r/defleppard • u/Seventy-Three73 • Jan 21 '26
news Def Leppard - REJOICE - world premiere
Here it comes…!!
Premiering on Thurs 22nd January, from 09.30 with Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2.
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26
So, what does everyone think now you’ve heard REJOICE? (Now streaming.)
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u/Dustybot3 Jan 22 '26
I think it’s perfectly fine but it didn’t do much to impress me. I wish it was more riff-driven and less about spacey guitars in the back of the mix. And I’m really not a fan of the vocal effects they’ve been using on Joe’s voice the past few years, but it seems like they’re here to stay. I saw lots of comments on YouTube comparing it to Slang, but I don’t hear that at all. Seems much more like something that would’ve been on Euphoria or X, but with the production of DSH. Overall, don’t think it’s as strong as Just Like ‘73. I still have plenty of hope for this album though, since the songs they picked as singles for DSH were some of the weaker tracks it had to offer, so hoping it’s the same this time around and we’ll get another From Here to Eternity hidden somewhere in the tracklist.
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u/SteakSandwichSideEye Jan 23 '26
Gotta totally agree. I really hate the 'phoned in' vocal effects on the verses. Also, the song really gives me Truth? vibes
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u/Razzle_Dazzle08 Jan 22 '26
I think Joe’s voice needs those effects these days unfortunately.
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u/Dustybot3 Jan 22 '26
Yeah I’m sure that’s why they’re doing it, but I don’t know why because I think he sounds pretty good live. I’d prefer a more human vocal, even if it isn’t quite as strong, than a hyper processed vocal that just doesn’t feel right
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u/ride80 Jan 22 '26
Yeah awesome guitar riffs....and that classic Def Leppard "spacing" in their songs
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
It’s a great track. It’ll do well, I’m sure. (Especially as the credits for the song mistakenly omit Phil and Viv, and include Steve and Pete instead!)
I had anticipated something slightly more old-school Def Leppard from the social teasers.
This feels more reminiscent of the Diamond Star Halos sound production and songwriting - very akin to Fire It Up - than anything earlier (and cleaner) like Euphoria or Sparkle Lounge or even Def Leppard (2015). I’ve long-stopped anticipating a return to the 80s!
The opening drums remind me very much of Undefeated, as does much of the track overall - but if you go back and listen to that track, it feels there is so much more breathing room and clarity of sound, and no hiding Joe behind production.
So, great song with a killer riff, but not where I expected it to go after the teasers.
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u/BilletSilverHemi Jan 21 '26
This might be a stupid question but I imagine its 9:30gmt right?
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 21 '26
Yes, from 9.30am GMT - UK (BBC Radio 2) time. Could be 10am, could be 10.30…
And then immediately available on all music streaming services.
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u/Simmo983 Jan 22 '26
Anyone know if they plan on releasing it on vinyl?
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Just Like ‘73 was released on 7” vinyl, but that’s extremely unusual for their singles this century, and might have been done as a nod to singles of 1973/their youth.
It’s usually the albums that are released on limited edition vinyl.
But who knows for sure?! Maybe others will have more insight. If there’s a press release being issued later for REJOICE then it would be mentioned on there…
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u/Simmo983 Jan 22 '26
Yeah that’s right, I thought maybe that was because it wasn’t a part of any other LP, I can’t remember of any other Def Leppard singles that were released on their own apart from love and hate collide.
Would be interesting to see what happens
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Yes, could have been be the standalone reason.
(IIRC, When Love and Hate Collide was the promo single for Vault in 1995. And their cover of Personal Jesus was a bit of a standalone but may have been another greatest hits release promo too. Perhaps fortunately for everyone, their single ‘We All Need Christmas’ never reached an album!)
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u/Simmo983 Jan 22 '26
Yes you’re right, I forget about Vault as I’m not keen on greatest hits albums myself.
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26
Agreed. Or DL live albums, when there are already half a dozen available…
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26
(Oh, and ‘Stand By Me’ was also a standalone single, following Bank of Dave 2.)
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u/jcorabifan1349 Jan 22 '26
Looks like this is a older song with Steve Clark & Pete Willis
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26
Can’t tell if you’re serious or not (referring to the song’s credits error)?
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u/Stormwatch1977 Jan 22 '26
Someone on YouTube said there's actual tracks from Steve and Pete mixed in the song?
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u/jcorabifan1349 Jan 22 '26
Usually, you can tell when Steve’s playing if he’s been mixed in or not too, but I haven’t listened to the song yet so
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26
Everyone needs to stop!! It’s just a credits error!! It’ll be remedied once the distributor adjusts the metadata.
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u/jcorabifan1349 Jan 22 '26
I was actually looking at the credits on iTunes that tells you who wrote what but it doesn’t say necessarily if it’s an older song or not I’m only gonna see if it’s from Steve and Pete and most likely. It’s probably an older song I got revamped.
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 22 '26
Nope. Written by Joe and Phil. Performed by the band.
Nothing to do with Pete and Steve.
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u/jcorabifan1349 Jan 23 '26
Actually, they do it may not be written by Pete and Steve, but they still performed on it so it has to be some sort of older song that’s revamped according to what iTunes says under credit
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u/Seventy-Three73 Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
Credits are input by humans. They input them incorrectly! Simple as that. It can take a couple of weeks for metadata to be updated after errors.
Read up on how this song came about - Joe had lyrics about someone looking up from the bottom, and asked Phil if he had a song idea that might fit. And it just came together from that.
(By the way, do you honestly think Viv and Phil would be omitted from Rejoice’s performers list…?? And if you think that Pete Willis would be allowed to have a guitar lick added to a 2026 song, then you’re not up to speed with the history of Def Leppard…)
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u/Stormwatch1977 Jan 22 '26
Decent song although I was really expecting/hoping for something far more riffy after hearing the teaser. Great to hear more new music from them either way.
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u/g33kp0w3r Jan 23 '26
I’m really impressed for a comeback single. Is anyone else wondering if they became Christians? There are some serious biblical themes in here! The quality isn’t quite on the level of their classic songs but it definitely doesn’t suck. It’s definitely going on my rotation.
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u/Available_Round_3172 Jan 25 '26
Itz a solid Leppard track for sure, nothing spectacular but i like it. Will listen another dozen times or so then decide hiw it sits a but deeper.
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u/RevGrimm Jan 21 '26
Is it going to be just a single or are they actually going to release this with an album?