Euphoria (CD - 1999)

Additional personnel: Mutt Lange (guitar, background vocals); Damon Hill (guitar); Ciaran McGoldrick, Gary Sullivan, Ricky Warwick (handclaps, background vocals).

Engineers: Pete Woodroffe, Ronan McHugh, Ger McDonnell.

Recorded at Joe's Garage (Studios 1 & 2), Dublin, Ireland.

Personnel: Damon "Demon" Hill (guitar).

Audio Mixers: Pete Woodroffe; Tom Stanley.

Recording information: Joe's Garage Dublin; Studios 1 & 2.

Photographer: Andy Earl.

80's pop metal demigods Def Leppard release their 9th album amid a hard rock resurgence primed and ready for the Lep's sound. With their previous album, SLANG, heading slightly too far in the alternative direction for longtime fans to digest, EUPHORIA is a welcome return to form.

"Demolition Man" is a hard rock track reminiscent of HIGH N' DRY-era Def Lep. "Promises" is an infectious pop ditty featuring Mutt Lange on background vocals. Lange also supplies funky guitar on "All Night," yet the longtime Leppard producer takes a backseat to Pete Woodroffe and the band for this album's production. "Goodbye" is a wonderful power ballad from the band that invented the genre. On EUPHORIA, Def Leppard keep things fresh and new, while returning to the hooks and crunchy guitars that made the group a household name. The album is their strongest since 1992's ADRENALIZE, and well worth a listen. minimize