We found it exhilarating” — the British rock legends have quietly embraced a post-COVID workflow and are ready to flood the zone with new music.

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott says the band is sitting on a serious stockpile of new material, with enough songs for nearly two full albums as they prepare to release their 13th studio album in early 2027.

In a refreshingly open interview, the 66-year-old singer revealed a major shift in how the band now operates. What used to be month-long sessions at his home studio with Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, and Vivian Campbell all under one roof has transformed into a highly effective remote process born out of the pandemic.

“We’ve developed a whole new method of recording, which was brought on by COVID,” Elliott told France 24. “Everybody got to be at home with their families, yet still make a record. And we trusted each other… everybody just played on everybody else’s bits. We found it to be exhilarating.”

The layered approach — drums, bass, guitars, and vocals built separately but collaboratively — has clearly suited the veterans. With 17 or 18 songs already written and recorded, the band is now deciding which tracks will make the cut for the first album, with a second one already well underway.

Known for anthems like “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Photograph,” and “Love Bites,” Def Leppard is leaning into their classic role as pure escapism. “We’re not here to preach. We’re not here to tell you who to vote for,” Elliott added. “We like to take you away from that and just come and have a good time.”

The new music arrives on the heels of the band’s 12-date Las Vegas residency, Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace, which wrapped in February 2026. Rather than slowing down, the group appears to be accelerating.

After more than four decades together, Def Leppard is proving that even rock institutions can evolve their process without losing the spark. Fans can expect the first batch of new firepower early next year — with more presumably not far behind.