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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Europe - Walk The Earth-(VIZP-154) + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Dec-05-2017 Encoder......L3.98.4 -V0 --lowpas ║ │
│║ Genre........Hard Rock Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2017 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........10 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.europetheband.com ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Europe Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Walk The Earth-(VIZP-154) Label : Victor ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Europe returned to our shores, and our record ║ │
│║ racks, in 2005 on the back of an excellent ║ │
│║ comeback album. During the last decade theyÆve ║ │
│║ consolidated their revival with a succession of ║ │
│║ generally well-received albums and also with a ║ │
│║ selection of different producers. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ You could deduce that for some of the time they ║ │
│║ were trying to overcome the perception that at ║ │
│║ the height of their late-eighties popularity ║ │
│║ they were a bit cheesy and their credentials ║ │
│║ have been bolstered by their professed love for ║ │
│║ bands such as Deep Purple and Rainbow . This ║ │
│║ was also reflected in albums like æBag Of ║ │
│║ BonesÆ. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ 2015's æWar Of KingsÆ was patchy, the keyboards ║ │
│║ surprisingly buried for the most part, Norum ║ │
│║ neutered, and with only a handful of really ║ │
│║ standout tracks. In the meantime, the band have ║ │
│║ been touring their 30th anniversary celebration ║ │
│║ of the Final Countdown album in its entirety. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The lead single and title track of æWalk The ║ │
│║ EarthÆ shows that it is business as usual and ║ │
│║ the band continue the orchestrated pomp and ║ │
│║ eastern overtones that was first really evident ║ │
│║ on æLast Look At EdenÆ. But by the third ║ │
│║ track the plot is unravelling. æKingdom UnitedÆ ║ │
│║ sounds like something Uriah Heep might have ║ │
│║ released in their prog heyday with allusions to ║ │
│║ ôRunnymedeö and ôWaterlooö. Even a Schenker- ║ │
│║ esque Norum solo cannot save this one. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The ballad æPicturesÆ is turgid, with a ║ │
│║ melancholic mellotron-esque undertow û and not ║ │
│║ a match for earlier balladic glories whilst ║ │
│║ æElection DayÆ is nothing that hasnÆt been done ║ │
│║ before (and better) by Deep Purple and ditto the ║ │
│║ song æGTOÆ. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ThereÆs been a trend, especially with ôheritageö ║ │
│║ bands, to put out new albums merely to top up ║ │
│║ their core repertoire rather then break new ║ │
│║ ground. It gives them an excuse to go out on ║ │
│║ tour. The brave and enlightened play these new ║ │
│║ albums in their entirety but many ignore them, ║ │
│║ or play a few tracks and merely regurgitate the ║ │
│║ safe setlist. IÆve never understood this. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The sad thing here is that û compared to the ║ │
│║ core offering û most of æWalk The EarthÆ ║ │
│║ wouldnÆt merit inclusion in a setlist. And the ║ │
│║ 40 minutes playing time still seems economical ║ │
│║ even in this new age of vinyl. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Europe might have been spoilt in their revival ║ │
│║ by those punters baying for æCarrieÆ and æRock ║ │
│║ The NightÆ and this might explain the generally ║ │
│║ warm reception to the revival of an album that ║ │
│║ received mixed reviews back in 1986. It was ║ │
│║ much more visceral and unalloyed when they ║ │
│║ reappeared in 2004-7. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Kevin Shirley came along and then Dave Cobb who ║ │
│║ has simply allowed the band to have their head ║ │
│║ of steam with seemingly no intervention. The ║ │
│║ production values are contemporary but I would ║ │
│║ love to hear this album in the hands of somebody ║ │
│║ like Chris Tsangerides or Ron Nevison. But ║ │
│║ maybe even they couldnÆt save it. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Individually the band performances are of a high ║ │
│║ standard as you would expect but John NorumÆs ║ │
│║ guitar work (a highlight of their comeback) ║ │
│║ still seems somewhat perfunctory and, to be ║ │
│║ frank, lazy. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The album only slightly redeems itself with the ║ │
│║ final salvos of æWhenever YouÆre ReadyÆ and the ║ │
│║ longest track æTurn To DustÆ . The latterÆs ║ │
│║ play-out recalls The BeatlesÆ ôI Want You ║ │
│║ (SheÆs So Heavy)ö maybe reflecting the bandÆs ║ │
│║ recording residency at Abbey Road. So û after ║ │
│║ forty minutes û you will still be saying ôIÆve ║ │
│║ heard all this beforeö. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ You may not like Glenn and the crew but compare ║ │
│║ and contrast with the energy and power that is ║ │
│║ present on the latest Black Country Communion ║ │
│║ offering where even Joe Bonamassa lets rip like ║ │
│║ his life depended on it. And donÆt get me ║ │
│║ started on Sons of Apollo (ôDivine Addictionö is ║ │
│║ amongst the very best tracks of 2017). I can ║ │
│║ only think a certain complacency or lack of ║ │
│║ direction has taken hold in the Europe camp. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ This is the third Europe album with their ║ │
│║ current label û about whom there is nothing on ║ │
│║ the web and no website û and the only available ║ │
│║ edition (on Amazon) seems to be a deluxe version ║ │
│║ with DVD at a rather extortionate price. Am I ║ │
│║ being cynical, but a seasoned reviewer in a ║ │
│║ prominent classic rock magazine salivates over ║ │
│║ the album calling it the best thing since their ║ │
│║ return in 2003 in an issue which features a ║ │
│║ prominent two page promotional spread? ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ As someone who has actually followed the bandÆs ║ │
│║ millennium renaissance with some excitement, ║ │
│║ engagement, and occasionally with bated breath I ║ │
│║ really hoped theyÆd move things up a notch with ║ │
│║ this album. Sadly, not. Europe may walk the ║ │
│║ earth, but in boots weighed down in mire. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - Walk The Earth [04:16] │
│ 02 - The Siege [04:01] │
│ 03 - Kingdom United [02:52] │
│ 04 - Pictures [04:49] │
│ 05 - Election Day [04:06] │
│ 06 - Wolves [03:55] │
│ 07 - GTO [03:29] │
│ 08 - Haze [03:49] │
│ 09 - Whenever You're Ready [02:51] │
│ 10 - Turn To Dust [06:51] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [40:59 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
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│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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