Def Leppard : 'Adrenalize' (Deluxe Edition)
Released: 8th June 2009
Label: Universal Music
A full seventeen years after it's original release, Def Leppard's classic Adrenalize is to hit the shelves once again. There are often major questions to be asked of re-releases; Will the material have aged well? Will there still be an audience after such a long time? Why are the band not focusing on new material? Fortunately, none of these apply to Adrenalize, not even for a second. Such a joy is it to listen to each classic track again in it's beautifully re-mastered glory that any cynicism drains away within the very first chord. Such delight is found within each delightfully cheesy yet undeniably excellent track that, aged or not, it still provokes that ecstatic response. Despite the age in genre and years abound the album is still everything it was in 1992, something to please old fans and intrigue new ones alike.
You have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy this album, that much is certain. Compare it to modern metal or anything similar, even for a second, and the illusion is gone. Instead you must imagine yourself in the the early nineties, long hair and baggy T – shirts in check. Then the real magic comes to life. Every riff acts as a homage to the age of “hair metal”, with attitude and rebellion bursting through every track. “White Lightening” offers a taste of the experience, with overdriven guitars holding back with echoed chords, doleful group vocals and steady, pounding drums. It markedly restrained given other tracks on the album, but as a power ballad it is a great success. “Personal Property” is a steady rock anthem of girls and respect done in the quintessentially nineties way. The drumming is basic yet effective, complemented well by angry guitars. It certainly has not lost it's appeal, even with lyrics including “she's a gold plated lover, 24 carat cool.” Pure class, even today.
Def Leppard have always been masters of the power ballad, and it is easy to see why. “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” is a fairly self explanatory title, yet with it's slow rhythms and love infested lyrics it offers a classic example of the band's talents. None too taxing power chords subside to restrained solos, all with the crunchiest of distortion, without intruding on what is a delicately balanced track. Close your eyes and you can almost see the lights waving at the live performances. “I Wanna Touch You” takes a more upbeat route to another lovefest, albeit a more robust and authoritative one. “I won't let you go” proves a definitive statement in amongst slick, solid guitaring and definitive drumming.
After love comes authority and rebellion, and never has there been a song to tackle it like the classic "Let's Get Rocked”. From the timeless opening line of “do you wanna get rocked?” it is a song that never fails to draw a smile. The pounding bass line and crashing drums make it an instant head nodder, and combine that with sustained distortion of the guitars and you have a track that ticks every box. Even after so many years it is impossible not to enjoy the sheer fun that the track brings, complete with shout-a-long lyrics and multiple key changes. Sure, by today's standards there is no real comparison, but harking back to it's era it shows modern music how it's done.
Being a deluxe edition the album comes with a bonus disk featuring live tracks, B sides and demo versions. Highlights include a frankly awesome live rendition of the aforementioned “Let's Get Rocked” and the timeless “Pour Some Sugar On Me”. Add to that an acoustic cover version of Rolling Stones bit “You Can't Always Get What You Want” and you have a bonus disc that almost defies belief. Although it is largely true that the modern day Adrenalize will fall short of what is expected by modern audiences, taken with a small pinch of salt and a large tongue in cheek it is the roaring classic it has always been. It may not be cool or clever by today's standards, but it is a reminder not to take things too seriously and, most importantly, have fun. Seventeen years is a long time to re-release an album, but in truth it would still be the same classic album after seventy.
Words: Dan Grose
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Reply #1 on : Mon July 25, 2011, 15:33:21