EUROPE and Sanctuary Records renew their bond

Sanctuary Records GmbH is looking forward to continue its successful partnership with Swedish superstar rockers EUROPE in 2006.
The hard rock heros – still in the original line-up with front man Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, keyboarder Mic Michaeli, drummer Ian Haugland and bass player John Leven – present their 7th studio album "Secret Society", released once more on Sanctuary Records GmbH.
Already in 2004 Sanctuary Records and EUROPE celebrated a fantastic comeback with "Start From The Dark" together. This year the fruitful co-operation between band and label continues, adding the US and Scandinavia as additional territories. Truly, in 2006, EUROPE are reinventing themselves and are seeking new challenges!
Stylistically, their previous album "Start From The Dark" was still close to the sound and songwriting of their hugely successful 1986 album "The Final Countdown" which sold 8 million copies worldwide. "Secret Society" is a definitive step forward into the ranks of other contemporary hard rock legends. Mixed by Stefan Glaumann (e.g. Rammstein, Within Temptation, Apoptygma Berzerk) and mastered by George Marino (e.g. Velvet Revolver, U2) in the Sterling Sound Studios, N.Y., this entirely self-produced album sounds deliciously modern and tips its hat only once in a while to past accomplishments or pays hommage to idols Led Zeppelin, who also worked with EUROPE's sound engineer Lennart Östlund.
Frank Stroebele, Sanctuary's President Continental Europe is thrilled: "I am a big fan of melodic hard rock. EUROPE is one of the few bands that produced worldwide hits whilst keeping their feet firmly on the ground at the same time. Furthermore they continue to impress with their incredible live shows. The band exudes an energy that is contagious and electrifying. Ever since their reunion, the band - thanks to writing and touring together - profits from an extraordinarily fresh creativity. This creativity is evident on their new album "Secret Society". Here at Sanctuary Records we are very proud to have EUROPE on our
artist-roster, perfectly complementing our existing roster, spanning classic rock legends such as Billy Idol or the Simple Minds, and new, young, aspiring artists such as DragonForce."
"Will things ever be the same again?" No! With their brand new sound Europe ascend to new heights.
Great composition skills paired with versatile sound variations, a brilliant mix of raw rock-chart modernity and soft metal ballads prepare Europe for great deeds. The five Swedes strongly believe that constant development equals artistic progress and that there's more to discover out there than planet Mars:
"Forever Traveling", "Love Is Not The Enemy" and "A Mother's Son", invite listeners to a meaningful and introspective journey to the Self as well as being thorougly entertaining at the same time. Acoustic guitars and piano parts make way to melodious toughness. The opening song "Secret Society" successfully attempts a stint into psychedelic waters reminicent of Led Zeppelin, the promotion single "Always The Pretenders" provides the blue print for the album, whilst "Devil Sings The Blues" combines new and old in equal measure.
"With so many things to be found" seems to be the lead motif for Europe and their search ends with an ambitious goal: to be a rock legend that effortlessly withstands comparisons to contemporary standards, whilst at the same time being in the great position to unearth their timeless classics. Which of course it will, when they will soon rock the venues near you again!
EUROPE release their new album „Secret Society" on 27. October – accompanied by several concerts throughout Europe.