Def Leppard
Pyromania (Mercury 810308)

These five guys from Sheffield probably had no idea how enormous they were going to become after the release of this album … and that's a big part of what makes it so great.

The little band that could becomes arena rockers overnight. Thomas Dolby, present under "pseudonym," and the future husband of Shania Twain, "Mutt" Lange, team up with the band to deliver the best hard rock album of the 80s.

Pyromania kicks off atypically with "Rock Rock (Til You Drop)", arguably the weakest track … but quickly jumps into the megasingle "Photograph," which created the new standard for hair-band pop singles in the 80s. Tight harmony, tight pants, and big guitar all come to the forefront for one of rock's guiltiest pleasures.

"Stagefright," which would have made a much better opening song, shows that album tracks don't always have to be filler. In fact, the tune is so strong, they kicked off many tours with it.

"Too Late For Love" is high on drama, high on harmony, and earns high marks for broadening the hard rock medium. "Die Hard The Hunter" then steps to the plate, with an adventurous sound that rocks top to bottom.

"Foolin'," third release in the trio of chart smashes, cloaks its humongous refrain cleverly in acoustic guitar-driven verses. "Rock of Ages," the second single, has a beat big enough to rally any arena crowd into singing along.

"Comin' Under Fire" serves its role as a melodic album track with great fervor. "Action! Not Words" keeps the Leppard banner flying high with its genuine desire for some action to happen. It's as weird and great an anthem as the anti-gossip "Our Lips Are Sealed." Gotta take a stand!

"Billy's Got A Gun" launches another salvo full of big riffs, solos, and harmony. It's hard not to sing along with the "Can you feel it in the air" part.

I loved Pyromania as a kid … and, oddly, I'm even more passionate about it as an "adult." Mutt Lange keeps things so you can't help but keep falling for it.

Loud Bassoon rating scale

Review by Casey Blick