Saturday, September 12, 2009

Europe Back On The Map With Stunning New Album

Sweden's hard rock band, Europe, best known for their 1986 global anthem 'The Final Countdown', have returned with an exhilarating new hard rock album that radiates an energetic blues rock and swagger.

Fans of Deep Purple, Journey, Bon Jovi, Van Halen - run for cover, because believe it or not, this could be the rock and roll album of the year.

Entitled 'Last Look At Eden', the album rips up vintage blues, R&B, hard rock, 70's funkin' rock grooves and merges it together with pounding drums and John Norum's signature guitar riffs.

Vocally, lead singer Joey Tempest exudes masterful tones and a conviction not heard since Robert Planet yelped his hear out with Led Zeppelin. Although the title track 'Last Look At Eden' is a majestic sexy rocker, with the lyric - "I've seen the truth, modified for you... and we just can't buy it," it's the power ballad, 'New Love In Town', that puts Europe back on the map.

'New Love' is a classic power ballad of the highest order. It reminds me of Journey's 'Don't Stop Believin' which has become something of a modern day anthem (thanks to the exposure the song had on the final episode of The Sopranos). 'New Love' is the kind of song Aerosmith and Bon Jovi would kill for. If rock and roll is supposed to be everlasting, this is the song to make it a reality. It’s Europe’s one way ticket to salvation.

With an imminent UK tour in February on the cards, and a whole new generation of hard rock fans looking for a classy return, Europe looks like they around going to be around for another 12 rounds of pure rock and roll mayhem.