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Gli storici svedesi di Stoccolma ritornano sulle scene dopo un lungo silenzio durato la bellezza di tredici anni, avendoci lasciato con quel capolavoro A.O.R. dei nineties al nome di "Prisoners In Pradise" del 1991.
Invece di proseguire sulla linea pomp-rock eighties flavoured, i cinque scandinavi stravolgono completamente il sound che li rese famosi in favore di un approccio molto piú ruvido, vicino a sonoritá reminiscenti un hard-metal piuttosto moderno. Il risultato finale conferisce alla band un'attutudine "heavy" che spiazza e sorprende piacevolmente, confermando ai piú che le radici del celebre quintetto affondano in generi musicali assai differenti da quanto proposto nei comunque seminali "The Final Countdown" e "Out Of This World". La partenza affidata a "Got To Have Faith" lascia immediatamente fluire un suono aggressivo, sporco a tratti, dominato da un riffing serratissimo condito da un solo al fulmicotone, mentre l'apporto ritmico del duo Levén-Haugland imprime potenza e precisione. E Joey Tempest? Proprio qui si capisce che tipo di singer ci troviamo di fronte! Abbandonati i gorgheggi hard-rockeggianti del passato il capelluto cantante rivela un talento istrionico invidiabile, abile nel cimentarsi in un modernismo canoro diametralmente opposto rispetto ai fasti glam degli anni ottanta.
Malinconia e pesantezza ci accompagnano in "Start From The dark" dalle ritmiche piú lente rispetto all'opener. Anche qui Tempest unisce strofe rabbiose con ritornelli carichi di nostalgica melodia, seguito da un Norum ispiratissimo nel rifferama ed essenziala nei solos. Nel susseguirsi delle tracks si passa da ballads dolciastre dal livello emotivo invidiabile come "My Hero" e "Roll With You", a brani aggressivi ed incalzanti come "Flames", "Song Nr. 12" e "Spirit Of The Underdog". Infatti il nuovo spirito del combo viene incarnato dalla fusione tra le atmsofere melodic-rock degli arcinoti lavori precedenti ed un'attitudine groove dal lavoro chitarrstico pressante, incisivo, instancabilmente proteso tra riffs quasi Sabbathiani ed assoli brillanti e mai scontati. Il finale affidato al duo "My America"-"Settle For Love" non fa che confermare la sopracitata teoria nel miscelare sapientemente stili differenti. La prima é, infatti, anthemica, rabbiosa, costruita attorno a muri di chitarre metalliche ed adornata da un bridge "strillato" di grande efficacia ove John e Joey lasciano trapelare la loro relazione musicale infuocata degna della memorabile "Scream Of Anger" dall'epico "Wings Of Tomorrow". La seconda si rivela invece pura delicatezza ed eleganza trasposte in musica. Soffusa ballata acustica mette in luce il genuino talento del cantante, prendendoci dolcemente per mano e portandoci verso sonoritá vicine al solo album "A Place To Call Home" tra armonie sognanti ed una calda interpretazione vocale. Davvero raffinata.
Il ritorno degli Europe rappresenta un capitolo importante nella storia recente dell'hard-rock continentale e non ma, soprattutto, ci regala artisti improntati verso un'attitudine moderna e vogliosa di cimentarsi nel panorama musicale odierno. Consci del glorioso passato i cinque svedesi hanno saputo estrapolarne le peculiaritá riproponendole in una versione differente, strizzando l'occhio ai tempi attuali e, di conseguenza, non risultando pacchiani o commerciali alla stegua dei ridicoli Motley Crue e compagnia.
Un lavoro coerente e professionale che non mancherá di emozionare fans di vecchia data e newcomers interessati a proposte originali. Bentornati.
Elenco tracce testi e video
03 Flames (03:55)
the pressure is mounting I'm ready and counting
there's something I've got to be
I'm fearless I feel it scared sensless who needs this
still something I've got to be
there is no going back this is what we know
we've come to entertain asking you to follow
we've born to self-destruct here it comes again
a desire to go down in flames
my hearts racing my legs shaking
there's more drama in the making
I had a feeling this day would come
so are we real good or just delirious
but if you stop us now it could get serious
sorry mama for what I've become
there is no going back this is what we know
we've come to entertain asking you to follow
we've born to self-destruct here it comes again
a desire to go down in flames
you can turn it off but it never stops
madness or not I'll risk everything I've got
and if I got to do it all over again
I'd still believe in these friends
And they mess they got me in
04 Hero (04:15)
It's not like I wouldn't dream, if you had not shown the way
It's not like I wouldn't fight, not knowing 'bout your life
It's not like I wouldn't stand, right here with you my friends
But you thru us all a line, when our days slipped away
You gave us of your time
Cause you were my hero, my Friday night
You wrote the soundtrack to my life
And gave me something to hold on to
When I was growling up you were the rock
In my life
It's not like I live my days by every word you spoke
Like I'm up every night drinking with your ghost
It's not like I can't look back without moving on
But you thru us all a line when our days slipped away
You gave us of your time
Cause you were my hero, my Friday night
You wrote the soundtrack to my life
And gave us kids a chance to dream
Days when I had enough, you were the rock
In my life
(solo)
You still throw me that line, as my days slipped away
You give me of your time
You still my hero, my Friday night
You wrote the soundtrack to my life
You give me something to hold on to
As I'm still growing up you are the rock
In my life
05 Wake Up Call (04:14)
Hello what keeps you going
The way we're running through these years
I guess they're showing
I don't have no clever lines
To explain my state of mind
Well it doesn't matter
It's just a while since I could feel
This song is what I need
Like a wake up wake up call
Hello what made you come here
You defy all kinds of logic
When you don't stay clear
I don't talk the way you do
I guess you feel the same way too
But it doesn't matter
We meet somewhere in between
This song and what we need
Like a wake up wake up call
We're just laying down this track
Guess I'll have to call you back
But it doesn't matter
We'll connect again one day
An the song will find it's way
Like a wake up wake up call
08 Roll With You (04:30)
When you feel out of place let me revolve around you
When your light fades I have the strength to find you
When what you're feeling is too intense
When the darkness seems to draw you in I roll with you
When you're so sorry and don't know why
It came to be a sad time in your life I roll with you we'll get you through
When you shut your eyes I'll show the images you're missing
When you've heard enough through me you can listen
When what you're feeling is too intense
And the darkness seems to draw you in I roll with you
And when you're crawling through all the hurt
And you can't find a real friend in this world I roll with you
We'll get you through
When you feel out place
Let me revolve around you
09 Sucker (03:42)
She works hard to enjoy the weekends
All glammed up to describe the feelin'
makin her way through the crowd
somethin' is drivin' her wild
(Chorus)
She's turnin up the stereo
She wants everbody to know
She's fixin to see the show
She's a s-s-s-s-sucker for a guitar hero
Her obsession is legedary
And all her boyfriends are temporary
Her idea of a perfect man
plays custom trough a marshall amp.
(Chorus)
She's turnin up the stereo
She wants everbody to know
She's fixin to see the show
She's a s-s-s-s-sucker for a guitar hero
(Guitar solo)
God knows she can't controll her weakness
Sometimes she settles for local talent
Everone knows it's a phase
Just tappin' to kill some time
Cause' she'll be back in a wrackfull place
Where the trucks roll into town
(Chorus)
Now she wont need a stereo
Cause' everbody will know
That she's right there watchin' the show
She'll be throwin all her love around
Now the boys are back in town
Until she just can't take it no more
She's a s-s-s-s-sucker for a guitar hero
10 Spirit of the Underdog (04:25)
Seen you round I know your face
watched you try to grow up with grace.
Seen that heart out on your sleeve
like it's so much life
you're dying to feel, dying to feel.
Cause if you got to steal
you've got to steel the show.
It's the spirit of the underdog.
And if you got to break
you've got to break the mould.
It's the spirit of the underdog.
I've seen you reach that main event
and make it look like an accident.
Your need for love can't be replaced.
Just put away at least for today,
at least for today.
Cause if you got to steal
you've got to steel the show.
It's the spirit of the underdog.
And if you got to break
you've got to break the mould.
It's the spirit of the underdog.
11 America (03:35)
You'd think by now I've learned to fake it
You'd think by now I'd find my peace
And there's no risk for me worth taking
You'd think that I'd go quietly
But the journey's still on for my America
You'd think by now I'd take the easy way
And be content with what I've seen
You'd think by now I'd get it in to my head
I'm the same boy I have always been
So the journey's still on for my America
You'd think by now I'd be to jaded
To feel what love can do
You'd think by now that I've done everything I can
In finally reaching you
But the journey's still on for my America
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Altre recensioni
Di TheSilentMan
Allora ho capito che quelli che stavo ascoltando non erano gli Europe che io conoscevo, ma era una loro rinascita dall’oscurità.
Nonostante ciò la prestazione di questi mostri sacri è piuttosto energica e compatta, forte di una ottima produzione e di una notevole coesione a livello di gruppo.
