New EUROPE Album Is 'More Focused' Than 'War Of Kings', Says IAN HAUGLAND

July 12, 2017

Swedish hard rockers EUROPE will release their new album in early October. The follow-up to 2015's "War Of Kings" was laid down at London, England's legendary Abbey Road studios and was produced by Dave Cobb, who also helmed the band's last disc.

Speaking about the new album's recording sessions, EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland told Kaaos TV at the Imatra Pitstop Party in Imatra, Finland on July 8 (see video below): "This time around, I would say that it turned out even better than 'War Of Kings', because we felt more at ease with Dave, 'cause now we knew how he was working from the previous album, from 'War Of Kings', so we felt really like a team immediately. And we knew when we went into the studio that we had a batch of really good song ideas, but when we went out of the studio and the recordings were finished, we had an even stronger feeling. So we took the songs, really, to the next level when we recorded them. So we're really excited about the new music."

Regarding the musical direction of the new EUROPE material, Haugland said: "There are a lot of '70s roots. I think you can hear influences from David Bowie, from LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE, obviously — all those bands that we grew up with. It's a nice mix, but still I think this album has a stronger backbone, stronger identity. I mean, the 'War Of Kings' album had a lot of great songs, but I think the new one is gonna be more focused, sort of. And also sound-wise, I think it's got a warmer and more analog character to the sound, which we love."

EUROPE last year completed a short European tour during which the band played "The Final Countdown" album in its entirety to celebrate the LP's thirtieth anniversary.

A recording of the band's "The Final Countdown" performance at London's legendary Roundhouse will be released on July 21.

"War Of Kings" came out in March 2015 via UDR Music.

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