DEF LEPPARD's DIAMOND STAR HALOS Details Revealed In Album Reviews

Saturday, 30th April 2022

Def Leppard 2022

Def Leppard's new album Diamond Star Halos has received positive reviews from two magazines with more details revealed about the songs.

'Diamond Star Halos' is the band's 12th studio album.

As announced on 17th March it will be released on Friday 27th May 2022.

Two magazines, Classic Rock and Guitarist, have reviewed the new album.

The mostly positive reviews give a few new details about the album with two tracks so far heard by fans.

Classic Rock gave it an 8 out of 10 rating and even stated it was the "best album by this line-up".

Guitarist praised the new "uplifting rock songs" whilst also suggesting the ballads don't mix well with the uptempo songs.

Songwriting

As mentioned in recent interviews Joe and Phil have written most of the new songs.

Sav is revealed to be the only other member with writing credits including the closing track.

That makes this the first album since he joined with no writing credit for Vivian . 'Adrenalize' and 'Retro-Active' were of course both written before he joined.

Unbreakable

Unbreakable has been described as a traditional Leppard "stadium anthem".

Standout Tracks

Five songs - SOS Emergency, All We Need, Open Your Eyes, Gimme A Kiss, Unbreakable - have been described as stand out tracks and "especially strong".

Visit the Tour News section. For more news on future tour plans.

Visit the Album News section for more news on new music (based on band member quotes).

Classic Rock - April 2022 Album Review Quotes

Album Title/Kick/Fire It Up

"It's a choice, Leppard suggest, that reflects the influence of the glam-rock era on the album."

"That is particularly noticeable on first single Kick and Fire It Up."

Joe Elliott/Phil Collen/Song Writing

"As on 2015's self-titled predecessor, Collen and Elliott provide the lion's share of the material."

"Savage is the only other band member's name in the writing credits."

Take What You Want

"And the album opens with his brilliant Take What You Want (co-credited to Elliott)."

"It's classic Leppard that soars on a killer-diller riff."

Classic Leppard Sounding Songs

"Especially strong are SOS Emergency, All We Need, Open Your Eyes, Gimme A Kiss and Unbreakable - a stadium anthem in the grand Leppard tradition."

Surprises/Long Album

"There are some surprises though. Not least that there is so much to absorb."

"With 15 tracks it's the busiest album they've ever made."

From Here To Eternity

"...goes out on a high of Savage's From Here To Eternity, an epic track with a swinging, Pink Floyd-like tempo."

This Guitar/Lifeless

"...quasi-country rock tracks by Collen and Elliott respectively."

Goodbye For Good This Time/Angels (Can’t Help You Now)

"...two big ballads conceived by the singer, with string sections and fine guitar solos."

Best Post 1992 Album

"...it's comfortably the best album by this line-up."

Guitarist - April 2022 Album Review Quotes

Kick

"Opener, Kick, certainly doesn't lack propulsive force, combining a 70s glam-rock groove with uplifting changes of the kind Leppard excels at."

Guitar Solos

"...the soloing absolutely on-point."

SOS Emergency

"That mix of power and headrush-inducing chorus is at its peak on SOS Emergency."

"Effortlessly changing up through the gears as the bridge slingshots into the chorus."

Liquid Dust

"But grand ballads such as Liquid Dust are more representative of the album's overall character."

"Orchestral, sweeping and anthemic."

"...yet do seem a little anodyne and unfocused compared with the rockier numbers."

This Guitar

"No guitarist could fail to feel their heartstrings tugged by Leppard's love-letter to the six-strings, This Guitar."

Conclusion

"...there's a 15-course banquet of uplifting rock to enjoy here."

See the current issues of both magazines for the full reviews and major interview feature in Classic Rock (Issue 301).

Buy 'Diamond Star Halos' Online

Amazon - Regular CD
Amazon - Deluxe CD
Amazon - Vinyl
Amazon - MP3

Diamond Star Halos - Tracklisting

01 - Take What You Want - 4:14
02 - Kick - 3:42 - (Collen) - Amazon - (MP3)
03 - Fire It Up - 3:19
04 - This Guitar [feat. Alison Krauss] - 3:50
05 - SOS Emergency - 3:25
06 - Liquid Dust - 4:01
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 - (Collen/Elliott)
14 - Unbreakable - 3:46
15 - From Here To Eternity - 5:37