The 80s were definitely not Europe’s final countdown. The band is still
blasting off — this time into worlds of brash, pile-driving guitars that
have sent synthesizers running for their lives. Secret Society
is rough. It’s nasty. It’s jagged. And yes — it’s Europe.
Europe! That revelation may drop your jaw to the floor, but it will be walloped
back into place by the fiercely potent music Europe now plays.
On this CD, Europe wields astounding sledgehammer rock that will smash any
stereotypes about them to smithereens. Secret Society sounds
like Velvet Revolver, Buckcherry, and Audioslave having a three-way, and awakening
the next morning unashamed and raring to go at it again. Europe’s original
lineup, including singer Joey Tempest and guitarist John Norum, is intact; their
music a much more confident and focused offshoot of 2004’s Start
From The Dark. Tempest has said that with this album, they’ve
finally arrived, and it’s hard to disagree. It’s all meat; no filler
or by-products.
From start to finish, the self-produced Secret Society won’t
allow listeners to hang on the ropes — each song lands punches solidly
and relentlessly, from the slam-bang title-cut intro, straight through to the
dusky shadings of the finale, “Devil Sings the Blues.” Yes, there
are keyboards on “Secret Society,” but this go-round, Mic Michaeli
tinkles the ivories with a deft understatement that complements the music, rather
than dominating it. And an undercurrent of progressive rock still flows through
some of the songs, such as the first single, “Always the Pretenders,”
but that flow now churns like white-water rapids. There’s a ballad, too,
but it’s not even a distant relative of “Carrie” — “A
Mother’s Son” is majestic yet gritty, matching its equally strong
lyrical tribute to unconditional parental love: “A mother’s son
never walks alone/No matter what he’s become.” Even if you’ve
been to Europe before, consider another visit. Same natives; exciting new terrain.
It will be quite an adventure!
~ Merryl Lentz
