REVIEW: DEF LEPPARD – First Strikes 1978-1979

 

DEF LEPPARD – First Strikes 1978-1979

On The Air

I have to admit that releases like this always raise my expectations, especially when we are talking about a band like DEF LEPPARD in their very early days. An unofficial compilation that focuses on the 1978–1979 period promises a lot, mainly because this is the era when the band was still deeply rooted in traditional heavy metal and the NWOBHM movement, far away from the more commercial path they would later follow. Thankfully, “First Strikes 1978–1979” manages to justify this interest.

This release brings together almost everything the band recorded during that early period. Here you will find the 1979 Def Leppard EP, early studio demos from 1979, live recordings from the Paris Theatre in London (August 1979), as well as the “Wasted” and “Hello America” 7” single versions and the B-side “Good Morning Freedom.” In other words, this compilation works as a complete snapshot of DEF LEPPARD before “On Through the Night”, documenting the band’s development both in the studio and on stage.

For a bootleg, the sound quality is surprisingly good, and this is something that immediately works in its favor. The live recordings from the Paris Theatre are especially enjoyable and clear, capturing the raw energy and hunger of a young band that still had something to prove. These tracks alone make the release worth checking out.

Musically, DEF LEPPARD here are a completely different beast compared to what most people associate them with today. This is pure, melodic heavy metal with strong NWOBHM roots and an obvious THIN LIZZY influence, particularly on tracks like “The Overture”. Songs such as “Ride Into The Sun,” “Getcha Rocks Off,” “Wasted,” and “Hello America” show a band focused on riffs, drive, and attitude rather than polished hooks and radio-friendly choruses.

Of course, this kind of release is mainly aimed at fans and collectors, and casual listeners might not find much reason to dive into it. Still, for anyone who appreciates melodic heavy metal and the NWOBHM scene, this compilation is a small treasure. I really enjoyed listening to this early version of DEF LEPPARD, a band that was still traditional, inspired, and full of youthful fire. For me, “First Strikes 1978–1979” is a very solid document of their beginnings and a release that shows just how strong and promising they were at the start.

Nick Parastatidis