JoeLumb's Album Review Def Leppard's "Pyromania" (1983)

 After releasing "High N' Dry" in 1981 with famed producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange who was the man responsible for the successful AC/DC albums "Highway to Hell" and "Back in Black" and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" plus he produced Foreigner's "4". Def Leppard retained Mutt's services for the band's third album. But many of the rhythm guitar parts were recorded by Steve Clark and Pete Willis. Pete Willis was fired from Def Leppard towards the end and he was ultimately replaced by Phil Collen (He's been with them eversince as their lead guitarist) With Phil recording most of the guitar parts Willis failed to do,plus contributing to many of the guitar solos. The album was recorded in two studios one is Park Gates in Battle,Sussex,England the other was Battery Studios in London. 

"Pyromania" was released  on January 20,1983 and it was seen as a transitional record between Leppard's traditional metal sound blending in with the radio friendly direction of their later albums. To promote "Pyromania" they went on a year long world tour spawning four singles "Photograph" "Rock of Ages" Foolin" and "Too Late for Love" (Three out of the four made it to the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 single's chart) "Photograph" was a #1 single for six weeks on the Top Rock Tracks,"Rock of Ages" followed that as their second #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks but "Foolin" only ended up at #9 "Too Late for Love" would also reach #9 on the same chart.

"Pyromania" reached #2 on the Billboard album charts in the U.S. and as of present day is one of two Diamond albums Def Leppard has released the other being their next album "Hysteria" Diamond album means a record that sold more than 10 million units in the U.S. alone.  

So what are my favorite tracks on "Pyromania" well nothing beats "Photograph" "Foolin" "Rock of Ages and Too Late for Love" but there is also "Rock Rock (Til You Drop)" and "Stagefright" the most underrated track off of "Pyromania" is "Die Hard The Hunter" 

My Overall Rating for this album is a 9/10 even though it had not reach the top of the American charts they were getting popular during that timeframe it's my #1 pick for best rock albums of 1983.

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