Still capable of reaching the Top 10 in the charts in both the UK and the US, Def Leppard glide along like the most stately of rock galleons. Last year’s Diamond Star Halos album was a rip-roaring restatement of intent. And after such a great Leppard album, the question ‘What next?’ loomed large. Many other bands and artists who’ve been making records since 1980 would cruise at this point, but, as we know, the Stakhanovites of Def Leppard are not as others.
Instead they’ve taken a frankly unappetising detour down the orchestral route. But we needn’t have worried. This being Leppard, they’ve done it properly, so it’s the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road, rather than some chancers in Joe’s garage. The song selection is smart, from as far back as 1981’s High’N’Dry (the instrumental Switch 625 almost roars) to a couple of selections from Halos.
