"On Through the Night" is the debut studio album by the English rock band, Def Leppard. The album was released on 14 March 1980, becoming the first release under the band’s contract with Mercury Records. The band created the album predominantly in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal style that was popular during the time, though they soon began to incorporate more elements of glam metal and hard rock into their music.
This album contains one of the band's best-known songs, "Rock Brigade", which was also a single. Other popular tracks from the album include "Hello America", "Wasted", and "On Through the Night". The album itself received mixed reviews from critics and listeners, but it was crucial in initiating Def Leppard's path to becoming one of the world's best-selling music artists.
The album recording process took place in late 1979, with the band congregating with producer Tom Allom at both Startling Studios, Ascot and Olympic Studios, Barnes in the UK. All tracks were penned by the full band, establishing a pattern they’d follow with their iconic future albums.
The cover art, representing a lorry illuminating nighttime, was designed by Andie Airfix, becoming the first of many collaborations for future album covers. The lorry theme was also used in the music video for "Hello America".
The "On Through the Night" album firmly established Def Leppard’s footprint in the music industry and set the groundwork for their global success in the 1980s and beyond. Despite its initial mixed reviews, it has since been regarded as a classic within the heavy metal genre.
