Description
Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos – Double Clear Vinyl Records
Diamond Star Halos, released on May 27, 2022, is the twelfth studio album by British rock legends Def Leppard, marking their first new studio release in seven years since 2015’s self-titled Def Leppard. It arrives as a celebration of the band’s legacy sound while also embracing maturity, nostalgia, and selective modern polish. The title itself is a nod to a lyric from T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” hinting at the band’s deep glam rock influences and their desire to reconnect with the cosmic sparkle of 1970s British rock.
Diamond Star Halos is a wide-ranging, 15-track album that blends the band’s signature arena-ready rock hooks, layered harmonies, and glam-metal sheen with moments of acoustic introspection and unexpected stylistic flourishes. It doesn’t try to replicate the band’s 1980s dominance, but rather honors it, updating the classic Def Leppard formula with a sense of gratitude and craftsmanship. Guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell bring sharp riffs and harmonized leads that feel both muscular and melodic, while Rick Savage’s bass and Rick Allen’s drum work provide a solid rhythmic foundation. At the center, Joe Elliott’s vocals—still strong, now slightly weathered—anchor the emotional content of the album.
Notable tracks include:
“Kick” – A glam rock stomper that could have come straight out of the Hysteria or Adrenalize sessions, with handclaps, swaggering grooves, and a strong pop sensibility. It was the album’s lead single and a deliberate callback to 1970s glitter rock energy.
“Fire It Up” – A bold, up-tempo track full of chantable choruses and bright production, designed for live arenas. It’s a feel-good, anthem-style rocker meant to keep the momentum high.
“This Guitar” and “Lifeless” – Both feature guest vocals from Alison Krauss, bringing a soft Americana edge to the album that’s both surprising and surprisingly effective. “This Guitar” is a reflective acoustic ballad, steeped in country-folk tones, that speaks to the instrument as a lifeline and a companion, while “Lifeless” is a more ethereal mid-tempo number with harmonies that blend beautifully with Elliott’s voice.
“Goodbye for Good This Time” – A lush, orchestrally adorned ballad that showcases the band’s softer side, with dramatic string arrangements and sentimental lyrics about parting and memory.
The album is steeped in retrospection and resilience—songs about time, aging, memory, and the unshakeable passion for music. It reflects a band that is not trying to chase trends but is instead rooted in its identity, leaning into its strengths while allowing room for emotional depth and stylistic breadth. Tracks like “Take What You Want” and “SOS Emergency” bring sharp-edged energy, while others like “Angels (Can’t Help You Now)” pull back the volume to let emotion take the lead.
Despite being recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic—with members contributing from various locations—the album feels remarkably cohesive. The production is crisp and polished, in true Def Leppard fashion, but there’s also an emotional sincerity and looseness that keeps it from feeling overproduced. It sounds like a band with nothing to prove but plenty left to say.
Diamond Star Halos was well-received by fans and some critics alike for balancing nostalgia with freshness, delivering enough hooks and emotional range to remind listeners why Def Leppard remains a vital presence in the rock world after four decades. It’s not a reinvention, nor is it a rehash—it’s a graceful continuation of a storied career, celebrating the enduring magic of melody, guitar, and glam attitude.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Take What You Want
Kick
Fire It Up
This Guitar
SOS Emergency
Liquid Dust
U Rok Mi
Goodbye For Good
All We Need
Open Your Eyes
Gimme A Kiss That Rocks
Angels
Lifeless
Unbreakable
From Here To Eternity
