In the Beginning - Def Leppard's "Hysteria"

Def Leppard’s “Hysteria”

December 5, 2021

Def Leppard changed my life. That’s not an overstatement. Perhaps it’s unfortunate a hair metal band has that honor. It couldn’t have been James Taylor, Fall Out Boy (perhaps also an inauspicious choice), or Oasis that sparked the engine of my exploration. I had all three on repeat at that time in my life. No, it was blockbuster, controversial, sugar-sweet Def Leppard that kicked open the door to my passion for music. As a result, their massive album “Hysteria” is my favorite album of all time. It’s no “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory,” but it’s fun and that’s all I need.

There’s plenty of lore behind Def Leppard, if you care to dig it up. One-armed drummers, Steve Clark’s “Free Bird” solo audition, Mannheim ‘86. I present “Hysteria” today, not to regale you with wild stories, but to encourage an open ear or two.

Few albums are all filler, no killer. We did just chat about Orbit Culture’s “Shaman,” but that’s an EP. “Hysteria” clocks in at over an hour long and has no misfires. If you like your albums cohesive, this is a perfect example: Mutt Lange’s production provides that good 80s’ sheen, but it’s the guitars and drums that keep this album in line.

In the beginning, “Women” fades in and recounts the most Sunset-strip version of Genesis 1 you’ll ever hear. Surprisingly, track two, “Rocket,” is another slower song, but after that the album picks up speed and doesn’t slow down until side three with “Gods of War” - the most political Def Leppard ever got. “Hysteria,” the opener to the vinyl’s final side, is a beautiful ballad. When the album’s punch and non-stop riffs have you feeling like the album cover, “Hysteria” provides the necessary breather. It also highlights Collen’s and Clark’s melodic interplay. “Love and Affection” ends the album on a slightly faster ballad note, in appropriate hair metal fashion. Sit back, now, and realize why seven songs were hit singles, five made it to the Billboard Top 10, and three made the Top 3. Love it or hate it, “Hysteria” is a top-tier hair metal album.

Highlights:

• “Animal:” The first redeeming single (“Women” peaked at #80), this song jostles “Hysteria” for the position of my favorite from this album.

• “Love Bites:” Ballads, love ‘em or or you hate ‘em. I love ‘em, and “Love Bites” is a fantastic example of one.

• “Hysteria:” Not the entire album, I promise. (The radio edit of “Hysteria” does this song a terrible injustice; the original 6-minute runtime is worth it.) The band’s melodic capabilities are on full display in this gorgeous song.