MR

EUROPE, Sweden's biggest rock band, confirm their next studio album, slated for April 2012 release, will be produced by the world's hottest rock record producer, Kevin Shirley.

No stranger to the crème de la crème of iconic rock records, Shirley has produced albums for Iron Maiden, Joe Bonamassa, Black Country Communion, Black Stone Cherry, Journey and many more.
"We still feel we have one hell of a rock record to make" says Europe's singer Joey Tempest. "Kevin’s the man for the job. We love his work with Bonamassa, Black Country Communion, and Black Stone Cherry. He's the real deal. We're ready to do some serious damage."


Last week Europe met up with Shirley in Stockholm to discuss the direction of the next album. Based on reactions from the fans and media, Europe's 2009 album Last Look at Eden proved to be the band's most important record since The Final Countdown.

"I’ve been a big fan of Europe's work for years," says Shirley. "The band is influential and highly underrated. I can't wait to make the upcoming album their most explosive to date."

After summer 2011, Europe will finish the promotion of Last Look at Eden tour, and will start to focus their energy on the next album produced by Shirley.

"We've toured for one and a half years" adds Tempest. "It’s time to write and record some new songs and get back on the road again in 2012."

The new material suggests a more straight forward rock approach evident in Doghouse; a new song Europe performed on their recent UK tour. The song is also featured on Europe’s upcoming Europe: Live at Shepherd’s Bush DVD, released August 2011 on earMUSIC CDs and DVDs.

earMUSIC is also about to release a limited deluxe book with pictures be Denis O'Regan. Live Look At Eden features exclusive live audio and the stunning performance at last year iTunes Festival in London.

Recording for Europe's new album begins in Stockholm on October 3rd, and will be released in April 2012.

Unless they are planning on going back to their Prisoners in Paradise sound, I'll pass...I'm thinking it'll be just as lame as Eclipse....

S2M wrote:Unless they are planning on going back to their Prisoners in Paradise sound, I'll pass...I'm thinking it'll be just as lame as Eclipse....

Well guess you've already made up your mind . PIP isnt even in their top 3 best albums. Their best MELODIC ROCK album is Out Of This World. If you want a true heavy rocker, their debut album is a winner in that dpeartment.

Good luck with that. IMO, a Shirley produced album is a crap shoot. Maybe since he has been "a big fan for years", he might actually produce something decent here. He is about 65/45 leaning toward the crappy for my tastes. He does a good job with Iron Maiden, but even there he has a couple standout albums sound wise compared to the rest.

Tempest's vocals on PIP can't be beat, sorry....I used to love Europe. Don't understand what happened to that band, and their song structures....

They would have been far better off with Kevin Elson. Save the jokes, folks.

S2M wrote:Tempest's vocals on PIP can't be beat, sorry....I used to love Europe. Don't understand what happened to that band, and their song structures....

Nah, Start From The Dark is a good album, and I like Last Look At Eden better than Secret Society. Still holding out hope for a chance to see them live someday!

Yayy!! Not even worried about the KS thing ...

Behshad wrote:

S2M wrote:Unless they are planning on going back to their Prisoners in Paradise sound, I'll pass...I'm thinking it'll be just as lame as Eclipse....

Well guess you've already made up your mind . PIP isnt even in their top 3 best albums. Their best MELODIC ROCK album is Out Of This World. If you want a true heavy rocker, their debut album is a winner in that dpeartment.

I'd actually put it right at #3 behind the debut and "Wings of Tomorrow".

Love,love Europe still a great band.

Michigan Girl wrote:Yayy!! Not even worried about the KS thing ...

LOL, yeah I'm sure we can get through another round of peeps bitching about KS's raw live sound. Hope Joey is on his game re: live vocals, cuz from what I hear there is no going back to fix anything.

S2M wrote:Unless they are planning on going back to their Prisoners in Paradise sound, I'll pass...I'm thinking it'll be just as lame as Eclipse....

Don't blame that on KS. Remember, Neal wouldn't take Kevin's advice and practically redid the entire album. I think Caveman's done a fantastic job with Iron Maiden, Bonamassa's stuff, & Black Country Communion.

Saint John wrote:They would have been far better off with Kevin Elson. Save the jokes, folks.

That would be great to have had Kevin Elson.

Prisoners in Paradise, for me, is the band's best complete album. I could listen to that album from top to bottom and not skip a track. Oh wait, just looked at the tracklist. I would skip "Got Your Mind In The Gutter," but that's 11 out of 12 tracks that are stellar. Out Of This World is a close second. I would put the debut over The Final Countdown. As an album, TFC is really overrated, but it does have their iconic single.

Greg