Swedish band Europe hasn’t released new music since 2006’s Secret
Society and now they are back with a vengeance with Last Look
At Eden, available in several configurations. A five-song EP features
two tunes from the album plus live versions of “Superstitious,”
“Start From The Dark,” and a daring cover of Led Zeppelin’s
“Since I’ve Been Loving You.” Out of the five, I really dig
the classic Europe sound on “Start From The Dark,” while guitarist
John Norum rips it up and Mic Michaeli adds some sweet understated organ on
the Zeppelin number.
The CD comes as a limited edition digipak with two live tracks (“Yesterday’s
News” and “Wake Up Call”) or as a collector’s edition with
live versions of “Sign Of The Times” and “Start From The Dark.”
As for the 12-song CD itself, the title track and “U Devil U” are
pretty much throwaways, but “Gonna Get Ready” and “Catch That
Plane” help kick-start the record into gear. “Gonna” has a
nice pop feel to it, a solid riff with a simple yet effective lyric, while “Catch”
supports a grooving Deep Purple feel. “New Love In Town” begins
with some nice keyboard work as singer Joey Tempest shines.
I really dig “The Beast” with its heavy, crunching chord sequence.
“No Stone Unturned” mines more Purple territory, but the playing
of all the musicians is consistently superb. Note drummer Ian Haugland on “”Only
Young Twice” and the one-two punch of John Leven’s rolling bass
on “Run With The Angels,” and it’s clear the band best known
for the 1986 hit “Final Countdown” still has chops . This is Europe
23 years later, with the potent playing of Norum and big, bombastic voice of
Tempest leading the way. There’s nothing new explored on Last
Look At Eden, but then again, does there have to be?
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
