Europe :: Secret Society

Picking up where they left off with 'Start In The Dark', Swedish rockers EUROPE return with their seventh release, 'Secret Society'. This time around the band seems much more comfortable on this album. Elevating their AOR rock roots by juicing it up with a modern hard edge sound. Honestly, I think the band sounds better than ever. Joey Tempest's vocals are once again out of this world and John Norum's guitar work is superb! While, bassist John Leven, keyboardist Mic Michaeli, and drummer Ian Haugland provide the band with rock solid foundation. Overall, 'Secret Society' is a solid ball of rock from start to finish. I have to admit. I had my doubts about the band following up their previous outing. But, with the album, they have erased any doubt that I may had. 'Secret Society', just like its predecessor is more harder edge that what they used to sound back in the 80s. Joey and the boys set it off in rocking fashion with the electrifying title track, a solid modernized rocker that gives off that Led Zep vibe. This one rocks hard and heavy, and John Norum proves that his guitar skills have not diminished over the years. Then you have, "Always The Pretender", the first single off the new album, the band gets right back into the hard and heavy. I thank the rock gods for getting John back into the band (not knocking Kee Marchello), this is definitely where he belongs. On songs like, "Wish I Could Believe" and "Mother's Son", Joey gets to put his vocal prowess on display. Showing that the boy show they still have a knack for writing great power ballads. The overall feel of this album is extremely immediate, the songs firmly planting themselves in your brain until you find yourself breaking out your air guitar doing your best guitar god pose in the mirror kicking out the jams! The bottom line, 'Secret Society' is loaded with excellent material from start to finish. Heavy guitar riffs and catchy choruses give you that,” high as a mountaintop" feeling. It's simple; get your hands on this album. No futher analysis needed, trust me. WELCOME TO THE SOCIETY.