Slang

by Def Leppard

Overview

After the lackluster performance of Adrenalize, Def Leppard realized it was time to abandon their trademark wall-of-guitars sound. Jettisoning producer Mutt Lange -- who, admittedly, was busy producing his wife, country singer Shania Twain -- the group stripped its sound to the basics for Slang. There are very few layers-of-guitar effects on the album, just straight, crunching chords. Most notably, Rick Allen has returned to playing acoustic drums after playing an electronic kit for nearly a decade. The change in approach is apparent and welcome -- Def Leppard hasn't sounded so immediate since Pyromania. Furthermore, they decided to expand their musical vocabulary slightly, working elements of R&B and funk into the rhythms. Not all of the experiments work, but Def Leppard sound revitalized, particularly when they attack a straightforward rocker. Slang would have been even better if they had come up with a set of hooks that sounded as alive as their performance, but the album is a much-needed return to form for the group. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/03/2023
Label:	Universal
UPC:	4988031597583
Rank:	76510

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Def Leppard   Primary Artist
Vivian Campbell   Dulcimer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar,Vocals
Phil Collen   Vocals,Mandolin,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar
Joe Elliott   Bass,Guitar,Vocals
Pete Woodroffe   Piano,Keyboards
Rick Savage   Bass,Vocals,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Rick Allen   Drums,Percussion
Ranjan Thakre   Director
Malvin Mortimer   Vocals (Background)
Craig Pruess   Conductor

Technical Credits

Vivian Campbell   Composer
Phil Collen   Composer
Joe Elliott   Composer
Will Shapland   Engineer
Ger McDonnell   Engineer,Programming
Gavyn Wright   Leader
Pete Woodroffe   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Rick Savage   Composer
Matt Pakucko   Mixing Assistant
Brad Buxer   Programming
Richard Savage   Composer
Hugh Drumm   Programming
Terry Zoakitny   Liner Note Producer
Jeff Rooney   Photography
Rick Allen   Composer
Jager de Paola   Design
Cynthia Levine   Photography
Vivian Patrick Campbell   Composer
Jeff Murray   Art Direction
Robert John "Mutt" Lange   Composer
Steve Clark   Composer
Bobby Brooks   Programming
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Craig Pruess   String Arrangements,Percussion Arrangement
Def Leppard   Producer