Walk the Earth

Walk the Earth is the eleventh album, on which Europe crystallized the thickness of 1970s hard rock and a sense of Nordic melody it had deepened after the reunion. With the lineup of Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar), John Levén (bass), Mic Michaeli (keyboards) and Ian Haugland (drums), Dave Cobb handled production following the previous album. Distorted guitar and organ resonance thicken the sound image, and dynamic vocals give the songs a human touch. On songs like "Walk the Earth" and "The Siege," weighty riffs and grand development unite. Not staying only with the flashy 1980s impression, by taking in blues and psychedelic shading, the work gains an adult strength. The unity of the playing and the crafting of the songs surely convey the maturity of a long career. A powerful record for a long-careered band to walk with today's sound, rather than reproducing the past.