love and Affection. It's like they tried to create a substandard b-side for every single. Anyway, this was good for nostalgia. Everyone loved these guys back in the day. I still prefer Pyromania, myself...
Don't really like glam rock or hair metal but it was okay
Just… horrible. Truly, I’m unsure if there’s an album in existance that represents more of what I hate in music. I thought about making a list of everything I hate, but it’s more effective to express one sentiment - when I listened to this, my mind wandered to those in my life I hate most loving this shit.
Perfect distortion, such fun song writing, fantastic instrumentation, what's not to love?
first listen i feel like to many this is iconic
Reminds me of Bryan Adams.
nochmal anhören pour some sugar on me
It has the hits but felt a lot longer than it actually was.
Stealing from another review I read, this is just “big, dumb fun”.. so many hit singles from this one album, at the peak of hair metal, is impressive, and everything still sounded great. Is this the most nuanced, technical album? No, but it entertained the masses. A one-armed drummer? Amazing. Another album where I want to be stingy but just have to give up 5 stars
Honestly this is campy and fun, not enough for a four star but still.
Úff hvað það var hressandi að fá almennilegt rokk. Það er ekkert leyndarmál að þetta er minn tebolli og svona plötur munu alltaf skora hátt hjá mér. Æðislegt. Fer aftur á fóninn í bráð
80s in your face, perfect A side, ok B side
Tempted to give it 5. Would go 4 and a half if i had the option. This is them at their peak. Absolute bangers from go to wo. Woodchopping on the drums and some awesome guitar work. Almost every track is a single or single quality. None you would want to skip.
classic. in 2025 it's hard to classify this as any sort of "metal". sounds like pop!
01) Women - 7,0 02) Rocket - 7,0 03) Animal - 9,0 04) Love Bites - 9,5 05) Pour Some Sugar on Me - 9,5 06) Armageddon It - 8,0 07) Gods of War - 8,0 08) Don't Shoot Shotgun - 7,0 09) Run Riot - 7,0 10) Hysteria - 8,5 11) Excitable - 7,0 12) Love and Affection - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,92 (79/100) Current ranking: 184/533
Never a big Def Leppard fan. In this album did nothing to change my mind. Almost all the songs sounded exactly the same to me. Pour some sugar on me was the only one that I recognized and I actually liked. This just seems like it’s a band trying to be rock ‘n’ roll when it’s really just a pop band
Ah, junior high. What good memories! Def Leppard is fine, but it is tough to get through the ubiquitous “whoosh “sound of the overproduction.
it knows what it wants to do and honestly knocks it out of the park
Loud, over the top, kinda fun sometimes but overall just too much.
Solid rock album with many radio hits. My fauvorite song - Rocket
LOVED IT. Lyrics are quite simplistic and songs lack bigger meaning, although 'Gods of War' was as political as Def Leppard get.
So did you enjoy those guns and roses songs that were not hits? If so, boy do I have an album for you. As good as dumb 80's hair metal gets for the fun factor but oh so dated. This is the stuff Steel Panther makes fun of.
No.
Banger!! The insanely huge follow up to the insanely huge Pyromania album. One of the best bands in RNR.
I really can’t stand sleezy 80s rock
Everybody’s always talking about how the drummer from Def Leppard’s only got one arm, but no one ever mentions how he’s only got one drumbeat. …and that predates the arm thing. Also, much love to England for proving that butt rock was not strictly an American thing.
A good album, I liked Women and Gods of War the most.
Back in the day I was in one of those music clubs and I got this as CD of the month because I forgot to cancel it. And it’s the only CD I ever gave away because I was a ‘cool’ student and Def Leppard definitely were not cool. However, this is big, dumb, ridiculous fun and who cares if it was ever cool. I feel credit really should go to Mutt Lange though. 4 stars
A pop metal masterpiece.
Already aware, awesome album
When I was in the 8th grade, I began to break away from top 40 pop music and get into the "heavier" stuff. I had Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood." My friend let me borrow and record his copy of Poison's "Flesh and Blood." I also saved up a little bit of money and I bought "Hysteria" by Def Leppard on cassette. Then, midway through the school year, a classmate let me listen to a Metallica album he stole from his older brother. That was it for me. I begged and borrowed it from him, went home and put tape over the two ends of the "Hysteria" cassette, and I recorded over it with Metallica's "And Justice For All." 8th grade me wasn't entirely stupid; good call, kid.
There's a lot of flash here, but not much substance. It reeks of 80's hair bands which I never really could get behind. A lot of radio friendly material but nothing that really satisfies - although I always sort of dug "Animal". The rest of it, when it comes on the radio I immediately tune to another station. Three stars for all their commercial success - even if I don't get it...
Decent
It's a sonic time capsule from the late 80s. Pop metal and all of the excesses. They didn't need a producer but an editor, at 60+ minutes long there is a core of truly great pop songs but like old rock stars, the rest seem bloated and aged. I can see this as a prime example of what Nirvana was railing against.
No one is more surprised than me but I really enjoyed this LP. They sounded like they were having fun and it rubbed off on me.🎸🤘
Cool!
Hit after hit.
Sólido. Divertido por momentos. Memorable? Debo saber muy poco de rock porque por momentos pensé que estaba escuchando Aerosmith o Guns. Nota: 2.5
Irrelevantes Rockzeugs.
Honestly been a metal fan my whole life never gave this a full listen until today and it’s a fuckin BOP
one of the few albums from this generator that made me sing and dance at work.
I'm two for two this week on music styles I usually dislike but actually enjoyed an album of! :)
I just don't like hair rock. Yes, I'm bias, I know, no-one's perfect.
oh my god i didn't know i didn't like def leppard AT ALL. sheeeeesh.
Was schreit mehr 80s Rock als dieses Album! War definitiv amüsant das zu hören, auch wenn es nicht voll meine Musik ist.
Ach, no lubię tę płytę, chociaż - jak tak posłuchać - wszystko brzmi tak samo xD Nie jest to też najwybitniejsze dzieło pod względem tekstów, ale co z tego! Nie taka jego rola. Tytułowy utwór wywołuje we mnie ten okropny typ nostalgii - tęsknotę za czasami, w których mnie nawet nie było na świecie. Dość beznadziejne uczucie, ale całkiem mile widziane, kiedy nie czuje się nic. Ot, taka odskocznia od bycia wydmuszką. Heh. Miałam dać 4, ale what the hell. Am I gettin' it? (No.) Yes, Armageddon it!
Yes, this album definitely deserves to be on this list! This one changed everything. Just packed with amazing songs, great lyrics and a guy with 1 arm playing the drums. You would have never guessed by listening to it. The album opens with "Woman" which, while a good song, would not have been the song I would have chose to open this album. Maybe the next song, "Rocket" would have been a better choice. Anyways, I highly recommend everyone listen to this. Can't miss songs: Rocket Pour Some Sugar On Me Armageddon It Hysteria 3.75/5
I'm just young enough to remember this but not old enough to have listened to the album in it's entirety until.today. It's way over produced and at least twenty minutes too long. I would give it a 4 on the strength of the singles if it didn't seem interminable for the last 4-5 songs.
I remember playing the hell out of this cassette....classic....
Hysteria sounds like every musical idea and recording they had was fed back into a machine and sythesized so many times that the end result is a blur of 80's hair rock, with no clear definition, thoughtfullness or soul. Hysteria is everything that sucks about 80's music and a lot of 80's pop culture. If anyone listens to Sonic Youth and asks "why?!" I'll show them Hysteria.
Expected to hate this a lot more than I did. Obviously as a whole, its not great. And as a piece of art, it's not great. I think this is mostly because the lyrics and general life outlook the style connotes are so braindead. The mix sounds expensive and stripped of its humanity through overproduction. But the music itself? Kinda fun.
Alright, bring out the Def Leppard haters We can all agree that Pour Some Sugar On Me sucks. And theres no dodging that it is the album's biggest hit Look one layer passed that and this album is pretty solid. They released 7 singles off of this album (over the course of 2 and a half years lol). Animal is a great rock song with a stupidly simple intro lick, but those bends hit EVERY time. Ill defend that song til I die whenever anyone says DL sucks. Hysteria could be featured in ANY early 90s movie when the guy inevitably screws a good thing up with a girl he actually liked and needs to win her back, you feel me fellas? The lore behind this album is incredible. Auto accidents, the mumps, 3 years of studio work, someone (the drummer) lost a freaking arm... If thats not rock n roll, I don't know what is. 3 stars. If I gave this a better score than Prince's 1999, Id have to leave before our group hits 200
Some decent songs at their core ruined (for me) by instrumentation and production choices. It’s hard for me to get past the lead and backing vocals - it all just sounds really dated - read they were trying to replicate a stadium sound. A fun time capsule at least. They spent so much on the three year production of this album that they needed to sell 5M records to break even - sold 25M.
As Len said to the band in ‘89. ‘I didn’t realise you could get dyslexic cats! We laughed a lot that day. 3.3
Kind of pedestrian - but I'm giving them an additional star on the basis that it is cool that they worked out how to keep their drummer in the band after losing his arm
Anthemic crazies Springing like their curly hair Loving rocking out
Hysteria is an album that i expected to love and my expectations were 100% right. According to this album's wikipedia page, it is Def Leppard's longest album at 62 minutes but they made sure to make each and every second count. This album is filled with nothing but amazing guitar riffs, awesome drumming, melodies that hook you and never let go and some really great vocals as well. Not all of the songs here were the best of the best but the ones that were, really were and really helped elevate this album to be a 5 star album. I have nothing left to say, just one of the best albums i have looked at for this project. Best Song: Pour Some Sugar On Me Worst Song: Women
Not a bad listen.
So 80s. Not in a good way. Acknowledgment of all of the singles contained on one album - doesn't mean they don't all sound the same. Of note: I will always think of Pour Some Sugar on Me as a stripper song.
The Thriller of Hair Metal albums.
Good solid soft rock with a sprinkling of big tunes
Listens: 2 Stand out tracks: Gods Of War, Pour Some Sugar On Me Not a fan of 80 classic rock hair bands. I can't really discern qualities between most tracks. It's all heavy guitar and strong drums. Pour Some Sugar On Me has transcended time to be one of their (or at least to me) recognizable tracks. I can't deny it as a piece of music; even one that I enjoy, despite categorically loathing most of the 80s rock, electric guitar-heavy genre.
Good '80's rock...echoooooo
Fun album, very 80's rock. Did you know the drummer only has one arm?
I was in HS when Pyromania came out - probably wore out 2 cassettes. Loved it back then. I didn't have the same enthusiasm when listening to it a couple months ago. Surprised myself that I didn't really care for it besides a bit of nostalgia. When Hysteria came out I had been in college a few years and my taste had migrated to the Dead, Neil, REM etc. - and I didn't really care for it at that time. So I def surprised myself again by actually enjoying most of Hysteria.
9th grade basketball trips. Wow the nostalgia. I really do like all of these songs - they are great for what they are.
Long ago, right after we listened to "Queen 2", by Queen and right before we listened "This is Hardcore" by Pulp, we listened to Pyromania by Def Leppard, which I gave 3 stars. Back then I said Pyromania was not as good as Hysteria. Well, here is the payoff. 4 stars. Near peak hair metal.
notttt my type of music
3.5 - Good
3.5
This album is fantastic.
Great. Some are pure hype songs and some are emotional. Can't believe it's a hard rock band at times.
Great 80’s tunes
Insane amount of production, everything is expertly pieced together. The gloss and glam is apparent through. The ballads are of course larger than life, this album has been played on literally every radio in the world at least once. Powerful and indefatigable. Sure you can get tired of the pop washed rock, but it’s hard to deny the effect of this album, not to mention the joy of it. The modulated voice synchronization gets a bit old, though.
Pretty alright, nothing special. favorite track: Pour some sugar on me. Overall score: 6.0/10
Great album for its time. A good listen
Hair rock balladeers are like stupid chotchkies sold on late night TV. Cute, amusing, and maybe a bit entertaining. At the end of the day, it all ends up at Goodwill or the landfill. Such is Def Leppard.
Standard 80s Hair Metal, turned up to 11. One of the better albums of the 80s.
This is one of the most stunning achievements in popular music! Amazingly crisp production, multiple iconic pop hits and arrangements that still have more details to uncover almost 15 years after my first listening. Even if my musical taste has developed quite a bit since then, this is still one of my personal favourites purely from how much of an impacted me when I first discovered it.
6/10…hello 80‘s Glam Metal.
Shout out to the album cover. That's the best part. The fact that 8/10 of the similar artists section on Apple Music also have black and white group band profile pics that look the exact same as theirs says a lot about how unique and special this music is. I honestly struggled really hard finding a song I’d be happy having in my best of playlist. Just boring and loud.
Bro it didn’t save my review I wrote but this is just bland hard rock that’s really hard to take seriously. Lyrical content is garbage and musical content has much to gain. Edit: (2->1) Calling this album a piece of garbage would be a compliment to this album in my eyes.
Mi zapperei via il glande di netto se servisse per riportarmi negli anni 80 per UN singolo giorno
The shiniest, hairiest hair rock. Not my jam.
Good! So Dad rock, but a classic album for sure.
Not really into this
There are a lot of popular bands from 1980's Britain that didn't make a huge splash on the radio station I grew up listening to: Pet Shop Boys, the Smiths, the Specials, the list goes on. Def Leppard is not one of those bands. What the hell is side 1 of Hysteria: tracks 2 through 6 all get regular play on that aforementioned radio station, as does the title track. Loudwire states that "from the start, [Mutt Lange's] goal was to help create the most commercial hard rock album of all time." That, and reading about how everything was recorded separately and meticulously processed into the sound we hear, should be reason enough to be disgusted with this project. Yet, like Lange's earlier credit, Back in Black by AC/DC, Hysteria's one idea somehow gets repeated across every track without losing steam. I accept that glam metal had to die, but I'm glad we got this album before grunge took over. I don't know if I've heard a Def Leppard song written post-1990, but Lange pivoted to Shania Twain and Bryan Adams to keep up his winning streak. Let's go Canada... I guess? HL: "Animal", "Love Bites", "Pour Some Sugar on Me", "Armageddon It", "Gods of War", "Run Riot", title track March 5, 2025
I've never really listened to Def Leppard outside of the hits, which there are many of on this album. Obviously I was impressed with the singles, but also found myself impressed with the rest of the album.
Classic 80s rock music that I've heard many times. Some great songs to jam out to. There are some I would skip but as a whole the album is good.
De är så tuffa och hårda, not.
Alright but all kinda sounds the same.
Some great tunes but very hit and miss, rotational for the bangers perhaps
Started strong but fell off towards the end. 3.5/5
Hysteria is one of my favorite albums. All songs are bangers.
Def Leppard rock 🤟
Over the top, polished, as commercial as metal can possibly get. I'm not a fan of the music but the band is legendary... for other reasons. 2.5 as an album, I'll round up though.
Man - do they ever have a sound?!? Just a fun 80s rock record.
Probably the ultimate 80s album.
80% Best: Animal; Pour Some Sugar On Me; Armageddon It; Hysteria Must-Hear? Maybe
Def Leppard was a pedestrian band at best. They had one sound, no variations, no real talent. Hated them then, and I hate them even more now.
I didn’t hate this, some catchy songs in a very of its time Bon Jovi sort of way. But sometimes you need that right?
One armed Drummer. I'm in. Big Red staple this, so double nostalgia.
I can't pretend to be a huge fan of Def Leppard, but I can only imagine how fun they must have been to see live. As far as 80s big stadium hair metal bands go, Def Leppard are about as close to the stereotype as you can get. They write some good songs and know how to make themselves marketable, stylizing themselves after Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to make every song a potential single. It's not my favorite music, but one very notable thing about this album is that the drummer carried on after losing an arm! I can't help but represent the massive dedication it must have taken to carry on and relearn to play that way.
So fun, boisterous and listenable. The epitome of hair rock. 4.6
"Women" has got to be one of the most earnest rock songs about being horny I've ever heard. It's a thank you to God for creating women ("lots of pretty women") and the joys of "skin on skin" action. It's a silly opening track and I'm totally charmed by it. Track 2, "Rocket," is just as sincere. It's a straightforward ode to rock, filled with direct references to the classics. Even the third song, "Animal," another horny song that uses werewolves as a metaphor for lust, feels strangely sweet. These guys don't hesitate to pack the opening tracks with sex and rock 'n' roll, but somehow they still feel like a goodhearted group of guys. The cheesiness of it all is endearing. “Pour Some Sugar On Me” kicks the album into high gear. From that song on, it’s big, hair metal fun. I’m reading more about them and just learned that the drummer lost an arm while recording this album?! And he kept touring with the band after?! Incredible!
Ah a true 1980's constant. "Hysteria" probably caused a hysteria when it came out, as its massive stadium sound and corny sexy lyrics were seemingly something that the masses really needed at the time. Not trying to hate on it though, I think they rip and the sound is really over the top enough to be great. Also, to me, Def Leppard always seemed like the toughest guys in the softer side of the genre- towing the line between glam rock and heavy metal, which I appreciate. "Pour Some Sugar On Me" is definitely one of the songs that helped define the sound of the 1980s. It's one of the first songs that comes to mind when I think of this time period. They will always be a pop-up video piece of trivia for me when it comes to the drummer Rick Allen losing his arm in a car crash and then continuing to play with a modified drum kit. What a devastating thing to happen to an instrumentalist and what a beautiful turn of events for him to continue playing. I think of him doing that as one of the best stories of how a person overcame a disability through ingenuity. Amazing album cover. Lots going on and I think it's a good representation of what hysteria feels like.
You can totally tell the drummer only has one arm.
- 1h Glam Rock .. yehaw .. nicht - muss aber gestehen, dass es mir entweder einfach besser gefiel, als das letzte Def Leppard Album oooder ich höre mich langsam rein in die Musik 2,25/5
Deliciously overproduced self indulgent 80's rock. This is a greatest hits compilation for most bands. If they left the last two tracks off it would be flawless.
This is better than I would have expected. Some of it is legitimately heavy. Kind of trails off towards the end though.
Its really good listenable wise but not really memorable to me. (3.5/5.0)
This one was Excitable.
Turgid and unimaginative. And LOOOOOONG.
This should be filed under Refused to Listen, right? Wrong! I've always had a soft spot for Leppard. Maybe it's the soft rock thing. The Reagasn Thatcher shit was a bit Spitting Image. But SEVEN singles. Blimey.
This was bad. Everything that irked me about this ban, and the rest of its genre, is on this album.
80s rock
Oof this was a slog. Barely a 2, maybe a 1 if I'm annoyed on Monday. Happy Monday!
Heard songs for it before. When it comes to the genre that's one of the more quality bands. But (bestie don't kill me) I'm not a big fan of the genre. Giving it a good score because the album does sound nice. 3/5
So bad it's ... awful actually. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is an abomination (also a great pop song). An album one loves to hate, even if one has to acknowledge some guilty pleasures within, though not enough to explain tens of millions of records, which in actually the bigger abomination and a testatment to the pandemic of poor taste!
Good album. Like very much.
good album
Loved it
Excellent album that I have heard many times. It was very popular back when I was young and my older sister played it. I thought it was extremely heavy at that young age. It's still a great listen and I enjoyed all the hit songs that are on it. Some of the other songs sort of fit the Def Leppard mold but don't really stand out. I'm sure I will be listening to this one again.
Probably the peak of 80s metal excess, an album that took 3 years to make, produced more hit singles than some bands can claim in a career, and the drummer lost an arm and still played on while one of the guitarists was slowly drinking himself to death....
I'm generally a fan of glam metal because of it's riff focused music, big sound and high vocals. Having said this, I was never a fan of this album, it just wasn't as fun as some of the other ones I liked. It doesn't have that much riffs or great solos and the vocals are somewhat washed. The album sounds like an over produced, over commercialized version of glam metal, which was already heavy it that regard. Now for some positives, there are 3-4 really catchy songs on this, the songs are easy to listen to and get in your head quickly, perfect for a party. The production is a bit too much, but at the same time the album sounds huge, everything is made bigger, drums, guitar, vocals. Giving this 3 stars, no idea why. I guess because of the cult status and big sales numbers.
https://youtu.be/aDUOC9Xk2wM?t=16
Given how much of their biggest tracks are on here this almost feels like a compilation album (you can feel that in the runtime as well). Unfortunately I just wasn't crazy over this one. So many of the hits in this one just blended together in a way that I didn't feel a similar album like Slippery When Wet did. Maybe I shouldn't be looking into it like this though, given the mission statement for this genre was just 'we want to make a shitload of money and fuck groupies who all conveniently tell us they're 18'
dogshit retard music thats literally only on here because of pour some sugar on me
3/10
This album is cornier than an American diet. It's pretty entertaining but it's also pretty frontloaded. If you asked me to tell you which of these songs comprised the seven singles from this album I could honestly only guess two of them. I've said this about ZZ Top as well, this album isn't trying to say anything or be any deeper than "hey let's have a good time" and it does that really well. To be honest this would have been a 4 if it were just shorter and a little more focused, as the album goes on it falls off for me. But I'm not gonna sit here and try to pretend like I didn't enjoy it. Highlights - Women, Love Bites, Pour Some Sugar On Me
If you like hair metal, this is as good as it gets. The album is chock full of hits. This is Def Leppard at the absolute height of their popularity and power. Great album with catchy lyrics and music. Honestly this is what I listened to when I was a kid so it’s kinda hard to rate cause I’ve definitely outgrown it but I still appreciate it.
The production is amazing - it’s so crisp. And the musicianship is also amazing - plus, Animal and Pour Some Sugar are bangers. But time has really not been good to hair metal. It sounds so outdated, and the strange thing is that the songs all feel so damn long (because they are). I need more epic guitar solos in the songs. But I can see why this was such a massive hit back in the day, and I also listened to this and other hair metal bands, a lot, as a teenager, in the early 90’s
I can make a joke here, but you have all heard it … one day, I might be surprised to find out Def Leppard was actually a metal band, but that day is not today. Hysteria is kinda slow and plodding, it’s definitely poppy but overally catchy. At least not as catchy I hoped considering how boring it is. 5.7/10
What I needed yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Maximalist production and minimalist intelligence
I haven't heard this since 1987 when my best friend Matt Ancone loved them. (He also loved the band Europe.) Now that I understand more about music, this album is nothing but a bunch of songs to yell along with at concerts. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I never understood the popularity. Now that I do understand, I can say it's too late for me. Getting into Def Leppard as an adult islike getting into pro-wrestling after you’re 18. It’s not a thing.
I’m just not into this although I see the appeal. I like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” but I wonder if that’s just nostalgia. 2.5/5
Not bad for an album with one arm in the air and the other on the snare. Solid, but not quite a knockout. Still, props to the drummer for doing it with style!
Not really my thing, but it’s fine. Also, they’re British wtf?!
The longest too long album to ever be too long. That being said this is kinda awesome. The hits here hit hard and are good enough to make up for the oftentimes over long bs.
Solid classic rock album, wel iets te simpel voor mijn doen soms
Hier kan ik bijna altijd wel in komen.
Pre-teen me was in awe! Now it’s been years and nostalgia it rocks and is a bit cringe
Fun album. Never got into them before. Basic riffs, but a lot of fun
Didnt enjoy this at all. Honestly difficult to sit through.
"One part love/one part wild/one part lady/one part child." Gross. Bad start and I don't like my horny 80s jams to surpass the five-minute mark. 1980s excess, for better and for worse. I enjoyed the more pop-minded songs, like "Animal". And "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is a classic dumb fun sex jam that I can't hate. The production is so polished it shines. I feel like this wants to be cool, and maybe it was, but a good portion of it comes off as corny (see: "Rocket"). The love ballads strike me as silly and insincere given the way objects of affection are addressed elsewhere (which is to say, as objects). It's meat-headed, often lyrically nonsensical, and way, way too long, but it's everything a fan could want in an 80s glam metal record and fun enough.
It is not terrible. It is a generic example of the "soft metal" I remember friends playing in period. I do not understand why it appears on a list of "must hear" albums. I could quite happily have died never having heard it, and I am not disappointed that I am unlikely to ever hear it again. A respectable but bland (and possibly generous) 3/5.
Gets a little repetitive but, to be honest, its pretty infectious 80's stadium rock. Just good core songwriting.
I know why they spelled their name wrong: they're barely literate. I usually avoid hair metal but I'm performing my duty of listening to "500 necessary albums and 501 mediocre/poor/absolutely shithouse British albums from '80s and '90s." (You can see why they renamed it..too wordy) What I didn't realise is that when you dig beneath the cliches and hairspray is that they have produced the most inane lyrics of all time. Love Bites is meant to be a song of tortured love. But any 10-year old would be embarrassed. Truly laughably awful album. Aaaannnd it's long. FML.
Can't believe I willingly putting on a Def Leppard album. Though Pour Some Sugar On Me does hold up as a single, that's about as good as it gets. I unfortunately have no choice but to put this in the category of the kind of music that shows up in cheesy 80s movies. Just far too over the top without much substance for me. They might sing a lot about women, but can't say this was intended for women. An hour I will never get back!
This was kind of a slog until we got to PSSOM. That’s a banger. Afterward I was in a better mood but nothing else really hit.
The definition of hair metal. Some of the songs aren’t bad, but they are pretty lightweight. It like eating empty calories.
Apparently the producer was trying to make a rock version of Thriller and I can hear that. It's basically more polished and poppy version of AC/DC which was fun to listen to. This is not high art, and not every song was great, but I did really enjoy "Don't Shoot Shotgun", "Hysteria", and "Excitable".
It was a pleasent surprise. It’s perfectly crafted, manufactured album, but boy, I enjoyed it
So very 80s; the epitome of hair metal. The vocals are piercing and the music is just plain corny. I can't say I hate this record, but I certainly don't enjoy listening to it. But, as I've agreed to by doing this project, I will listen to each record in its entirety. It is truly amazing that this is considered a record we must listen to before we die, and that there are people out there that really enjoy this music - a testament to the diversity and subjective nature of music and art. No, thank you, for me though.
Tiene un poco una onda a Kiss pero un poco más heavy. Me gustó el disco pero siento que minga canción se destaca demasiado.
Something I liked more back when it came out but still not enough to have bought the record. I could still enjoy about half the songs turned up at a bar.
One of my comfort albums. Reminds me of the headbanging kids in middle school.
All these years later and this album still kicks ass.
Enjoyable enough, unfortunately for Def Leppard being fun will catch you a lot of hate from music purists 3*
Pretty middle of the road. I was surprised by how similar this sounds to other 80s pop - I was expecting it to be at least a little bit harder. I enjoyed it and liked the production but I wouldn't say it's anything special. 3/3.5
Ugh. Reminds me of my gym class. Fuck that gym class.
Awful. Just plain, awful cock rock
Crap 80's pop rock
A whole album of this kind of music is just really annoying.
Never actually listened to Def for a prolonged period of time, it's alright. Just middle of the road shit, thought they were actually well heavier than this. Won't be visiting this again, borders on a very low 3.
What One Armed Scissor did for 2000’s hardcore, Pour Some Sugar On Me did for 80’s hard rock. I’ve always had a bit of distaste for 80’s hard rock/hair metal - you could say I’ve kept it at arm’s length - but there’s something about the production that doesn’t do it for me. Every song is about sex, every song is quite boring and almost every song has a bit where they just shout the track name and (presumably) set the live audience up to go ‘yeah!’ or something. Which once in a while is fine, but it’s on every track. Bet they’re great fun live, but tickets probably cost an arm and a leg. Appreciate Chris will want to throw hands when I say I don’t like this, but he’s a little armchair warrior and I reckon I could take him handily.
Despite what John may think, I'm actually not a massive fan of the Lep anymore (would be mad if I was) but I can't deny the impact that had on me as a youth. It was a proper gateway album into heavy rock/metal, as they were a firm fixture at home due to their local hero status. Don't really enjoy any hair metal bands but these slipped through the net, similar to how Rick Allen slipped through his seatbelt. Some bangers on here like PSSOM, Animal, Rocket but really not a fan of the Mutt Lange 80s production. So poppy. Reckon live it at a festival it would be fun though. Proper limbs. And probably a shot in the arm during a long day in the sun. Always makes me laugh at how big these are in America. Like actually huge. Fair play to them, though; they knuckled down and put in some hard work and elbow grease to succeed. Fun album to revisit but it's pretty shit isn't it.
This seems like the quintessential stereotypical hair metal record and that is not good. Mindless lyrics, cheesy riffs, and fake bravado
New genre to me I enjoyed it
Nostalgic as this is one of four albums my dad played growing up. Still holds up today!
I hate this genre sm soz
4.5/5 A lovely classic rock album that accompanied a sunny January day - I enjoyed very much. Extra half a star because they were formed in Sheffield (Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire). Standout tracks: - POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME 5/5 <3<3<3 dancing to this in Key Club when I got there at 2am and really should have gone home will always be one of my fave memories <3<3<3 - Gods of War 5/5 - the guitar from about 5:30 onwards is gorgeous and is more nuanced than the rest of the album. - Love and Affection 4/5
6.5/10
Decent album probably wouldn’t listen front to back again but some good songs.
Classic it's not. Very good at best. Their first "stadium album"
Esta es mi opinión personal, pero creo que todo el glam de los 80's no debería existir en esta lista. El Glam de los 70's es mucho más influyente y se mantiene mucho más fresco hasta el día de hoy. Las composiciones y producción de bandas como Def Leppard envejecieron como la leche, a pesar de que su sonido fue el hegemónico durante décadas. Habiendo dicho eso, el impacto de este disco es innegable. Este fue el trabajo que llevó a los sucios rockeros de los 80s a ser considerados como propuestas para llenar estadios, creando una imagen más limpia y amplia, más relacionada con el pop; lamentablemente, a la vez entregándonos el estereotipo más molestoso relacionado con el rock de la cultura popular. Innecesariamente largo, innecesariamente tedioso e innecesariamente reventado. Este LP es más grande que la vida y en este momento la vida es difícil para todos, así que no es una gran escucha en pleno 2026. Pistas destacables: Animal Pour Some Suger On Me
Cliche and corny 80's hair band. Not my style, even if it had a few good songs. 4/10
Wikipedia says that this album is Glam Metal / Arena Rock / Hard Rock / Pop Rock, and I would agree with all of that except Hard Rock, which this album most definitely isn't. This album is an example of why I don't really like most Arena Rock. It's hard to know if this album is serious or a parody. The track "Rocket" could have been done by Adam & The Ants.
Silly but somehow listenable.
Couldn’t wait for this album to end
Pour some sugar- tune, nice surprise in this album.. enjoyed a lot
First album that I ever owneed
80s movie training montage ass music
solid. hysteria is my favourite track on the album. (rly do not like the album cover tho, way too scary 😅) 10/10 to drummer rick allen.
Listening to this after Radiohead was a breath of fresh air. I did get tired of it towards the end. 3.5 stars rounding up.
Powerful sounding, but a but too "glam-y" to be called heavy metal. In any ways offers a really solid audible experience for a first-time listener or a wanna-try soft metal\hard rock enthusiast
One of best Rock Albums
Can see how this was good in its time, but not for me.
Cool guitar bits, can't stand the singing
Classic 'stadium' rock. Excellent.
Mwah, beetje hetzelfde allemaal, en niet heel interessant, 5/10
I feel like my older sister had this cassette tape and it made me feel like a big kid to listen to her music. This one particularly stood out because something about the cover made me think I was listening to real adult rock music. I remember Love Bites coming on and wanting to fast forward, because I didn't get it....now I get it and it's a good one! I didn't know why but I did know there was something dirty about Pour Some Sugar on Me (but still shook my hair around!). One thing I have always loved about Def Leppard is that you always know its them, because they have their own unique sound. But they balance it so well, that each song does sound different. Animal is just amazing, I love it! And beyond that, they are just all good! There sound is unique but great, they have good lyrics and overall there is nothing bad here. This is a great album, turn it up, sing along and dance!
Hard rock'n hits!
This album is far too nostalgic for me to give it anything but a 5. I listened to this cassette SO MUCH as a kid, and if I had to pick my #1 favorite song from childhood, it would most definitely be Pour Some Sugar On Me. I was obsessed. I definitely listened to side one more than side two, based on my familiarity with each side, lol. Really bringing back all the memories listening to this. Also, it totally rocks!
I listened to this album and now I can only make jokes about how I hate my wife.
It just doesn't make any sense how good this album is. Hits after hits, it's just fun on a record!
Vinyl record side A : Hits that I can't stand. Vinyl record side B : Fillers that I can't stand.
shit sucks
3.1
Def Leppard's Hysteria changed the course of hair metal music. Released in 1987, Hysteria contains more singles than not, and even the non-singles are toe tappers. In this essay, I will... All joking aside, I still remember the impact of Hysteria on my adolescence. This album created the foundation of musical opinions yet to come. "Love Bites" is the standard I hold other ballads to. "Pour Some Sugar On Me," their biggest hit, is a classic and will live on for years to come. "Women" and "Gods of War" are great, elaborate epics. "Love and Affection" is so tender and beautiful, a perfect closing song. The way Hysteria was put together, even the order of tracks, is brilliant; it is THE gold standard. Hysteria could not exist without its producer, Mutt Lange. He had his ear to the pulse of eighties hair metal, and he knew exactly how best to craft every single song. In the interest of being fair, every member of Def Leppard brought their A game to Hysteria, which was born out of tragic events. I can't imagine how difficult the creation of this album was, for Rick Allen in particular, yet all rallied together to create a masterpiece. There are no skips on this album. Every single song is a bop. Def Leppard didn't let up for one instant because every single song goes hard. This is one of the most perfect albums, and one I would fight to the death about its inclusion on this list. Hysteria was groundbreaking to the industry at the time and monumental to me too. 5 stars, easy.
This particular album means a lot to me. When I was beginning to explore classic rock in my 2000s teenage years, Def Leppard was one of the first bands I really tapped into. I was constantly amazed by how big EVERY song sounded on this album. I wasn't really into "music metrics" back then, but it is clear that this fact dawned on other people, too, as this album has seven singles to its name. It's wild to consider that an album that was met with so much strife (not the least of which is drummer Rick Allen's accident that lost him an arm) would eventually turn into Def Leppard's biggest hit album, the second in what is the holy trinity of Def Leppard albums. I think at some point after the 80s, hair metal stopped being cool. It had a brief reprieve in the 2000s (or maybe that was just me and my weird friends), and judging by a lot of the reviews here, it's gone back to being not cool again. But whatever. I considered what I would give this album, as I didn't want to just jump to 5. But still, this album has a hold on me. The singles are absolutely banging, and the non-singles are still so much fun to hear, as cheesy and nonsensical as the lyrics may get accused of being in this day and age. Considering all of hair metal as a genre, Def Leppard damn near perfected it on this album. The fact is, most anyone who is going to legitimize hair metal will be hard pressed not to admit that Def Leppard achieved one of the greatest, if not THE greatest hair metal albums of all time with Hysteria. So a 5 it is.
Classic hair metal. It's got some fun moments and some moments where it relies so heavily on the synth sound it just all sounds the same. Obviously there's some huge hits on this album but as a whole it's really brought down by the other songs.
Let’s just say this didn’t leave me in a hysteria.
Excellent album, it all hangs together well with no bad tracks at all A solid rock classic
1.5/5
My mind is so made up on Def Leppard, they are not for me on any level. There are people out there that like this band, and I'm happy for them. Def Leppard seems like a caricature of a rock band to me, and none of their quirks work for me. Seriously, how does Def Leppard get more albums on this list than John Coltrane?
Don’t like this pop metal stuff (or whatever you call it). It’s like a worse version of KISS with cheesier vocals + less impressive instrumentals.
Okay stuff but dragged on a little too long.
I was already waist deep in nostalgia just 20 seconds into the start of this album. When "Animal" comes on, it hits me like a tidal wave. By the time "Pour Some Sugar On Me" plays, I've been swept away by the undertow. I cannot deny how fun this album still is, almost 40 years later. I was literally compelled to crank this up on my drive into the office this morning. 'Hysteria' was one of two albums that I remember dominating playtime on my sister's car stereo. (The other one was a little unknown debut album by GNR.) Whether you labeled it "glam metal," "arena rock," or just "hard rock," Def Leppard changed the game, produced 7 solid radio singles from 12 tracks on an album that was an hour long, and dominated the MTV airwaves for at least 2 years. This album is the band's masterpiece; their magnum opus, if you will (at least for the "arena rock" genre). They never released anything this good ever again.
Where to begin with this iconic album? This is definitely a different sound than their previous albums, but that worked to their advantage in a giant way, making it more accessible for mainstream music fans and not just die-hard rock stans. This album is tightly produced and meticulously crafted to produce a cacophony of sound that envelops your ears. The most noticeable of these techniques being the liberal use of reverb and the layer upon layer of vocal overdubs. I also noticed how far back the drums are in the mix because of this. Still, this is one of the biggest and most fun albums of that era and it deserves the full compliment of stars that I have to give it.
Is it bad that I stopped listening to this to listen to pretzel logic again?
Fav: Love Bites Least Fav: Excitable That just felt like one massive hour-long song, sooooo boring
like actually??? for what it is??? like its doing what its set out to do so fucking well - so rad
It hasn't changed my thoughts towards the genre, but at least with this album I can see the appeal. It ain't for me, but there is enough on show to understand why people love this shit, even if it's lame as fuck 2.5/5
Brings me back to high school. Not as good as I remember. 3/5
Classic with timeless tracks. Hard to give a 5 with the 80’s rock cheesy sound but close. 4.75
This album was great at the time it was released. It was overplayed, but has some gems on it still.
Another first for me here. Holy Hair Rock batman. Loved it
Bij tijd en wijle niet zo abominabel als wat ik had verwacht, maar het is wel een album die onze reis door eighties wel een beetje samenvat he. Er gebeurden fantastische dingen in de 80s op cultureel en muzikaal vlak, maar die weten ze tot nog toe goed te verbergen. Er gebeurde gewoon veel, dus ook deze ijzingwekkende uitspattingen zijn typisch voor dat decennium. Enfin, de grote hits zijn best catchy, en toegegeven; ik tikte een beetje mee met m'n voet tijdens de hooks. Schrik hier toch wel van, want voor de rest is Def Leppard alles wat ik niet zoek in muziek. Hier ga ik wakker van liggen. 5,5/10 Highlights (God vergeef me): Animal Pour Some Sugar On Me
Heel taai. 2/10
I was alive in the 80's but im very glad i wasn't old enough to have this as my formative musical upbringing as it seems like a bit of a wasteland in hindsight. This just seems very empty and shallow. It could be called fun and well done, and it gets a bonus point for being from Sheffield. But it was a tough listen
One of the best bands to come from the 80s metal scene. Hysteria really moved into a more pop metal sound, but it worked. For a band to stop everything after such huge success of Pyromania to stick with their drummer so he could relearn how to drum again, says a lot about them. Loved this album.
I know this sounds weird but I've been listening to that Barry Adamson's Moss Side Story over and over again. I get that most people didnt like it, but it's my new favorite. Oh yeah, Def Leppard is fine
Junior High kids were super proud of their Def tees. I didn't like them much back then, but I have to say these guys are the kings of the hair metal bands.
Lots of hits. Their most popular album for sure. I think “On through the Night” is better.
Does all Def Leppard sound the same? Yes. Yes, it does.
Ok
I don't care about the singles. I really can't abide 80s hair metal. Thar voice, those lyrics and that production massively suck. Shite
So surprised I liked this as much as I did. I usually hate anything classic rock, but there’s practically no skips on here. Woman and maybe Armageddon are my favorites. Even the big Sugar hit goes hard.
There is some genuine artistry to be respected in Def Leppard, and their story of overcoming adversity is very heartwarming. But the cheese factor is so very strong.
New Wave gets an unfair reputation for 80s cheese when bands like Def Leppard exist. They have all of the inspiration of 70s hard rock and metal with none of the substance. My first thought was "Oh god this is the album with Pour Some Sugar On Me" swiftly followed by "Oh god, it's 62 minutes long". You will definitely feel those 62 minutes, and somehow Pour Some Sugar On Me is the best song here. The rest of the songs for the most part feels indistinguishable from one another, if you've heard any mid-late 80s glam metal then you've heard this entire album.
++: Rocket, God of War, Excitable +: Love Bites, Armageddon It, Don't Shoot Shot Gun, Run Riot +-: Women, Animal, Pour Some Sugar on Me, Love and Affection -: Hysteria 6,9/10
Cheesy but very nostalgic for me. They were my first concert and a lot of these tracks are just simply fun to still jam along to. Maybe trim a couple songs off
I've heard this album many times. Apparently Mutt Lange who produced this wanted to make a "hard rock version of Thriller." The resulting seems very formulaic and designed to be hits. The production pulls out all the stops to use every studio trick available in the late 1980s. It certainly sounds much more pop than metal. No doubting how hooky so many of these songs are and it's easy to understand how they are still listened to today. But boy the lyrics are insipid. But I guess that's not why we listen to hair metal / hair pop, is it? There's also some really questionable "rhymes" Hysterical -> Hysteria Armageddon it -> Are you gettin it? And I want, and I need, and I lust -> Animal I'm giving it 4 stars for all the hits, but I still prefer Pyromania and think that album is a lot more interesting. I guess this makes this list because it's considered a pinnacle of hair metal albums. I would have chosen Pyromania for this list instead.
Enjoyable *but* it didn't really go that extra mile that I was hoping for after Megadeath's horrible album.
This is like the musical equivalent of flavored Doritos. Over processed, for sure, but each song is rambunctious, enjoyable and begging to be parodied. You gotta like it. "Do you take sugar? One lump or two?"
Like I'm in high school again! There are some good hits here and solid rock from start to finish.
Still sounds pretty good...maybe it's the nostalgia kicking in.
Kinda funny to me that these guys are British, I had no idea. They should have called that one song “Pour Some Sugar in Tea” to make that more clear This is such a corny sound but I’m not mad at it. That’s My Boy-core
Exactly what I expected but I liked it for some reason
a little too 'awesome' for me
Epic start to finish.
From the Sheffield Strip, California.
This is the most refined rock in terms of being pop music. It's so easy to listen to and had endless singles for a reason, but it feels more built than made. Exceedingly well done for what it's meant to be and makes a ton of sense to be on the list, but there's a hollowness in this despite it being fun.
This genre of music seems to be in a tiny box. Maybe a candy box. It's candy. You can't live on it alone. Excitable vocals are going Michael Jackson. For what this is, it is maybe the perfect representation. This almost deserves a 5 but I can't. This is too much candy for me.
Listened to this making dinner last night and woke up with a Trans Am in my garage.
All of these songs sound exactly the same to me. Power 80s pop rock.
- 1/12 songs added to main playlist - Arena rock, not my jam - Having a hard time getting really interested - Only 2 songs in at this point, but it doesn’t really hit for me - Lots of hits - Not very engaging for me, a bit of a chore to listen to - Favorite song: Gods of War
Here's an album that I'm not opposed to the inclusion of. I mean, this thing has apparently sold over 20 million copies! Def Leppard's Hysteria is clearly an album with cultural impact from a very well-known. This actually isn't my first Def Leppard album of the project, as I got Pyromania nearly a year ago at this point. So, which one do I like more? Well, and take this with a grain of salt because I haven't heard Pyromania in a while, but I'd say Hysteria is a bit better. The singing isn't my favorite, but it's not horrible. Joe Elliott is certainly not the worst vocalist in hard rock. The writing is solid. It does go a bit too far in the "generic 70s/80s rock" style for some songs, but it's not too repetitive and hasn't aged that poorly. The sound is probably the best part of the album. It's kind of hard to believe that the drummer only has one arm! The guitar riffs and solos are pretty cool, but not mind-blowing. That's basically what Def Leppard and other bands like them are to me. This album has some great songs. "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and the title track are particular highlights, and I wouldn't really say I actively dislike any of the songs. Overall, while this albums isn't perfect and is a bit on the long side, I would definitely consider this album worthy of being on this list. I like it. Low 4/5.
Rare I say this, but what a fun album. Never really given NWOBHM/hair metal the time of the day but that was a nice little time capsule back to another time. Over the top vocals, over the top guitar work and solo's, decent drumming from a guy missing an important element, altogether an enjoyable experience. One or two songs could have been cut from the album is my only gripe, Love Bites in particular ruined a great run in the otherwise stellar first half. Still, there's much worse out there.
This might be a tad better than its predecessor, Pyromania, but it's still generic hair metal. It should've stayed where it belongs to: the '80s.
There's probably a reason subsequent generations of kids have been walking around in Nirvana tees for the better part of 25 years, but hair metal stayed firmly in the 80s where it belonged.
STEP INSIDE WALK THIS WAY YOU AND ME BABE HEY HEY! *cue kick *ss music*
A classic of 80's hair metal. Is it cheesy at times? Yes. Is it something your dad would listen to on the radio and reminisce about the good old days? Absolutely. Does it give me any deep thoughts about the world we live in? Not really. And that's all fine. It's currently the day before the elections in the US, and sometimes you just need an easy-listening album to escape the stresses of the real world.
I know this kind of music exists. I've seen photos. I've heard some of these songs at sports games, on the radio, or in clips glamorizing weapons of war. But damn nothing can prepare you for every ridiculous lick, the texture of their production, their relentless vocals, or how much melodic content there is located underneath all these power chords. They really went for this sound, this look, this attitude? Somehow both hypermasculine and beyond gender. I fell in love and out of love like 10 times. Was absolutely gonna give this my first 2, but there's something undeniable about their commitment to it all.
One word: Cheesy
12 year old me loved this, and it does have its moments. But the production is a bit too much and the lyrics are almost dumb enough to be on an Aerosmith album. The whole second half is just filler.
80s rock always hits. I forgot how much I like this album!!
its very campy but that's the appeal. Its a bit long though
In some ways, Def Leppard is the best of the hair metal bands, but shit still stinks even if it’s the “best” shit. Fucking awful. I’m glad Nirvana killed this shit off.
Way overproduced with dumb lyrics. The title track is the album's saving grace but the rest I can live without. It was a massive success but I find it disappointing when it came out and my opinion hasn't changed since.
Classic rock at its very worst. It's not the worst album to listen to but its such an incredibly uncreative and boring record. The hit songs are all overplayed to the point of being grating to the ears and the deep cuts have nothing interesting buried in the album. I've listened to less enjoyable albums but none are as bland or undeserving of being on the list as this one. If you want cliché 1987 hair metal you're better off with Whitesnake or Guns 'N Roses.
Awful 80s hair metal
Shit album and band as a whole.
Enjoyable classic rock but to me it lacks soul. Very polished, technically excellent and well produced, but like a hollow husk. Favorite song has to be Pour Some Sugar on Me.
**Album Review: *Hysteria* by Def Leppard** Released in August 1987, *Hysteria* by Def Leppard is one of the seminal works in rock history, representing a culmination of the 1980s rock sound. Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the album was the band’s fourth studio record and became a massive commercial success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide. Featuring a blend of hard rock and pop elements, *Hysteria* delivered anthemic tracks that are as much about the technical aspects of their creation as they are about the stories they tell. This review explores the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while weighing the pros and cons. ### Music Musically, *Hysteria* stands out for its rich layering and meticulous production. Def Leppard adopted a more polished, mainstream rock sound compared to the heavier vibe of their previous records like *Pyromania*. The album features intricate guitar work and multi-layered vocal harmonies, producing a lush, melodic wall of sound that characterizes much of its sonic identity. The songs are structured in a way that is both accessible and complex. For example, "Pour Some Sugar on Me" combines a classic rock riff with a catchy chorus and an arena-ready beat, making it instantly memorable. Songs like "Love Bites" highlight the band’s ability to blend power balladry with hard rock elements, thanks to its sweeping guitar solos and emotive vocals. Guitarists Steve Clark and Phil Collen employed a combination of clean tones and overdriven guitar layers that added depth to tracks like "Animal" and "Hysteria." The dual-guitar approach also featured intricate harmonics and melodic hooks, which set them apart from other bands of the era. Meanwhile, Rick Savage's bass playing and Rick Allen's electronic/acoustic hybrid drumming gave the album its rhythmic foundation. Allen’s use of a custom drum kit, developed after he lost an arm in a car accident, is not just a symbol of triumph over adversity but an essential part of the band’s distinct sound. ### Lyrics Lyrically, *Hysteria* is a mix of love, lust, and life experiences, resonating with broad appeal. The lyrics aren't particularly deep in a philosophical sense, but they do connect with the emotions and desires of everyday life. Songs like "Animal" and "Pour Some Sugar on Me" focus on primal desires and attraction, using straightforward language and suggestive metaphors. "Animal" explores themes of wildness and passion, drawing connections to the untamed nature of love, while "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is full of sexual innuendo that plays into rock's history of lustful anthems. More introspective tracks like "Hysteria" and "Love Bites" delve into the complexities of relationships. The song "Hysteria," for example, reflects on longing and emotional conflict, while "Love Bites" serves as a ballad about heartbreak and vulnerability. The lyrics are designed to appeal to a wide audience without alienating casual listeners, making them relatable while also driving the album's emotional intensity. However, the album's lyrics can be seen as somewhat formulaic, sticking to familiar themes of romance, seduction, and longing without pushing the envelope or exploring more diverse topics. This lyrical approach fits the mainstream rock template, which might limit its appeal to those looking for more profound or socially conscious content. ### Production *Hysteria* is perhaps most notable for its groundbreaking production, thanks to "Mutt" Lange’s meticulous and layered approach. Lange aimed to make every song a potential single, which involved an extensive recording process that spanned over three years. The production is characterized by its clean sound, multi-track guitar layers, and an abundance of vocal overdubs. This high production value ensures each track is polished and radio-friendly, contributing significantly to the album’s wide appeal. The use of state-of-the-art studio techniques was groundbreaking for the time. Lange employed digital technology, which allowed for extensive layering and manipulation of sounds. This method is most evident on tracks like "Rocket" and "Gods of War," where the effects and studio wizardry are front and center. "Rocket," for instance, features numerous vocal effects, samples, and echoing guitar work, creating a dynamic, spacey atmosphere that adds a unique dimension to the album. The downside of the production is that it can sometimes come across as overly processed. The pursuit of a polished, perfect sound resulted in a loss of rawness and spontaneity. The meticulousness involved in crafting the album, while impressive, also detracted from a sense of authenticity. This meticulous production style set a trend for future rock albums but also contributed to criticisms that the album was more a product of the studio than of the musicianship itself. ### Themes Thematically, *Hysteria* largely explores love, passion, and personal struggle. The album strikes a balance between celebration and introspection, with tracks addressing the ups and downs of relationships as well as the highs and lows of life on the road. The title itself, *Hysteria*, evokes a state of intense emotion, whether joy or sorrow, which mirrors the dramatic feel of the songs. "Gods of War" stands out as the album’s most thematically diverse track, addressing the darker and more serious issue of global conflict, complete with sampled sounds of gunfire and political speeches. It gives a sense of gravitas that contrasts with the otherwise romantic themes, demonstrating that the band was capable of tackling more weighty topics even if they chose not to do so frequently. Despite these moments of depth, much of the album’s content revolves around the familiar themes of 1980s rock music: love, lust, and the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. This adherence to conventional themes can make the album feel less innovative from a lyrical standpoint, but it fits well within the framework of its time. ### Influence and Legacy *Hysteria* played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of late 1980s rock and influenced countless bands that followed. Its commercial success proved that rock music could retain a heavy edge while incorporating pop-oriented elements. The album’s approach to production became a blueprint for many rock acts, who adopted similar multi-layered techniques in their recordings. The album also helped solidify the concept of the "power ballad," with "Love Bites" becoming one of the genre’s quintessential examples. Its success demonstrated the viability of mixing rock balladry with hard rock aesthetics, leading to a surge of similar tracks by other bands in the late '80s and early '90s. However, this influence also had its drawbacks. The polished, radio-friendly rock sound became so ubiquitous that it eventually contributed to the rise of grunge and alternative rock in the early '90s, as a reaction against the overproduced nature of albums like *Hysteria*. While Def Leppard’s success set a high standard, it also ushered in a wave of copycat bands whose lack of originality diluted the genre’s appeal. ### Pros 1. **Exceptional Production Quality**: The album's production is a masterclass in studio techniques, resulting in a polished and radio-friendly sound that was ahead of its time. 2. **Musicianship**: The guitar work by Steve Clark and Phil Collen, combined with Rick Allen's unique drumming style, elevates the album's sonic quality. 3. **Catchy and Accessible Songs**: Tracks like "Pour Some Sugar on Me," "Love Bites," and "Animal" have memorable hooks and choruses, making the album a consistent hit machine. 4. **Emotional Range**: Although love and desire dominate the themes, there are moments of introspection and even social commentary, as seen in "Gods of War." 5. **Influence on the Genre**: The album's sound and production techniques have had a lasting impact on rock music and the broader music industry. ### Cons 1. **Overly Polished Production**: The album's slick production, while impressive, sometimes feels sterile and detracts from the raw energy often associated with rock music. 2. **Lyrical Simplicity**: The lyrics are sometimes formulaic, often leaning heavily on clichéd rock themes of love and desire without exploring deeper or more varied subject matter. 3. **Uniform Sound**: While the production creates a cohesive sound, it also means that some tracks can feel similar to one another, lacking the distinctiveness found in albums with a broader range of styles. 4. **Influence Led to Over-Saturation**: The success of *Hysteria* inspired many imitators, which contributed to the genre’s later decline as it became increasingly formulaic. ### Conclusion *Hysteria* is a landmark album that encapsulates the sound of 1980s rock music, blending hard rock with pop sensibilities to create a commercially successful and influential record. Its production techniques set a new standard, while the band’s musicianship brought depth to its meticulously crafted songs. Though sometimes criticized for its overly polished sound and predictable lyrical content, *Hysteria* remains a testament to Def Leppard's resilience and creativity during a challenging period in their history. The album’s legacy is twofold: it set a high bar for production quality and helped popularize the power ballad, but it also contributed to the eventual saturation of polished rock music, prompting a backlash that led to the rise of grunge. Ultimately, *Hysteria* remains a defining moment for Def Leppard and a key album in the history of rock, standing as both a product of its time and a timeless example of the genre's evolution.
While not Mutt Lange's best Album (Back in Black is in a class all by itself), this is his finest work with DF!! One armed drummer and all!
Some of this is very corny but not always in a bad way. Throughout this generator I think the stomp-rock stuff has been the hardest for me to get into, and as with this it's been difficult to tell if it's the album or the genre that's bad. Hysteria is by no means a masterpiece, it's at its worst when it just sounds like a cyberpunk Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I would be lying if I said I didn't have fun listening to some of this. Best Track: Pour Some Sugar On Me Worst Track: Love Bites
Did every song have to be 4+ minutes?
Every time they sing together, it sounds really washed out. Not a very Excitable album. The title track was my favourite.
I like it. Old-school rock
I like Def Leppard... it's cheesy and over the top but this is at least a 4/5. Rocket is a great song!
Pour some sugar on this shit cause it ain't sweet... kinda boring
High school musical, but with long curly hair and guitars. \m/
This music came out when I was in college. I was pretty indifferent, but I thought I’ll give this a genuine listen today. I’m still pretty indifferent. Even the song I remember liking was boring. Other than a few catchy refrains, I couldn’t get into this. Not my style.
What’s the reasoning behind this album being over an hour in length? I’d like to know. There isn’t anywhere close to enough range to justify it. Getting over that for now, this album fucks. HARD. It’s got a punchy sound coming from their one armed drummer. The vocals mixed with their signature production make them unmistakably and cement their unique sound. The instrumentation accomplishes everything it wants to perfectly and so do the vocals. This isn’t the most original or thought provoking album, but there’s no denying it’s fun as hell. 4/5
Listened to this many times in high school but probably not since.
This album feels massive but intimate at the same time. The layers of sound hit like a wall, but the melodies are so smooth, they almost glide over you. It’s like if Journey had a bit more edge, or Queen kept things more radio-friendly. The balance between rock anthems and ballads is perfect. Every track feels polished but never overdone.
slick, gaudy and utterly vacuous
Bought the album the day it came out. I remember bringing it home and putting it in my dad’s high fi stereo and just blasting it. Still sounds as good as that day!