Since their reunion in 2003 with the classic lineup from the “Final Countdown” album; Joey Tempest on vocals, John Norum on guitar, bassist John Leven, keyboardist Mic Michaeli, and Ian Haugland (drums), Europe have released five albums: “Start from the Dark” (2004), “Secret Society”, “Last Look at Eden”, “Bag of Bones” in 2012, and “War Of Kings”. Now, new millennium Europe don’t sound as they did in the 80s. Gone is the glossy pop metal sheen (and tuning) of the hit rockers and ballads. Aside from Joey’s vocal tone, the music is grittier, the keyboards act more as a backing to the guitars. So stylistically, it is more 70s hard rock with a groove, a little blues, soul, and even touches of European power metal heard on ‘Last Look at Eden’.

With that, “War Of Kings” opening title track has a darker vibe to the riff and keyboards and signals a return to “Eden”. But, Europe now are more contemporary, yet old school, and these riffs and some deliveries feels closer to their roots in the first two albums. A juxtaposition that strangely works. It can be heard in Norum’s influence from Gary Moore which appears often throughout these tracks, and in Michaeli’s keys and how much Jon Lord (‘California 405’), and Uriah Heep, seeps in the instrumental tones and how the two instruments work together. This really the backbone to modern Europe. From the touches of guitars effects in ‘Hole In My Pocket’, to the Purple meets Sabbath moody ‘Praise You’. Never thought you’d hear those two hard rock architects mentioned in a Europe album review, huh? Well, its true. But then again, Europe have always been versatile and talented. They were exploring this on the album “Prisoners In Paradise” in 1991. Problem is, the majority, and stubborn, only want to know them for the hits singles and ballads. Shame shame. The solo to ‘Nothin To Ya’ continues to demonstrate Norum is not the same guy from the 80s. ‘Days Of Rock n Roll’, and ‘Rainbow Bridge’ (ironically enough) feels like they could be from a Rainbow album, while ‘Child Of The Mind’ gets down and dirty with the bass line.

Still, I’d like to see Europe try and recapture the sounds from the first two albums because you can hear so much how those songs influenced the Scandinavian bands.