Def Leppard - Pyromania

The album was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who had previously worked with AC/DC on Highway to Hell and Back in Black. Lange's meticulous production style brought a highly polished, layered sound with massive backing vocals and precise studio control. This approach was a major factor in the album bridging the gap between British heavy metal and American arena rock.

The album spawned several massive hit singles, including "Photograph," "Rock of Ages," and "Foolin'." These tracks received massive heavy rotation on the newly launched MTV, turning the band into global superstars. The album's blend of heavy metal riffs and pop-friendly hooks defined the 1980s hair metal genre.

While drummer Rick Allen played on the album, Mutt Lange used extensive studio techniques like tape looping and heavy gating on the drums to create a massive, mechanized sound. This gave the drum tracks an almost electronic, highly precise feel. This polished, stadium-ready drum sound became a massive hallmark of 1980s arena rock.

Pyromania was released on January 20, 1983, by Mercury Records. It was the band's third studio album and their major commercial breakthrough in the United States. The album reached number 2 on the US Billboard 200 and famously sold over 10 million copies in the US alone.