This was a special show in Sweden, with Europe playing some of their best material (with a few covers) in a largely acoustic setting. There are strings, but there are also keyboards and electric guitar. The best of both worlds!
The band were riding a high wave then, which has really not dissipated since. They had done a couple well received reunion albums (Start From the Dark and Secret Society) and were working on music that many fans consider a peak (Last Look at Eden). Europe have long been an under appreciated band, but Almost Unplugged should win over even the staunchest critic.
“Got to Have Faith” opened Europe’s reunion album Start From the Dark, so it works triumphantly as a concert opener. Here, it is laid back, bluesy with slippery guitars. “Forever Travelling” from Secret Society follows hot on its heels. The string quartet adds drama to this song, which works naturally in the acoustic setting. From the same album is the killer track “Devil Sings the Blues”, highlighted by some splendid John Norum electric guitar noodling.
Every time Europe does a cover, it becomes an album highlight. The acoustic “Wish You Were Here” is beautiful and not at all overdone. Thin Lizzy’s “Suicide” is full on electric, and pretty spot-on, especially considering that Lizzy were a two-guitar band while Europe has a guitar and a keyboard. Covering Led Zeppelin is always risky but “Since I’ve Been Loving You” is surprisingly great. Joey doesn’t try to copy Robert Plant, but he certainly can sing the blues just fine. (Hey! Maybe the devil really does sing the blues! Oh, you devil you!) Just as importantly, Norum plays some electrifying guitar blues over this monster of a cover. The most brilliant cover however is a UFO song: “Love to Love”. More than any other, this one sounds like Europe owned it. It’s very well suited to their dramatic rock stylings, and they absolutely kill it. If there was one track worth buying the CD for, you just found it.
The Europe originals that make up the bulk of the album span the entire history of the band. From the first LP is “Memories”, which in its original version was a brutally heavy stampede. Here, it is an acoustic gallop, just as aggressive, but with subtlety. The piano ballad “Dreamer” comes from the second album, an unsung classic that was a few years shy of fame. The fame and fortune finally came on 1986’s The Final Countdown, and of course the title track is played. In its acoustic version there is no synth hook; it instead played by the string quartet. It’s trippy to hear it done like this; a little strangeness for fun. “Superstitious” (from 1988’s Out of This World) sounds more natural in this format. It’s also refreshing to hear Joey’s voice crack in a couple places. That means this is really truly live.
One should always familiarize with the originals first, but even if you don’t have them, Almost Unplugged should be well enjoyed by any discerning rock fan who doesn’t mind when the acoustics come out.
WTF SEARCH TERMS XXXIII: Trailer Park Life edition
They’re baaaack! Unusual search terms that somebody typed into a search engine only to find themselves here! This time however I can answer some of your questions. There were groupings of numerous Trailer Park Boys search terms this time out. We’re fans here at LeBrain HQ, and we can answer each of them.
1.super double bunk bq episode
Season 3, episode 6: “Where in the Fuck is Randy’s Barbeque?” The Super-Double-Bunk-B-Q is stacked to include two barbeques with two propane tanks, a toaster oven, and an electric stovetop with two burners. There is even a side attachment with a shelf for condiments and a bolt-on television set.
2.what tpb episode did ricky build the hockey rink
WTF Comments IV: “Now I will believe that there are unicorns…” (William Shakespeare, The Tempest)
These comments went into my spam, so even though they are two months old, I didn’t see them until today. The Joey Tempest Conspiracy Theorists have reared their ugly heads again. Not much commentary needed from me this time, just read and see for yourself! It’s just a huge bag of WTF. I’ll only add two things:
1. I couldn’t even hack a calculator.
2. I honestly had no idea Billy was a dude. There are lots of girls named Billy! I thought it was an all-female mob of obsessed Joey Tempest fans. Now we know it’s a mixed gender group. Hooray!
Billy, this is your official public apology for thinking you’re a girl. You don’t have to show me your wang to prove it, I believe you.
Just when I thought this couldn’t get any weirder, I had to check my spam. Jesus. Happy Friday!
WTF SEARCH TERMS XXXI: Freddie Mercury’s Mic Stand edition
Gather ’round yon computers and tablets boys and girls, as we once again recount some of the…errr…more amusing search terms that led people here to mikeladano.com. If you’re new, this is a series of bizarre things that people have typed into search engines to get here. And once again, this proves that there are some pretty sick individuals out there! Let’s begin.
The Swedish rock band Europe, and their singer Joey Tempest, have been the source of many bizarre hits from the search terms. This is NOTthe firsttime!
1.joey tempest satanist 2.satanist sign on shert of joey tempest 3.opinion of joey tempest about religion
Not sure why the obsession with Joey Tempest and religion. At all.
Here’s one to warm the heart:
4.avril fuck by bruce dickinson
And I’m sure many people have this question:
5.did freddie mercury masturbate his mic stand
Next up we have Poison. I’m sure Poison had lots of dirty sex back in the day, but this? Who the fuck wants to know? Bobby Dall is, like, the least sexy guy in Poison.
6. bobby dall sex tales
And we round out today’s list with just a bunch of dirty, filthy shit. Literally.
7.trough urinal dick parade 8.film porno women shit and piss 9.boy to boy big cock six part 10.hyenas fucking
Thank you internet! You are the gift that keeps on giving.
WTF Search Terms XXIX: Joey Tempest’s Real Hair edition
Good day, eh? Welcome to the latest edition of WTF Search Terms: those whacky things people type into a search engine that somehow lead them here! I find that certain topics go in waves. For example, a popular question often searched for is “Can Marilyn Manson suck his own dick?” (Answer: No.) These things come and go like trends. Nobody will search for Manson’s dick for months, and then suddenly in one week, I’m getting multiple hits for Manson’s wang using different phrasing. Of course, that could still just be one person, trying and clicking in vain that it will be a different site this time….
Lately, Joakim Larsson, better known as Joey Tempest, the lead singer (or not?) of Europe, has popped up in search terms, and in the comments! Remember a few months back, when we were visited by Joey’s supposed spouse, Miranda Larsson? This time, in fact, Joakim himself stopped by to say hello:
Woah!
Before you start kneeling and cawing “We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy!”, let’s have a closer look. Joey apparently uses a Yahoo email address, and according to the IP address, lives in Virginia. His IP address is also an exact match with a previous comment left by “Miranda Larsson”, also living in Virginia. But wait…according to Wikipedia and its source material, “Joey Tempest currently lives in London with his wife Lisa Worthington and sons James Joakim and Jack Johnston Larsson. He does not have any social media pages apart from the official ones for Europe listed on their website.”
Conclusion: Sadly, I do not think the real Joey Tempest has ever had the fortune to stop by here at mikeladano.com. I guess I’ll have to remain content with a bitchy Kenny Hotz comment from a couple years ago.
These recent comments came with a spate of WTF search terms! Seems I’m not the only one wondering about Miranda and Joey and…well…and just see for yourself. Enjoy these Joey (and one for bandmate John Norum) WTFs!
WTF Search Terms XXVII: Joey Tempest Strikes Back edition
Been a long time since I rock and rolled? Hardly! I just rock and rolled last night actually. But it has been a long time since we’ve seen some WTF Search Terms! (The last was in March.) These are the most bizarre of the bizarre search terms that somehow led people to mikeladano.com. Today’s instalment includes a couple for the Dark Lord of the Sith himself: Joey Tempest (you devil, you!) and a fair share of farts.
I think the next person was looking for Joey aka Joakim Larsson as well!
presinor in paradies song
Here ya go, fella! This would actually be the first album with Fake Joey.
Here are some fart and bowel related search terms:
thunder fart piss
how to rip on coworker who is constipated
white lion till death do us fart
faith no more farts
The video where Mike Patton farts into his microphone is called You Fat Bastards: Live at the Brixton Academy. Here ya go, fella!* 20 seconds in. You’re welcome. You’re all welcome!
Here’s an old classic for you. Were you aware that the Boobsy Animation Whore Wearing Glasses Acquired Screwed series was up to Part 7 already?
boobsy animation whores wearing glasses acquire screwed hardcore part 7
The question below is one I have often wondered. Not really a WTF, but a good question. Should they have called the album something else?
why did cinderella release “long cold winter” album in may
In England, it was released in July. Imagine that!
Then, the below search term is a belief I do hold. It’s OK if you don’t but why are you searching for this? Is there one definitive authority who “knows” this? (If so, let it be me?)
Finally, I’d like to close this batch of search terms with a guy who, well, he hasn’t been featured in WTF search terms for a long time. His last appearance was WTF Search Terms XVI, back in February 2014. Please welcome back the founder and bare buttocks of W.A.S.P., Mr. Steven Edward Duren aka Blackie Lawless!
biggest ass in leather
black lawless is an arse hole
Thank you, goodnight!
* Yes I made the assumption that the searcher was male. Because farts.
The world of Rock and Roll fandom is filled with many varieties: The Uber Fan who owns everything, the Casual Fan who owns what they want, and the Obsessed Fan. They have a complete set of Tico Torres’ toe nails, and a collection of restraining orders against them. These are just some examples. There are many more fan types, across every genre of music. While I’m usually more interested in the collections of the Uber Fan, sometimes the Obsessed can provide hours of entertaining befuddlement.
Based on limited exposure to one of these categories, we at LeBrain HQ have scientifically determined that the rock band Europe have an inordinate amount of Obsessed Fans. What it is specifically that attracts them to the authors of “Let the Good Times Rock” and “Cherokee”, Trump only knows. But there is a particularly vehement subsect of the obsessed focusing specifically on their lead singer Joey Tempest, aka Rolf Magnus Joakim Larsson (he of the well-coifed head). We have first-hand evidence of this, presented below.
Our first encounter with an Obsessed Tempest Fan came with someone called “Carieann”, in June. “Carieann” insisted that Joey Tempest was not really Joey Tempest. An excerpt from her lengthy comment:
“This is for all those who say that the band Europe is still great or that still make great albums – STOP writing such a shocking nonsenses and stupidities!! All last albums are false and absolutely horrible and this fake band has nothing in common with the real group Europe from the 80’s, now they make fake records, fake and lifeless music without a soul, fake “shows”, all is fake and false and that’s because since the middle of 1989 the real Joey Tempest is not in this band and Joey was truly the only one who has made this group huge with his talents, awesomeness and uniqueness!! And since 26 years there’s such a horrible imposter and liar in this “group”, that’s not the real Joey Tempest!! The real Joey Tempest had to leave the group because of this horrible liar!! It’s so obvious and so clear to see that it’s just someone different (unless you’re blind and deaf, like bunch of ignorants).”
OK, then. But things took on a religious slant:
“This horrid demon also released solo albums under the name of Joey, still insolently pretending to be Joey Tempest!!! And this disgusting, hideous and rude imposter has nothing in common with the real Joey Tempest, Europe’s vocalist in 1982-1989, not only his looks and sound of voice are completely different but also behaviour, eyes, facial features, personality and absolutely everything!! And the excuse that it could be because the years have passed, it’s just such a stupid and lame excuse!!! This is just a totally different person!! It’s not even a person, he acts like some kind of a devil!! He isn’t even real Joey’ Tempest’s look-alike and never, ever will be like Joey!!! […] There’s not even comparison between him and the real Joey Tempest!! This demonic devil only cares about himself, this whole falsity and not about the “fans”, his main and the only goal is to make fools of as many people as possible to still gain more and more as long as it’s possible undeservedly and you all brainless idiots still help him to do this!!!”
Even though we are all “brainless idiots”, some Googling revealed that “Carieann” had been dumping steaming piles of this conspiracytheory all over the web since 2014.
Always looking to prod the grizzly, we posted a parody of a Europe review that lampooned “Carieann’s” comments. This parody review was loaded with over-the-top statements that served to underline just how weird this conspiracy theory is. I wish I came up with all of these statements myself, but it was a collaborative effort, with a Godlike genius of the written word who not only refuses to be identified, but has now hired 24 hour security for his premises. Here are some excerpts from that parody review, which we felt was a fairly obvious pastiche.
“Without Joey’s talent and unique abilities, the band is a lost joke; twisted and sad – imagine, it would be like Deep Purple without Nick Simper – just unthinkable!”
“Joey would NEVER let his hair go flat like that! Wake up people!”
“I have proof written on the back of a beer mat that in 1994 Matt Groening was forced to rewrite a Futurama episode that obliquely referenced the scandal. “
The article was credited to author “Jesse A. Jones” (a portmanteau of noted conspiracy theorists Jesse Ventura and Alex Jones), who is “Professor Emeritus of Applied Conspiracy at the University of Punkeydoodles Corners and author of ‘Paul is Dead: The Amazing Beatles Conspiracy’, ‘Lennon Lives! Why John Isn’t Dead’ and ‘George! Satan’s Favourite Beatle’.” Not to put too fine a point on it, but we felt this was a pretty obvious joke, especially with credits like those.
All a bit of an innocent giggle; some harmless fun, yes? Not where the Obsessed Tempest Fans come in! Several weeks after posting, this parody review was hit with comments from…Joey Tempest’s wife “Miranda” and her friends “Billy” and “Doreen”?! What is this?! More disgruntled minor celeb encounters to add to my collection?
At first, I took it all at face value, until I actually looked into Joey’s marital status, which was when it all got a little bit strange. All sources state that his wife is named Lisa Worthington, not “Miranda Larrson”. In fact a little digging revealed even more: accusations that “Miranda” had been making the rounds online “claiming” to be Joey’s wife. Then I found a slew of Youtube videos by Miranda: low quality “duets”with Europe songs straight from the album, claiming to be by “Joey and Miranda”.
Come on; we’ve all done it, haven’t we? I once spent the whole summer of ’90 pretending to be married to Lita Ford.
Read the whole thing unfolding for yourself. Follow the links below directly for the best comments by Miranda and her friends, “Billy Low” and “All-Caps Doreen” (aka “Caps-Lock Doreen”). If you’d rather read the whole thing from start to finish, then hit up the first comment from “Doreen” for the beginning of this…discussion. (?) Make a coffee, sit down and enjoy!
After intensive study (at the University of Google), we have concluded that not only does Joey Tempest have at least one fan who think he’s not really Joey Tempest (a mind-boggler in itself), but he also boasts deluded followers who think he’s married to them! At the very best, even if we took Miranda’s claims purely at face value, and assumed she is indeed the new Mrs. Larrson, then Joey Tempest has friends who have serious problems with reading and comprehension. The entire thing just went completely over their heads. That’s the best-case scenario here. That is the sunniest possible outlook.
The life of a rock star! We only see the glamorous side, but then you have this dark side dealing with obsession. Or, as the great man (the real Joey, I mean) sang on “Love Chaser”:
Someone’s at your door tonight, Someone wants your love, Is it real or just imagination?
(Posted from our secret underground bunker, Nunavut Canada.)
RECORD STORE TALES MkII: Getting More Tale #420: Walk With Meat
Everybody loves misheard lyrics! “’Scuse me while I kiss this guy.” There are entire books available with nothing but commonly misheard lyrics. My dad used to think Gene Simmons was singing “a beach creature in the Ladies Room” on that Kiss classic from Rock N’ Roll Over. Misheard lyrics can be embarrassing when caught singing along, but also fun.
Perhaps some lyrics are not misheard at all. Perhaps some are intentional?
My good friend Uncle Meat pointed out a good one on Queenryche’s 1986 track “Walk in the Shadows”. This opening song from the amazing Rage For Order album has remained a fan-favourite over the years. Its progressive-rock-meets-technology vibe was very new for the time, though it was skeptically met by fans of pure guitar rock. As much as Rage For Order broke new musical ground, it was also quite complex lyrically. I even studied some of the songs (“Neue Regel”, “Chemical Youth”, and “Surgical Strike”) for a highschool English project. But what was Geoff Tate saying in the lyrics?
What? You say you’re through with me, I’m not through with you, We’ve had what others might call love.
Only mildly disturbing. Sounds like a clingy ex-lover who can’t face that his relationship is over.
You say it’s over now, What’s done, what’s through? You can’t stay away, you need me, I need you.
Again, still clingy and slightly desperate. Nothing of any depth or hidden meaning though. It’s all right there on the page. But wait….
Ow! You got to stay with me…(Walk with me) Oooh! Walk in the shadows (Walk with MEAT), Walk in the shadows (Walk with me), Ahhh, yeah! Walk in the shadows, WOO! (Walk with MEAT), Walk in the shadows (Walk with me), Ah, ahh, ahhhhh! Walk in the shadows (Walk with MEAT), Walk with me!
Listen to the end of the song. You can clearly hear the “t” in “Meat” on every other line in the outro. Clearly! And notice how Geoff puts his emphasis and screams and fill-ins on the MEAT lines. He even threw in a “woo” there. How often do you hear Geoff Tate throwing “woos” into his lines? So what was Geoff Tate really trying to tell us on “Walk in the Shadows”?*
Analyzing the lyrics of the song, and digging into the album itself for more clues, I think I have finally figured out the true, hidden story behind “Walk in the Shadows” by Queensryche. The technological theme takes us into the future. That much is obvious from the album’s lyrics and concepts. “I only dream infrared,” and all the high-tech artificial intelligence hints at a future that had not existed in 1986. We are getting closer, but thankfully the robots haven’t revolted yet. Tate is obviously foretelling the future rather than singing about current events in 1986.
Some time in late ’85, when Geoff Tate was knee-deep in a vat of red wine, a bottle fell off his top shelf, hit him on the head and knocked him out cold. He awoke in a future that is still far away, even for us in 2015. The year is unknown – Geoff was still too loaded on wine to pick up a newspaper and read the date. However one thing is known – the future will be dominated by Uncle Meat. Tate wandered this future landscape for some time, and witnessed things that no-one would believe. His only option was to hide these warnings in the lyrics of a concept album. That album was Rage For Order. “Walk in the Shadows” was the opening song. That’s how Geoff Tate plays his cards — right there on the table.
“Walk in the shadows, walk with MEAT.” Geoff had seen a glimpse of our planet’s glorious future. Walk with him and you will see – the future is walking with MEAT. You couldn’t get any clearer. Once you hear that not-so-subtle “T” in “Meat”, the rest slowly reveals itself, like a puzzle with the edges already finished.
For Tommy Morais’ excellent 4/5 star review of this album,click here, and to skip directly to the comment that started it all,click here!
GUEST REVIEW by academic and rock fan “Jesse A. Jones”*
EUROPE – War of Kings (2015 UDR)
The Swedish rock band Europe stormed onto the charts in the mid 1980’s with uplifting keyboard oriented pop rock, written by singer and founder Joey Tempest, a golden fluffy-haired gifted soul. Then their slide down the charts began. Albums like Out of This World sold fewer and fewer copies and the band finally broke up in the early 90’s, amid rumours that even their own mothers now preferred The Hives.
Unfortunately for fans and the band, these would be the last great albums Europe would make! The fact that mainstream rock magazines still praise Europe is shocking nonsense. It’s hard to believe anyone buys that stupidity! There has not been a real “Europe” in 26 years! It’s a conspiracy involving many producers, record label execs, musicians, writers, FIFA and the worldwide media cartel as a whole. The Bilberbergers know but say nothing, while the Rothschilds remain silent. I have proof written on the back of a beer mat that in 1994 Matt Groening was forced to rewrite a Futurama episode that obliquely referenced the scandal. Shadowy elements of the secret world government have stifled independent thought and critical opinions, ensuring we will all remain unquestioning and loyal, to both our governments and rock bands alike!
Well, ladies and gentlemen it is my sworn duty to tell you the truth and I will not be silenced, or my integrity bought for 30 pieces of record company silver!
The problem is the Europe of today has nothing in common with the real group Europe that topped the charts in 1987. Literally. Committing a conspiracy of great scale, they have been secretly and knowingly touring with an imposter singer since 1989! Their last horrible and fake albums (lifeless and without soul) were not written by the real Joey Tempest. Without Joey’s talent and unique abilities, the band is a lost joke; twisted and sad – imagine, it would be like Deep Purple without Nick Simper – just unthinkable!
The truth remains shrouded in mystery. The only details now known, thanks to a covert informant “C.A.”, is that the imposter Joey forced out the real Joey sometime in 1989, using a complex web of lies and half-truths. Plastic surgeons and vocal coaches helped the fake Joey in his goals, and were paid off for their silence, or disappeared. Some say that the real reason that the late celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Fredric Brandt suffered from depression was keeping this whole thing secret. Then, having successfully replaced Joey without anyone noticing, Europe continued to tour with a new voice and face fronting the band, raking in millions. It is quite remarkable that very few fans have noticed this imposter. “Joey’s” voice changed on 1991’s Prisoner’s in Paradise album but the complicit media have either ignorantly or purposely covered it up. Fans have wondered why Joey’s hair style and hair colour changed on that album, assuming it was just a superficial change. Little did they know that the head and face behind the hair had also changed! Joey would NEVER let his hair go flat like that! Wake up people!
Europe with the imposter have made a semi-successful go of it, edging themselves towards world domination, even placing third in Sweden’s Got Talent in 2013, but for an unknown, sinister purpose. True fans, distinguishable from the herd by their password ‘Cherokee – marching on the trail of tears’, who know and appreciate the talents of the real Joey, have wondered what happened, but no-one listens. As for the fake fans, how could YOU do this to the real Joey? How could YOU not even notice this shadow of a Joey up there on stage singing fake odes to “Carrie”? Shame on the fans, and most of all shame on the band for not stopping this charade 26 years ago!
Just look at the songs here! “Children of the Night”. The real Joey would never have written a song about “children of the night”, “California 405” is the highway that O.J. Simpson was chased down – a definite clue that there was something more going on here than meets the eye! Why would Europe specifically reference that notorious highway unless they were implying some sort of wrongdoing behind the scenes?
Just listen to the song “Praise You” on this album. As if the real Joey would have written “Praise You”! This rude, obscene imposter has terrible lyrics and evil facial expressions. He is a demonic devil from hell who only cares for himself, not the fans and certainly not the spirit of the original Joey – with the voice, face and hair of an angel. The real Joey gave the fans everything he had. His reward was being ousted by an imposter who now receives all the love and praise from ignorant and deceived “fans” who are too stupid to notice the difference. His only goal in this world is to lie and fool as many fans as possible while he laughs raking in the money! No talent, no soul, no voice! That’s the fake Joey right there. Just listen to War Of Kings, it’s as if he and the whole band are actively setting out to destroy the affection of the fans and ruin the legacy of the band as a whole. Well I won’t sit idly by and let this happen! No sir!
Some will say, “Well you are wrong. His hair and voice change with style and age.” No. Look at his eyes. They are not the same eyes, you can see the yawning chasms of hellfire deep in those pupils. Joey tried to warn you what was happening. Read the lyrics to “Stranger on the Track”! Make sense now? Joey was warning you that “danger” was on his back and nobody listened. Joey stood for love and the truth! Long live love! Long live the truth! One day Joey will return and prove this all to be true, with the original angelic voice of Europe!
It is hard though to bear this burden, sometimes even I start to doubt, but then I only have to look down at the words tattooed on my thigh; words of inspiration, words of power, the real Joey’s words and I find the strength to go on, in his name.
Rock now, rock the night
‘Til early in the morning light
Rock now, rock the night
You’d better believe it’s right.
No rating
* Professor Emeritus of Applied Conspiracy at the University of Punkeydoodles Corners and author of ‘Paul Is Dead: The Amazing Beatles Conspiracy’, ‘Lennon Lives! Why John Isn’t Dead’ and ‘George! Satan’s Favorite Beatle’.
It’s been two years since Tommy Morais contributed a review here. It is with great joy that I celebrate Tommy’s return, and that of the rock band Europe! Please join me in welcoming back Tommy, a great reviewer originally from the province of New Brunswick, Canada.
NEW RELEASE review by TOMMY MORAIS
“Europe establishes itself as a modern classic rock band”
EUROPE – War of Kings (2015 UDR)
After the bluesy affair that was Bag of Bones, the band Europe returns to a heavier sound and approach on War of Kings and ultimately, a more Europe-sounding album. The band has essentially transformed itself from its glam metal roots to essentially become a modern classic rock band. I’ve always been a fan of albums like Wings of Tomorrow and Out of This World, just as l am a fan of Last Look At Eden and their recent albums. If anyone cares to listen there’s more to this band than “The Final Countdown”, the occasional hit song and power ballads. For anyone who’s been keeping track, they know that the last few Europe albums have been very enjoyable and saw them release some of their best music thus far in their career (Last Look At Eden, Start From The Dark, Secret Society).
The title track opens up, and it’s every bit as epic sounding as you expect it to be. It’s a raunchy, slow down and dirty metallic number. Europe makes it clear from the get-go that they’re going in a heavy direction. “Hole in my Pocket” is a more light and upbeat track, and whereas the first track sounded more metal this one is more energetic AOR rock (with a blistering John Norum solo). “Second Day” is one of the highlights for me: the lyrics and the feel of the song are inspiring and Joey Tempest’s voice sounds like some part deep on him is aching and it’s brilliant. “Praise You” is a slow tempo rocker, not-quite ballad with a bluesy feel (Norum’s playing is just magnificent here) with hard rock tempo changes… this track really surprised me! “Nothin’ To Ya” is in a similar vein as the title track in that it goes for an epic feel but there’s orchestration on in the background that makes it interesting.
“California 405” is a cool mellow, almost easy-listening song. “Days of Rock ‘N’ Roll” is probably the closest sounding thing to a “The Final Countdown” here, and that is based on the joyous riff it possesses. Another solid rocker. “Children of the Night” is a dark sounding tune with some excelling guitar playing, something almost fit for the late great Ronnie James Dio. “Rainbow Bridge” has an exotic sound; it makes me feel like l’m about to enter some place like Morocco. It’s this album’s “Kashmir”, very different and very cool. “Angels (With Broken Hearts”) could almost be considered a ballad but it’s really a slow, here-comes-the-heartache piece with the music doing the biggest talking. “Light Me Up” is not bad at all, but it’s my least favourite song on War of Kings and not the best way to end the album.
For what it is I quite enjoy War of Kings, and it offers a solid collection of songs. Joey Tempest’s voice has aged like a fine wine where you can tell he’s comfortable and confident in his abilities, and this is possibly the best he’s ever sounded in all honesty. John Norum is a very talented guitar player and he has his shining moments in his riffs and solos, and puts a little blues out there as well. Europe are competent musicians and it certainly comes across as such, and maybe even more so now that they have moved past the “glam” and “hair” metal tags. I feel like since their comeback in the early 2000’s they’ve truly become a modern classic rock band in sound and spirit (don’t worry they still love and play the classics and hits live).
While it’s true that you only get one first impression, l wish more people would give Europe a chance, because they’re not the same band they were during the 80’s and they’ve become better musicians as time passed by. I think a lot of classic rock fans who didn’t like Europe during their most successful years especially might enjoy this a lot more than they’d ever think. Maybe some were hoping for a nostalgia trip but the keyboards and power ballads are not to be found here, this is a more mature Europe and a very fine one at that. For that reason l think some would like this a lot more. And if you were a fan all along then what are you waiting for? Pick this up and give it a spin. I praise Europe for giving us a true great hard rock record in 2015.
EUROPE – Almost Unplugged (2009 MVD Audio)
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