Hysteria

Hysteria is the fourth studio album by Def Leppard and represents the pinnacle of their collaboration with producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange. Following the massive success of Pyromania, the band spent over three years crafting a follow-up that would eventually become one of the best-selling albums in history. The recording was famously difficult, marked by drummer Rick Allen's tragic car accident and the band's decision to utilize revolutionary electronic triggers to accommodate his return. Sonically, the album is a departure from the band's NWOBHM roots, embracing a 'Thriller-style' approach where every track was intended to be a potential hit single. The production is legendary for its complexity, featuring hundreds of vocal overdubs and guitars that were often recorded one string at a time to ensure total clarity. Critics have praised it as a landmark of pop-metal, noting its influence on both the technical standards of studio recording and the commercial trajectory of hard rock in the late 80s.