Def Leppard - Slang (Deluxe Edition) (2014)

- I N F O -

DEF LEPPARD will release a Deluxe Edition of its 1996 classic album "Slang" across multiple formats through its own Bludgeon Riffola label on February 10.

The "Slang" reissue will be available in three formats: a CD Deluxe Edition and Digital Edition containing the original 11 album tracks remastered and original rare bonus tracks made up of demos, alternate versions and mixes with a series of new songs recorded during the time the band was creating "Slang". Most of these additional bonus tracks have never been released. A special iTunes Digital Edition will have everything from the Digital Edition, plus a further set of additional bonus tracks. A Double Vinyl Deluxe Edition will also be available and will feature the original album, and its own set of exclusive songs.

The band will release a special "Slang Video Collection" the same day (February 11) exclusively on iTunes that will feature videos from singles "Slang", "Work It Out" and "All I've Ever Wanted".

"Slang" was first released in May 1996 and is considered the band's most underrated album. At the time of its release, the music industry was at the height of the '90s grunge scene and DEF LEPPARD with bands like NIRVANA, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and PEARL JAM were dominating the airwaves. Despite this musical shift, "Slang" charted on the Top Five U.K. official chart and the Top 15 in the U.S. on The Billboard 200 chart. The album was also voted in the Top Ten Albums Of 1996 by the U.K.'s prestigious Q magazine.

As a testament to DEF LEPPARD's music transcending through time, "Slang" was recognized for its musical departure from the band's signature sound. The collection incorporated new sonic elements that gave the album a slightly darker introspective mood than their previous releases. As guitarist Phil Collen stated in an interview with Metal Hammer: "We've all got personal things that have happened during the recording of 'Slang', and we've just ploughed on and some of it has come out on the record."

Def Leppard released ΓÇ£SlangΓÇ¥ 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 albumΓÇÖs 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 ΓÇô 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 ΓÇô demoΓÇÖs, 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. TheyΓÇÖve got rid of the highly produced sound from the previous albums and instead thereΓÇÖs 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 ΓÇ£HysteriaΓÇ¥ and ΓÇ£AdrenalizeΓÇ¥ 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 itΓÇÖs 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 werenΓÇÖt on the album.

This is a great album and one that was overlooked by many at the time of its original release, so itΓÇÖs great to see it being given a re-release and to see so much bonus material included. Well worth a listen even if you donΓÇÖt consider yourself a Def Leppard fan.

- T R A C K L I S T -


CD 1

01. Truth (3:01)
02. Turn To Dust (4:21)
03. Slang (2:37)
04. All I Want Is Everything (5:20)
05. Work It Out (4:49)
06. Breathe A Sigh (4:06)
07. Deliver Me (3:04)
08. Gift Of Flesh (3:48)
09. Blood Runs Cold (4:26)
10. Where Does Love Go When It Dies (4:04)
11. Pearl Of Euphoria (6:22)
12. Move With Me Slowly (6:20)
13. Truth (Original Version) (5:09)
14. Burnout (4:10)
15. Worlds Collide (3:43)
16. Can't Keep Away From The Flame (2:38)

CD 2

01. Turn To Dust (Phil Verse Vocal) (4:04)
02. Raise Your Love (3:01)
03. All I Want Is Everything (1st Draft) (5:19)
04. Work It Out (1st Draft) (5:19)
05. Breathe A Sign (Rough Mix) (4:08)
06. Deliver Me (Rough Mix) (3:17)
07. Black Train (4:06)
08. Blood Runs Cold (Rough Mix) (4:12)
09. Where Does Love Go When It Dies (1st Draft) (4:36)
10. Pearl Of Euphoria (Rough Mix) (5:49)
11. All On Your Touch (2012 Revisit) (3:58)
12. Anger (3:15)
13. Move On Up (VIV Demo) (3:31)
14. Gift Of Flesh (Phil Vocal) (4:05)

Format: VBR mp3
Genre: Hard Rock
Sub Genre: Heavy Metal
Size: 238.01 MB