Def Leppard – Slang (Deluxe edition)

Def Leppard released “Slang” in 1996 at a time when rock was definitely out of fashion thanks to the popularity of new styles such as Grunge.  As a result of this the album sold well but nowhere near as well as the previous two albums had done, being the first Def Leppard album to fail to achieve platinum status in the US.  The album’s radically different sound may have also put fans off at the time, but now the album is being reissued as a Deluxe Edition along with a whole load of bonus material.

So what do you get for your money?  Well for a start you get the album itself – 11 tracks .  Then you get another five tracks on the disc.  On the second disc you get another 14 tracks of which almost all are alternative versions of tracks from the album – demo’s, rough mixes and early versions.  So instead of just the original 11 track album you get 30 tracks with this version.

The album itself has a much harder rock feel to it.  They’ve got rid of the highly produced sound from the previous albums and instead there’s a more natural feel to it, more reflective of a live performance than their earlier studio work.  I must admit that this album passed me by when it was first issued, and coming after “Hysteria” and “Adrenalize” I can see it would have been a shock to the fans, but listening to it now I do like the heavier raw sound that the band have used on this album, and anyone who isnt a fan of the polished commercially successful sound from their big hits is likely to find this a much better album.

The huge amount of bonus material makes this a great puchase for Def Leppard fans and it’s definitely interesting listening to some of the rough mixes or early drafts of the songs to hear how they changed, and also to hear some of the other songs that weren’t on the album.

This is a great album and one that was overlooked by many at the time of its original release, so it’s great to see it being given a re-release and to see so much bonus material included.  Well worth a listen even if you don’t consider yourself a Def Leppard fan.

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:

Disc 1

1. Truth?
2. Turn To Dust
3. Slang
4. All I Want Is Everything
5. Work I Out
6. Breathe A Sigh
7. Deliver Me
8. Gift Of Flesh
9. Blood Runs Cold
10. Where Does Love Go When It Dies
11. Pearl Of Euphoria
12. Move With Me Slowly
13. Truth? (Original Version)
14. Burn Out
15. Worlds Collide
16. Can’t Keep Away From The Flame

Disc 2

1. Turn To Dust (1st Draft – Phil Verse Vocal)
2. Raise Your Love
3. All I Want Is Everything (1st Draft)
4. Work It Out (1st Draft)
5. Breathe A Sigh (Rough Mix)
6. Deliver Me (Rough Mix)
7. Black Train
8. Blood Runs Cold (Rough Mix)
9. Where Does Love Go When It Dies (1st Draft)
10. Pearl of Euphoria (Rough Mix)
11. All On Your Touch (2012 revisit)
12. Anger (Deliver Me – 1st Draft)
13. Move On Up (Viv Demo)
14. Gift of Flesh (Phil Vocal)

Double 180g Vinyl

Side 1
1. Truth?
2. Turn to Dust
3. Slang
4. All I Want Is Everything
5. Work It Out

Side 2
6. Breathe a Sigh
7. Deliver Me
8. Gift of Flesh
9. Blood Runs Cold
10. Where Does Love Go When It Dies

Side 3
11. Pearl of Euphoria
12. Move with Me Slowly
13. Truth? (original version)

Side 4
14. Burn Out
15. Worlds Collide
16. Can’t Keep Away from the Flame
17. All on Your Touch (2012 Revisit)
18. Black Train

www.defleppard.com