Date sent: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:19:07 +0200 From: Mark Senff Subject: "Euphoria" review in Dutch newspaper (Algemeen Dagblad) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DEF LEPPARD - EUPHORIA **** (out of five) Not without reason, Def Leppard was the symbol for the bombast that was popular for a short time in the 80s. Ten layers of guitars in a song? A hundred vocals? No problem, producer Robert "Mutt" Lange takes care of it. The band scored hits with songs like "Animal", "Love Bites" and "When Love & Hate Collide" and sold millions of copies of their albums "Pyromania" and "Hysteria". When the magic slowly died, the band surprised everybody in 1996 with the basic "Slang", but it failed to hit its target: old fans disappeared, new fans are not here (yet). As the not-so-surprising title indicates, the band takes a step back with "Euphoria". The music is still powerful and direct, but the big vocal choirs are back, just like a couple of digital (guitar-) effects. The result is something to be proud of. The band finally seems to have found the right balance. That's why it's such a pity that strong rumors circulate that this CD is the band's swan song. Robert Haagsma ----------------------------------------------------------------------