Reunited Swedish hard rockers EUROPE have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We're now getting very close to start recording our new album. We've decided to work yet again in good old Stockholm. The rehersal and pre-production will take place this spring, starting in May, and we're aiming to have the album recorded and mixed by July. The plan is then to have the CD ready for release in October/November. The production will be handled by us (EUROPE), and it will be recorded and engineered by Pontus Norgren [ex-TALISMAN, GREAT KING RAT, THE POODLES], who was also our live sound engineer during the 'Start From The Dark Tour'. At the moment, we have about 15-17 song ideas. Joey [Tempest, vocals] is writing in London, [John] Norum [guitar] in L.A. Mic [Michaeli, keyboards], Ian [Haugland, drums] and [Jon] Leven [bass] in Stockholm. We will probably record 12 tracks for the CD. Everything is running very smooth and there is a chance we'll meet up for one more writing session before we start the pre-production. We have a really great feeling about the new album, and we can't wait to get started so that we can get out on the road and see you guys again."

As previously reported, EUROPE's acoustic version of "Yesterday's News", recorded during an appearance on the Stockholm, Sweden radio station 106.7 Rockklassiker on December 7, 2005, has been made available for download at this location.

EUROPE entered the Swedish Music DVD chart at position No. 9 in December 2005 with their live DVD, entitled "Live from the Dark". The two-disc set features the group's November 15, 2004 concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, England along with video clips, interviews, band information and a section called "Taxi Diaries." More information is available at this location. The group's first collection of new material since 1991's "Prisoners In Paradise", "Start from the Dark" was produced by Kevin Elson, who had previously worked with EUROPE on their multi-platinum 1986 release, "Final Countdown".

Sanctuary Records GmbH is looking forward to continue its successful partnership with Swedish superstar rockers EUROPE in 2006.

The hard rock heros – still in the original line-up with front man Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, keyboarder Mic Michaeli, drummer Ian Haugland and bass player John Leven – present their 7th studio album “Secret Society“, released once more on Sanctuary Records GmbH.

Already in 2004 Sanctuary Records and EUROPE celebrated a fantastic comeback with “Start From The Dark” together. This year the fruitful co-operation between band and label continues, adding the US and Scandinavia as additional territories. Truly, in 2006, EUROPE are reinventing themselves and are seeking new challenges!

Stylistically, their previous album “Start From The Dark“ was still close to the sound and songwriting of their hugely successful 1986 album “The Final Countdown“ which sold 8 million copies worldwide. “Secret Society“ is a definitive step forward into the ranks of other contemporary hard rock legends. Mixed by Stefan Glaumann (e.g. Rammstein, Within Temptation, Apoptygma Berzerk) and mastered by George Marino (e.g. Velvet Revolver, U2) in the Sterling Sound Studios, N.Y., this entirely self-produced album sounds deliciously modern and tips its hat only once in a while to past accomplishments or pays hommage to idols Led Zeppelin, who also worked with EUROPE’s sound engineer Lennart Östlund.

Frank Stroebele, Sanctuary’s President Continental Europe is thrilled: “I am a big fan of melodic hard rock. EUROPE is one of the few bands that produced worldwide hits whilst keeping their feet firmly on the ground at the same time. Furthermore they continue to impress with their incredible live shows. The band exudes an energy that is contagious and electrifying. Ever since their reunion, the band - thanks to writing and touring together - profits from an extraordinarily fresh creativity. This creativity is evident on their new album “Secret Society“. Here at Sanctuary Records we are very proud to have EUROPE on our artist-roster, perfectly complementing our existing roster, spanning classic rock legends such as Billy Idol or the Simple Minds, and new, young, aspiring artists such as DragonForce.“

“Will things ever be the same again?“ No! With their brand new sound Europe ascend to new heights. Great composition skills paired with versatile sound variations, a brilliant mix of raw rock-chart modernity and soft metal ballads prepare Europe for great deeds. The five Swedes strongly believe that constant development equals artistic progress and that there’s more to discover out there than planet Mars: “Forever Traveling“, “Love Is Not The Enemy“ and “A Mother’s Son“, invite listeners to a meaningful and introspective journey to the Self as well as being thorougly entertaining at the same time. Acoustic guitars and piano parts make way to melodious toughness. The opening song “Secret Society“ successfully attempts a stint into psychedelic waters reminicent of Led Zeppelin, the promotion single “Always The Pretenders“ provides the blue print for the album, whilst “Devil Sings The Blues“ combines new and old in equal measure. “With so many things to be found“ seems to be the lead motif for Europe and their search ends with an ambitious goal: to be a rock legend that effortlessly withstands comparisons to contemporary standards, whilst at the same time being in the great position to unearth their timeless classics. Which of course it will, when they will soon rock the venues near you again!


EUROPE release their new album „Secret Society“ on 27. October – accompanied by several concerts throughout Europe.

˜ Tracklisting˜



01. Secret Society (3:34)

02. Always The Pretenders (3:53)

03. Love Is Not The Enemy (4:17)

04. Wish I Could Believe (3:33)

05. Let The Children Play (4:10)

06. Human After All (4:12)

07. The Getaway Plan (3:51)

08. A Mother’s Son (4:47)

09. Forever Traveling (4:10)

10. Brave and beautiful soul (3:46)

11. Devil Sings The Blues (5:22)




˜ Line Up ˜



Joey Tempest:Lead vocals

John Norum: Guitar

Mic Michaeli: Keyboards

John Leven: Bass

Ian Haugland:Drums

Espérons qu'il sera aussi bon que le précédent qui était une sacrée surprise.

oui, le précédent était très bon je trouvais. sacrée bonne surprise pour un retour!

Espérons qu'il soit meilleur que le précédent qui était quand même bien moyen.

A moitié plein ?
A moitié vide ?[/img]

Et surtout qu'ils change de son de guitare!

Je crois que Norum a appelé le mec de Dragonforce pour connaître le secret de "le son".
Et il lui a filé.

ukuk

Je viens de voir la news (vieux motard que jamais) : miam.
Le gros défaut du précédent est qu'il est un peu trop long : 2 titres de moins et il aurait été plus efficace. Mais un album qui contient 6 tubes (cf. le DVD) ne peut pas être "bien moyen".

Les tubes je les cherches encore, trois hits à tout casser. On est loin du Europe tubesque des 80's. Vive le clavier de tata. Et nintendo rules.

j'ai aimé le dernier, et leur interpretations live etait excellent, j'espère que le prochain sera aussi bon et avec une production plus moderne

Oui ben la prod moderne doucement hein ! si c'ets pour faire du rock faudrait peut etre avoir la pudeur de ne pas utiliser le nom Europe pour ca...

Il etait bien cet album, mais je pense que, sans faire un Final Ctdn part2, ils auraient pu faire un truc qui rapelle un peu plus europe. Mai sc'est vrai qu'il etait sympa cet album...

De toute façon Joey Tempest n'a jamais fait autre chose que du rock.
S'il le dit... ^^

La prod moderne fait également partie des élément qui ne m'ont guère fait aprécier SFTD.

Si Europe était arrivé avec FC2 ça aurait pué la pisse et le vieux FM de grand mère. Ne regrettons rien.

Je ne demande pas ça non plus, j'aurais surtout voulu que le jeu de Norum soit plus mélodique et qu'il retrouve son inspiration d'antan pour les soli. Du côte de Tempest, y'a aucun problème, vocalement il vieillit trés bien.

Bon OK. On va arriver à un compromis !

Un single sort :



Reunited Swedish hard rockers EUROPE will release a new single, "Always the Pretenders", on October 11. The track listing is as follows:

01. Always The Pretenders (Radio Edit)
02. Always The Pretenders (Album Version)
03. Flames (Live at B.B. King in New York City)
04. Superstitious (Live at B.B. King in New York City)

J'ai jamais compris pourquoi les groupes de hard rock s'acharcnaient à sortir des singles que personne n'achète, avec un contenu tout pourri (en excluant le titre de l'album j'entends). Deux versions du même morceaux et deux lives franchement...

Je fais cette remarque ici mais elle s'applique pareillement au récent single de Maiden et d'autres.

Ben, pour le fric, un single, c'est zéro nouveauté, il n'y a même plus de Bsides, et ça se vend le tiers du prix d'un album.