Album Review: Def Leppard, Diamond Star Halos

Seven years after their most recent outing, Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall Of Famers Def Leppard are back with a vengeance on their 12th album. Recorded in three different countries simultaneously, Diamond Star Halos is a party record – and heaven knows we all need one of those, after two years of imposed hell. Loaded with positive vibes and powerhouse guitars, the album’s hooks will shake more hips than a bouncy castle in an old folk’s home.

While they could probably have cut some of the 15 tracks, there is much to love here – potent, high octane rockers ‘Take What You Want’ and ‘Gimme A Kiss’ for a start. ‘Fire It Up’, a distant relation of Warrant’s ‘Cherry Pie’, works a treat and is sure to be a live favourite; and, elsewhere, the cinematic ‘Goodbye For Good This Time’ sees a welcome stretching of their musical muscles.

The country-spiced, Alison Krauss-featuring tracks (‘This Guitar’, ‘Lifeless’) may leave some traditional Lep fans cold but others will rave and theres airplay in the offing: you can imagine them on the John Creedon show. The final song ‘From Here To Eternity’ is as epic as it sounds. Driven by a Godzilla-sized, gloomy riff that owes a debt to both Page and Iommi, the epic number’s a bona-fide showstopper.

7/10

Out now