SWEDISH rockers Europe might be best remembered for their 1986 hit The Final Countdown, but the band have come a long way in the quarter of a century since the song went to the top of the charts in nine countries including the UK.

Earlier this year, Europe released their 9th album, Bag of Bones, to critical praise. Featuring a heavier sound, Bag of Bones boasts killer riffs and fabulous vocals from Joey Tempest: it was clear the band had moved on quite considerably from former glories.

Europe are hitting British soil in the next few weeks and are playing a date in Cardiff with special guests StoneRider at the end of the month.

“We’re excited to come to the UK,” Joey Tempest tells me. “There’s an acoustic set in the middle of the show.

We’ll be playing songs from Bag of Bones as well as some oldies. It’s the best Europe tour in years – Majestic!”

Joey is buzzing about the band’s latest offering and how well it has been received from critics and fans alike.

“Bag of Bones is a touring band’s record,” he continues.

“We’ve expressed ourselves on it through blues and soul. Weare so pleased with it. It’s live and raw!”

Joey’s love of music goes back to his childhood.

Europe was originally formed in Sweden under the name Force in 1979. The band switched to the name Europe when taking inspiration from Deep Purple’s live album Made In Europe.

With several changes in personnel along the way, Europe released three albums between 1983 and 1986, before taking the world by storm with their number one smash The Final Countdown. “It was kind of weird,” recalls Joey. “We had experimented with keyboards on it and the song became a cross-over, bringing Europe into broader media. We were in a good place in the rock community, but The Final Countdown made us and opened lots of doors for us in the US and the UK.”

The band has been through a lot of change since 1986, even splitting up for a lengthy period. The band reformed in 1998 and have gone from strength to strength, shedding along the way the tag and style of their ’80s persona. Joey says: “It’s been a long journey back.

“We’re very lucky. We try to keep producing something different. Bag of Bones is a culmination of our journey creatively, featuring big songs and newsongs.”

I ask Joey if the band still get on after all their years together. He laughs: “Weare the same guys. Weaccept all the strange things that get to you when you’re younger.

Weknoweach other so well and that comes through in how we play.”

Following theUKtour, Europe are off to tour Scandinavia, and then it will be time to recharge their batteries and get inspiration for their tenth album.

Joey couldn’t sound happier: “It’s all work, work, work, but we’re really looking forward to it.”

●Europe perform at Cardiff Coal Exchange on November 30. For ticket details, visit seetickets.com and ticketweb.co.uk or call 0844 477 2000.