Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 22, 2025

Luckily Def Leppard wisely chose not to listen to "colonist" Thomas Wolfe, the American author who famously opined "you can't go home again". This rollicking concert in fact took place in the band's home city, offering their second ever stadium concert in Sheffield at Bramall Lane. This 2023 concert was the kickoff for their European tour, and according to this release's liner notes this particular performance took place in front of a staggering 40,000 audience members (actually over 40,000, but who's counting?). Mercury Studios is offering two releases of the concert, this 4K UHD (albeit SDR) version and Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield in 1080. This release offers a bonus concert in UHD / SDR (see below), whereas the 1080 release offers two CDs of the main concert (and no bonus concert on the actual Blu-ray disc).

The band's set list includes:

• 1. Take What You Want
• 2. Let’s Get Rocked
• 3. Animal
• 4. Foolin’
• 5. Armageddon It
• 6. Kick
• 7. Love Bites
• 8. Promises
• 9. This Guitar
• 10. When Love And Hate Collide
• 11. Rocket
• 12. Bringin’ On The Heartbreak
• 13. Switch 625
• 14. Hysteria
• 15. Pour Some Sugar On Me
• 16. Rock Of Ages
• 17. Photograph

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from Mercury Studios' standalone Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 1080 release, as even without HDR I still feel screenshots sourced directly from 4K discs can look a little wonky. Because this release does not have a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Mercury Studios with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.78:1. Once again Mercury is probably engendering some head scratching amongst videophiles by offering a 4K release in SDR. That again is unfortunate since there's so much going on in terms of projections and even lighting regimens on the stage itself where HDR / Dolby Vision grades could have probably made an appreciable difference. Otherwise, though, there are some subtle but noticeable improvements in detail levels at times in this version, at least in close-up framings where there's not a ton of movement. There are a few curious midrange shots that look just slightly blurry, which may suggest some on the fly focus pulling issues, and the difference in clarity between these moments and the bulk of the visuals is arguably less subliminal at this resolution. Despite the interlaced presentation on the 1080 disc, I frankly noticed no egregious combing artifacts on that version, and I really wouldn't say this progressive presentation offers any substantial improvements in fluidity. That may make this a "glass half full, glass half empty" situation for videophiles, and for some fans the choice between this version and the 1080 version may come down to which bonus items are preferable, the extra concert on this version or the two CDs of the main concert offered with the 1080 version.

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield features Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 options, and each is quite effective on their own merits. Both of the surround tracks offer really spacious accountings of not just the music but the actual "stadium ambience", something that is probably more noticeable with the Atmos' presentation of wafting roars of approval from the audience. Def Leppard is another band that is "getting up there" in terms of age, but they are incredibly energetic throughout this performance and both vocals and instrumentals are crisp and effective. The stereo track probably helps to focus the overall band sound, especially with regard to vocals, and may make for an appealing alternate listen for many.

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Live at the Leadmill (UHD; SDR; DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 or LPCM 2.0; 1:05:58) offers the following songs:

  1. Action

  2. Fire It Up

  3. Let It Go

  4. Too Late for Love

  5. Excitable

  6. Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)

  7. Slang

  8. Kick

  9. Bringin' On The Heartbreak

  10. Switch 625

  11. Hysteria

  12. Pour Some Sugar On Me

  13. Wasted

Kind of interestingly, this release does not include the leaflet with photos that accompanies the 1080 version.

Def Leppard: Diamond Star Heroes Live From Sheffield 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's a surprising amount of emotion running through this concert, but there's also a really fun, contagious sense of energy. The band sounds great and the audience is obviously rapturously in love with them. Technical merits are generally solid, even if this is another 4K UHD release where Mercury has not provided any HDR grades. The bonus concert offered (only) with this release is also very enjoyable. With caveats noted, Recommended.