The re-issue, Deluxe Edition of Def Leppard's "Adrenalize" comes complete with a bonus CD much the same as the "Pyromania" re-issue. The presentation is of a similar format, with a booklet telling the story of the events surrounding the band during the time this album was written and recorded. I imagine that not many bands would continue after the tragedy that Def Leppard endured between the making of their 3rd and 5th albums. The loss of Rick Allen's left arm in a motor accident, and the death of founding member Steve Clark to an alcohol related illness. But this lot did, and "Adrenalize" is the result.

Having worked with Robert "Mutt" Lange on their previous three albums, the band decided to produce "Adrenalize" on their own with Engineer Mike Shipley. The Production on this recording is not a lot different to "Pyromania" or "Hysteria." It’s more of the same Pop-Metal, not too surprising considering Lange gets a writing credit on every song. The album kicks off with 'Let's Get Rocked.' This song was criticized for being a "goofball anthem," but I am sure it became a crowd pleaser at gigs across the world. With 'Make Love Like A Man' Elliott confesses that, "The vocal dynamics at the end are straight from Motown, It was us doing the Four Tops as Rock & Roll." It's a pretty accurate statement as it turns out.

If Def Leppard were using Queen's 'Tie Your Mother Down' as a template for their own compositions, as suggested in the sleeve notes, this becomes evident on 'Tonight.' However, this is not an upbeat song like 'Tie Your Mother Down,' but it does start with vocal harmonies in the style of Queen. The song is a ballad of epic proportions, although the vocals sound like they are singing "Too Late" rather than "Tonight." 'White Lightning' strikes up with a dark, sinister guitar intro before bursting into the main riff. This is by a long way the longest track on the album weighing in at just over seven and a half minutes. The lyrics are dark, the song is about Steve Clark, and this is one of two songs written about him for the album after his untimely death.

The last track on CD1 'Tear It Down' is the most upbeat song on the album. This is as close to heavy metal as Def Leppard come on "Adrenalize." Joe Elliot describes "Adrenalize" perfectly when he says, “It’s not as metal as our previous work. But, It's more thought out, more mature."


On to the second CD then. It is a mixture of live tracks and "Adrenalize" B-sides. The first four tracks were recorded in Bonn 1992; they are 'Hysteria,' 'Photograph,' 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' and 'Lets Get Rocked.' There is not a lot you can say about these recordings, they are what you would expect, without standing out. The cover versions of The Rolling Stone's 'You Can't Always Get What You Want,' Hendrix's ‘Little Wing’ and Queen's 'Now I'm Here' are by any standard a different kettle of fish. Sandwiched in the middle of the latter two is the first of two versions of 'Tonight.' After 'Now I'm Here' come 'Two Steps behind,' the second version of 'Tonight,' 'Too Late For Love' and finally, 'Women' completes the second CD.

'You Can't Always Get What You Want' and 'Little Wing' were both recorded with The Hothouse Flowers. They are really good covers of both tracks, and, although Elliott does a good impersonation of Jagger, he sounds more like Joe Elliott on 'Little Wing.' The piano and penny whistle parts, I can only assume, were provided by the Hothouse Flowers. 'Now I'm here' features Brian May and was recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, Wembley Stadium in April 1992. It was the first gig that Clarke's replacement Vivian Campbell played.

I have to confess, that I cannot recall the release of "Adrenalize," hardly surprising given the enormous success of "Hysteria." It's no better and no worse than either of the studio albums that preceded it but is still a great release in it's own right and this Deluxe Edition is well worth picking up.