|
|
"With "Diamond Star Halos", Def Leppard covers a large part of the different facets of its identity by assuming them all with talent."
|
4/5
|
|
|
|
If there is a group within which the bonds between the members are indestructible, it is well Def Leppard. After the dramatic accident of Rick Allen, and the support brought to Vivian Campbell during his fight against the disease, the indisputable proofs of this solidarity are not missing. Seven years after a globally successful eponymous album, the Leopards are back with an opus for which they were forced to compose and record at a distance from each other due to the Covid pandemic.
Def Leppard has never accepted to be locked in a simple musical genre. The British legend wants to be a Rock band with a capital R and the worldwide success of "Hysteria" (1987) was not enough to convince them to confine themselves to simple metallic territories, as melodic as they are. However, after a bombastic introduction, 'Take What You Want' launches the hostilities on bases worthy of the best titles of "High'n'Dry" (1981). The quintet is always able to release hard rock pieces at the same time scathing and melodic and it strategically sprinkles this opus in order to relaunch its dynamics after more calmed passages. In this genre, the groovy 'Fire It Up', the unstoppable 'All We Need' or 'Unbreakable' alternating melancholic verses and catchy chorus are true peaks.
And then there are the 70's British rock roots which have always been proudly assumed and of which the single 'Kick' is a superb standard. The wink to T-Rex is supported and the result is both festive and heady. It is easy to find other discreet tributes scattered throughout the opus, whether it be Mott The Hoople, Queen ('From Here To Eternity') or Led Zeppelin. But the most obvious reverence remains the one to David Bowie, validated by the presence of Mike Garson, pianist of the man with a thousand faces, on 'Goodbye For Good This Time' and 'Angels (Can't Help You Now)' which do not hesitate to put us in weightlessness. More dispensable, the duets with Alison Krauss see the star of the country-music confining herself to the choruses on pleasant titles with pop effluvia.
Despite its length, "Diamond Star Halos" avoids the breathlessness that its predecessor suffered from. It sees Def Leppard covering a large part of the different facets of his identity by assuming them all with talent. It won't be able to claim to settle down beside the best albums of the British but it maintains a high level of quality and creativity which reminds that the status of legend is not usurped for Joe Elliott and his band. - Official website
|
|
|
|
|
TRACK LISTING:
01. Take What You Want - 4:14
02. Kick - 3:42
 03. Fire It Up - 3:19
04. This Guitar (feat. Alison Krauss) - 3:50
05. Sos Emergency - 3:25
06. Liquid Dust - 4:02
07. U Rok Mi - 3:33
08. Goodbye For Good This Time - 4:27
09. All We Need - 4:46
10. Open Your Eyes - 4:19
11. Gimme A Kiss - 3:12
12. Angels (can't Help You Now) - 4:57
13. Lifeless (feat. Alison Krauss) - 4:19
14. Unbreakable - 3:46
15. From Here To Eternity - 5:37
LINEUP:
Joe Elliott: Chant / Guitares
Phil Collen: Chant / Guitares
Rick Allen: Batterie
Rick Savage : Basse
Vivian Campbell: Guitares
Alison Krauss: Chant / Invité
Mike Garson: Claviers / Invité
|
|
| |
|
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top of the page
|
| |
|
|
(2) COMMENT(S)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Je rejoins l'avis de l'ami Lynott : ce nouvel album des léopards sourds ( ne le seraient-ils pas devenus finalement ?)se situe dans la longue liste des albums anonymes du groupe, vite écoutés,vite rangés et vite oubliés... la seule question qui reste ( sans réponse) concerne tous les mastodontes des années 80 qui sont toujours en activité depuis 40 ans : comment faire du Def Lep sans refaire la même chose ? Certains comme ACDC ne se posent plus la question et déclinent le riff hard-blues jusqu'à la corde tandis que d'autres essaient d'actualiser leur son,au gré des évolutions techniques...il n'existe malheureusement aucune formule pour faire perdurer le succès, surtout lorsqu'il a atteint les sommets de Pyromania et Hysteria... reste l'obligation "alimentaire" des groupes ( il faut bien faire bouillir la marmite ! expression périmée depuis 1952!)qui les pousse à continuer...ah ma pauvre dame, c'est plus ce que c'était !!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C'est bien joli tout ça, ressembler à T-Rex, Mott The Hoople, Bowie ou Led Zep, mais ressembler à Def Leppard ça serait mieux bon sang !
Mais que le style des Léopards Sourds est loin ! Où sont les titres dans la veine de ceux qui peuplent On Through The Night, High'N'Dry, Pyromania et Hysteria !!!!
Quasiment aucune des mélodies ne m'ont accroché ici, j'ai pourtant insisté, mais rien à faire.
Désespérant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top of the page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
READERS
2.7/5 (3 view(s))
|
STAFF:
3/5 (3 view(s))
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
IN RELATION WITH DEF LEPPARD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LAST INTERVIEW
DEF LEPPARD (APRIL 2022)
|
|
Def Leppard did us the honor of interviewing them for the first time at Music Waves, on the occasion of the release of their new album, "Diamond Star Halos"!
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
OTHER REVIEWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT DEF LEPPARD
|
|